How can coaching help you achieve your goals faster than mentoring or consulting?

Coaching allows the coachee to tell their story, to think, reflect, review, articulate, that activates the brain, but when you tell someone what to do, that passifies the brain. The value of coaching is that it opens up the mind to possibilities in a way that the coachee discovers the answers on their own and hence can see things in a different way. As Marcia Reynolds, Executive Coach shares "coaching is a type of learning that helps people to see things differently. Once they see things differently, they are then openly willing to try something new."

For Coaching to be effective its important to select the right person as a cochee , one who is open to reflect and take action. Many a times people due to lack of experience are looking for immediate actionable steps to overcome a challenge for them a mentoring might be more effective tool. Also coaching relationship require deeper level of trust building and hence a longer process.

Coaching is about unlocking your potential. Let’s say Jane is leading a project. She is strugling with project meetings and realizes she needs to be more straight to the point and assertive. She was offered great solutions and insights, but she kept stressing out. With the coach active listenning and questioning, she understood the roots of her current behaviour and addessed it. She developed strategies to overcome it and applied in future meetings. She also celebrated her accomplishments and how it made her feel (something we too often forget but is very important to establish a new behavoir). In any time the coach told her what to do or offered advice as the role is to be a facilitator.

Coaching accelerates goal achievement through personalized guidance, introspection, and action-oriented strategies, fostering self-discovery and empowerment.

Coaching *VS* Mentoring assumes they are in conflict. I disagree. Coaching and mentoring are one of the best pairs that complement each other. It's a very practical way to engage with other people. Friends, or people in general who want help from us, look for our experience. And even as a coach, sharing what we've done can be helpful (=mentor, consult) But, we always want to combine this with coaching by asking, for example "given what I've just shared, how do you translate this into your own situation and what will you do with this? How might this work or not work for you?" It is especially that kind of inquiry that's often missing in mentoring and makes those fall flat. I find coaching and mentoring quite a virtuous pair.

The central aspect of coaching is its fundamental reliance on the belief that the coachee already possesses the answers to their challenges. Unlike traditional teaching or consulting methods that impart external knowledge or solutions, coaching focuses on unlocking a person's own potential through guided questioning and active listening. This approach reveals that often, the most profound insights and breakthroughs come from within the individual, rather than external advice or instruction.

Mentors and Consultants share their own experience and approaches. That can help if your barrier is purely about knowledge. But what has worked for one person and company might not work for you. Coaching assumes that the person with the problem best understands that problem - and has all the resources to solve that problem. The role of a Coach is to help enable the Coachee in that process. And they are more likely to act on that solution as they have developed it themselves rather than it being imposed by someone else.

Coaching involves a structured process: 1. Set Goals: Define clear objectives. 2. Assessment: Understand strengths and areas for development. 3. Feedback: Provide constructive input. 4. Identify Goals: Collaboratively set SMART goals. 5. Follow-Up: Continuous support and goal monitoring. Effective coaching fosters self-discovery, goal achievement, and continuous improvement through tailored guidance and collaboration.

Coaching indeed is - a deep collaborative process, dancing in the moment, salsa, jugalbandhi are the metaphors we use - goal oriented too, that sets it apart from other methodologies like therapy, counselling & healing which looks at the past The goals are SMART PURE & CLEAR (Sir John W), BHAG(Jim Collins), must be aligned with the coachee’s life purpose, nothing star. Hence all coaching goals are life goals too, beyond the acronyms! Even a tactical goal like ‘I want to become a CXO in 3 years’ will be explored with larger career goals and life purpose of the executive! Thus executive coaching helps the coachee to 1. Set goals, leading to 2. Explore deeply, leading to 3. Awareness & action Thus moving towards their full potential.

Here is one the fundamentals of coaching : People are naturally creative, resourceful and whole. Coaching believes that every human has the answers within yet what is needed is how to facilitate through coaching techniques and conversations access into these natural built in resources, answers and solutions. The coach can help the coachee discover their blind spot! The coach does not provide solutions as this will be consulting and mentoring.

One of the main benefits from coaching is the transformative impact it has on clients because of the self awareness that happens to them throughout the coaching journey around - their limiting beliefs - their strengths - their values And also through transforming their mindset by challenging them to think differently

If one looks at the best athletes in the world, they all have a coach! Why? I would describe Coaching as a process of going inward to know yourself so you can be successful outward ( goals, targets). Coaching helps any leader to: - Gain clarity about them and their goals - Understand enabling or limiting beliefs - Clarify their values, natural talents and areas they don't enjoy, get triggered - Help find answers to issues their facing from the inside- out - Gain confidence that one can solve their own issues/ unlock their potential Through quality coachihg, one gains alignment with ones values, natural strengths and talents which generally leads to happier state of being and impact both at work and life

Coaching is about YOU. Its not about anything or anyone else. I have noticed that when I have done trauma informed coaching on my clients- each and every aspect of their life changes- not just work They heal from their limiting beliefs, childhood traumas that were affecting them for years and gain peace from within Trauma informed Coaching changes the entire life of an individual

Coaching helps clear the clutter which leads to biased decisions, Coaching helps to see clearly where we might see a hazy picture, Coaching helps to change our perspective on situations and problems, Coaching helps us to see the actual reason why we think in a particular way and helps us validate. A coach helps us to remove our insecurities and face challenges so we can aim beyond our potential. A Coach will help us to gain confidence and have a reality check, what lies within us and call in those resources to achieve a certain goal. Last but not the least, a Coach can keep us true to ourselves and be accountable for our goals. We all do need a Coach in our lives - it is upto individuals whether it is an internal or an external Coach

Coaching, an odyssey of self-discovery, encourages leaders to delve into their essence—exploring gifts, gaps, values, and limiting beliefs. Its paramount benefit lies in elevating self-awareness, the cornerstone of transformative growth. By navigating this introspective journey, leaders unlock their full potential, fostering authenticity and resilience. As an executive coach, my mission is to guide leaders in this exploration, empowering them to harness self-awareness for profound professional and personal transformation.

Being able to find a coach has been the topmost struggle of most of my clients. My 3 main asks when finding a coach are: - Be clear on the niche for which you want to hire a coach - career, personal development, leadership, relationships. - Approach first and second connection coaches on LinkedIn as you can always find a reference to connect. - Ask for a free discovery call to assess the environment and ask difficult questions before committing.

There are various ways to find a coach (e.g. coaching platforms, your network, social media). The question is not how to find them but how would you know if is the right coach for you. Having a free introductory call with a coach to discuss your circumstances, goals etc and ask questions to check if this can be a good match and how working together might look like is always a good idea. It is a personal decision, as a result it helps choosing someone you are comfortable with and you can trust. Remember to use your own criteria and what is important to you.

The internet is over-spilling with coaches and coach directories. Be aware that increasingly people misrepresent coaching and blend it with consulting. There's shades of grey. Everyone practitioner is likely to offer you a no-cost initial coaching session. Do your due-dilligence and go get plenty of free coaching. Notice the results you create with each, and notice the impact that each has with you. Then do some deep reflection. Who did you like? What was it, specifically, that had you think and feel that? Who had you feel the biggest stretch, the most challenged? Who said what nobody else has said, that was uncomfortable and true and had you face the thing you've been avoiding?

Understanding your objectives will help you find a coach who specialises in the areas you wish to develop. Look for coaches with credible certifications from recognised coaching institutions. Referrals from colleagues or your professional network can also be invaluable. The relationship between a coach and coachee is based on trust and rapport.

Finding a coach is a lot like dating. Make sure to meet with a few people before settling down. Make sure their personality and approach resonates with you. Make sure you want to be authentic with this person.

Be willing to believe that you can achieve success. Without that belief, no matter how good the coach is, coaching will fail. If you have doubts about whether coaching will work for you, voice them to the coach so they can support you

Coaching can help you to bring tangible change when you are committed to go through the challenges and embrace the learnings. 3 ways to maximise your return on coaching - 1. Be proactive - build commitment and accountability in the coaching process, gather feedback on your strengths and development areas. 2. Be ready to reflect and improvise - Reflect on the progress you are making with consistent action and improvise based on the learnings. 3. Be grateful for taking this time for yourself - Amidst so many things that you keep doing on a daily basis, be thankful for putting dedicated time for your personal and leadership growth.

Take an active role: Coaching is a collaborative process that requires active participation. Be open, engaged, and proactive in your coaching sessions. Take ownership of your growth journey, ask thought-provoking questions, and willingly explore new perspectives and possibilities. Your active involvement will enhance the outcomes of the coaching relationship.

In my experience, coaching accelerates goal achievement more effectively than mentoring or consulting due to its personalized, psychologically-informed approach. A coach doesn't just impart knowledge or offer advice; they facilitate a deeper self-awareness and clarity in goal-setting. This process empowers me to uncover and leverage my own strengths and insights. By actively engaging in reflective practices and targeted actions, I can navigate challenges more efficiently and align my efforts with my objectives. To maximize coaching benefits, I focus on open communication, commitment to the process, and the application of learned strategies in real-world scenarios.

To make the best of coaching, there are a couple of requisites: - The willingness to think - The openness to be challenged - The urge to act as a follow through of thinking Above all, coaching is a partnership; hence, the relationship and agenda in the space is a result of co-creation which needs the active role of the coachee for them to make the most of it.

“Coaching as a process comes to us when we are ready. Don’t miss ‘the call to adventure’ (Hero’s Journey’). Grab it!” Find the right coach, set audacious goals, commit to the process. Transformation is a possibility!

Coaching involves forming a partnership with the client rather than functioning as a mere answering machine. The essence of coaching lies in guiding the client to discover answers from within, a process that holds immense power. Throughout the sessions, a remarkable transformation occurs as clients recognize and hold themselves accountable for the majority of their goals. In instances where accountability falters, coaching steps in to identify and remove obstacles. These sessions serve as a powerful tool in dismantling self-imposed limitations, those persistent roadblocks encountered in daily life. The ultimate aim is to empower clients to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

A coach doesn’t give you the answers but asks questions to guide you into a deeper understanding of the problem. As Albert Einstein said “ If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” When you can find a coach that can also be a mentor and a consultant and offer different approaches depending on the situation, that can provide the rocket fuel to propel further even faster.

Choosing a life coach over a counselor or mentor often excel in a goal-centric approach, providing guidance, action plans, and accountability for individuals aiming to define and achieve specific objectives. Life coaching places a strong emphasis on empowerment and self-discovery, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to boost self-awareness and confidence. The forward-focused and action-oriented nature of life coaching aligns well with individuals looking for proactive strategies to overcome challenges and make swift, positive changes in their lives.

There are many different types of coaching/coaching aims. These vary from skills-based coaching and performance-based coaching to deep transformational coaching, and more specialised areas of coaching (e.g. team coaching, mindset coaching, and more!). A great coach will blend a variety of approaches and modalities as needed to support you with your stated needs and goals while calling out the greatness in you.