WHAT IS COACHING?

Discover. Transform. Thrive

Coaching empowers self aware, progressive individuals who desire to discover possibilities to maximise their potential, create meaningful relationships and enhance fulfilment in their lives.

The differences between coaching, mentoring, counselling and consulting are illustrated in the example below.

Coaching

International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.” The coach’s expertise lies in the facilitation of the coaching process, but is unlikely the subject matter expert of the client’s topic. Coaching is not about giving advice or offering solutions. Coaching is about evoking a future empowered state, not delving into the past.

What a coach would say:

Wow! I can’t wait to try. What is the first step you want to take to cook curry chicken?

What are obstacles that could prevent you from cooking a great curry chicken? Who do you need to be to overcome them? Who can support you?

Who will you share it with and how will you celebrate this achievement?

What do you want to learn to cook next, after curry chicken?

Mentoring

A mentor is a wise and trusted guide and advisor. Mentors are successful people who share their hard-earned wisdom to provide insight and guidance as a mentee encounters challenges along their journey. They are typically more experienced or skilled in their chosen field and act as a teacher in sharing their experience; transferring their knowledge and skills to a ‘mentee’ who is less experienced.

What a mentor would say:

Don’t be afraid! I know how to do it well. Will pass you the chicken curry recipe I used and my kitchen utensils.

You can go to this shop that I go to for the spices needed. They are cheap and good there.

Make sure you stir fry the spices 10 minutes before adding the coconut puree – In my experience, this is the “secret to good flavour”

Here is the number of my friend who cooks great chicken curry. You can meet him to learn more.

Counselling

Counsellors are trained to skillfully ask questions with the intention to diagnose and help clients with their problems including: dealing with emotional trauma, past events or dysfunction. Although not exclusively, counselling tends to focus on past events as they impact clients’ present experiences. Counselling does not typically emphasise what a person should do and how he or she should take action.

What a counsellor would say:

Why the sudden interest to learn how to cook curry chicken?

What happened in your past that caused your fear of messing up cooking curry chicken?

Were there unpleasant past experiences that prevented you from learning how to cook?

Did you disappoint someone when you attempted to cook a new dish?

Consulting

A consultant is an expert who is called upon for professional or technical advice or opinions. They are relied on to understand the problem and present solutions around their area of expertise. Consultants typically give you answers while coaches are skilled at asking great questions so the clients take a lead role in identifying their own solutions.

What a consultant would say:

This is what you must do. To learn how to cook, you must first get a good recipe from the internet. Follow the recipe exactly.

You must also have a stove, cooking utensils and necessary ingredients. Here is where to buy them.

To enhance the curry chicken, you may want to have it with rice, flat bread and a bold red wine.

To improve, you also need to have people try your food and ask for feedback.