The coaching is a discipline that has become popular a few years ago. In general terms, we would say that coaching consists of a process of accompanying the professional or coach to a person who wants to change something in their life. It is a term that has its origin in sport: coach means coach , and the coach is the person who helps the athlete to reach their full potential. What’s more, in coaching there is a branch dedicated to sport where people who compete are helped to develop their motivation , learn to manage emotions, etc.
Still, coaching is not exactly like training a runner or swimmer. The person who goes to this professional has more autonomy to develop their skills and make decisions. The coach does not tell you what to do, but helps you decide what you want to do, when and how, because we are not always clear on these issues.
What is the purpose of coaching
Coaching is widely used in work environments, but it is also valid for any aspect of your life that you want to improve. It is not a psychological therapy, but an application of psychology from a positive approach. It is not better, nor is it worse, it is different and has other functions.
Typical cases in which a person goes to a job coach are when we consider changing jobs, but we do not know if it is a good decision . When we have a conflict but we don’t know how to manage it. When we have an overload of work and we do not know what to prioritize. When we feel dissatisfied with the relationships we have with colleagues, but we don’t know what to do. When you want to change your relationship with a higher command because you do not know how to communicate with him without being successful in your requests. When we do not know whether to accept a position that we have been offered . When we want to learn to better manage our time. When we want to develop useful skills for the work environment (leadership, communication, motivation …).
On a personal level, coaching is also very useful. These issues that we have discussed about the work environment can become personal life situations. You don’t know how to say no to your friend, neighbor or mother when she always asks you for favors that you know you shouldn’t have to do. When you want to learn to resolve situations, and set limits to others, without causing a confrontation. When you can’t get to everything and you don’t know what to prioritize. When you don’t dare to face certain everyday situations because you always lose out. When you want to learn to defend your interests and that those of others do not take precedence. Or, in general, if you don’t know which path you want to take at this point in your life. It can also help you improve specific aspects in relationships with your friends, partner or family, but we repeat that it is not a therapy for serious cases.
There is also group coaching , which is used in certain settings, usually work, to help people develop group work strategies. Also to improve relationships between colleagues , or learn to better manage the resources available to them.
Why Coaching Isn’t Like Going To The Psychologist
Coaching is a discipline that is born and drinks from psychology, although there are many profiles of professionals who can carry out this work. However, sometimes we can find people with limited knowledge of the subject, for example, who only have a coaching course as training. Our advice is to choose a coach with a degree in psychology , because they have greater knowledge about the human being and the functioning of behavior, emotions, learning, social relationships, etc. At the end of the day, the coaching service implies an economic investment of which we must guarantee its success.
However, coaching is not a type of therapy. It does not serve to help us get out of depression, end anxiety attacks, manage emotions, learn to fall asleep or overcome a fear. What it does is help us when faced with a specific problem situation. It is analyzed, the objectives, the available resources are clarified and an action plan is organized . Everything always based on what the coachee, that is, the client, determines and decides, because he is discovering how to do it.
Thus, in the coaching sessions, the professional listens and analyzes the situation. Based on it, he poses questions and reflections to his client. Exercises are also practiced, concrete objectives are set for the following sessions and a plan based on action and learning is developed, until the problem is solved.
