3 Things a Coach is Not

Nowadays, many people want or think they need a career coach, and/or someone in management believes they’d benefit from one; regardless of whether they are a people leader or individual contributor or where they are in their career journey. There is good reason for so much interest and all the hype around hiring a coach.

The increased interest in coaching over the last decade is terrific for us certified leadership/executive coaches who are eager to grow our coaching practices. There is an important “but” though. It is terrific, but there can be some confusion about the role of a coach and what to expect.

Since hiring a coach can be a substantial time and financial commitment, it behooves you to know what you are getting or in the case of this article, what you are not getting when you hire a coach. Coaching is a distinct profession and should not be confused with therapy, mentoring, or consulting.

Coaching is Not Therapy

Although in some instances a coaching session may feel “therapeutic,” to you, it is not intended to serve as a counseling or therapy session. Counselors and therapists possess a unique set of skills that are outside of a coach’s competencies and are meant to address a very different set of client needs and challenges than that of a coach.

According to International Coach Federation (ICF), “Coaching focuses on visioning, success, the present and moving toward the future. Therapy emphasizes psychopathology, emotions and the past to understand the present, and it works more with developing skills for managing emotions or past issues than does coaching.”

A highly trained and conscientious coach will draw a hard line on services that are out of scope and conversations that warrant referral to a counselor or therapist. In fact, ICF members and credentialed coaches must abide by the organization’s Code of Ethics which reflects the importance of knowing when to refer a client to other professionals.

Coaching is Not Mentoring

The terms coach and mentor are often used interchangeably. It’s probably because they both help professionals navigate their career journey and there is some overlap in how they engage with the people who seek their support. But there are distinct differences between a coach and a mentor.

To start, mentor relationships and meetings are usually less formal. Also, mentors do not charge a fee. A mentor relationship can occur with anyone in your professional network you respect and who has “been there, done that.”?You can ask someone to mentor you (in hopes they are willing), or it can happen organically. Mentors typically connect with you, the mentee (or protégé), when they have time to fit you into their schedule or sometimes impromptu. The meeting may be rescheduled if your mentor ends up having a scheduling conflict that is a higher priority, which can be frustrating for you.

Coaching meetings, conversely, are more structured, typically occur on an agreed-upon set schedule locked in on the calendar, and for a fee. Certified coaches are trained to foster trusted relationships and facilitate coachee-focused, outcome-driven meetings. The result is a more intentional experience for you the coachee.

Next, mentors often do most of the talking and storytelling as you soak up all their experiences, lessons, and advice—so you can chart a similar path that comes close to or mimics their success. Coaches on the other hand are astute at asking provocative questions, listening, and emboldening you to figure solutions out for yourself—so you achieve desired goals and outcomes.

Coaching is Not Consulting

Consultants are hired and paid by clients to provide expert advice and assistance.

As an ICF Master Certified Coach once said to me, “In a coaching relationship, the coachee is in the driver’s seat and the coach is a passenger on the journey,” as opposed to consultants who usually sit behind the wheel. This a perfect way to distinguish between coach and consultant.

As the client, you communicate to the consultant the task, problem, challenge, goal, etc. you want the consultant to address. After listening to your needs, the consultant typically goes away to independently figure things out on your behalf. Meetings are scheduled so the consultant can provide updates on their progress, answer questions, make recommendations, propose solutions, submit deliverables, etc., to you the client.

Like consultants, coaches are hired and paid for their services. In contrast to consultants, coaches approach the coachee interaction and meeting from the perspective of trusting that you yourself are equipped the best and are savvy enough to solve your own problems and figure out your path forward. If you think about it for a moment—you know yourself, your situation, and key players the most intimately.

A skilled coach does more listening than talking as compared to a consultant. They provide structure and ask thoughtful, probing questions during regularly scheduled meetings that help you, the coachee, draw your own conclusions. The powerful result is that you usually have a greater appreciation and commitment when you “own” your decisions, ideas, solutions, etc.

Practically speaking, coaches understand that you sometimes want advice and answers from your coach. Therefore occasionally (which is the operative word)—think 80/20 rule, we coaches must wear a consultant “hat” to wholly support our clients. You however should not enter a relationship with a certified coach expecting consults; instead, consider this the exception to the rule. More often than not, a skilled coach will reframe your “consulting-like” questions or requests in a way that empowers you to discover the best course of action.

So, what is Coaching

ICF defines coaching as “a partnership with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”

Coaching shows benefits across the board, not only for the individual but for the overall success of the entire organization. The tangible impact is seen all the way through the management structure of the operation, showing increases in engagement, productivity, and efficiency, which can directly affect the profitability of the company.

The following infographic underscores why there is some much interest and hype around coaching.

Are you looking for a certified leadership/executive coach to accelerate your career and leadership journey? If so, email me today at [email protected] to schedule a call to discuss how I may be able to support you.

If you enjoyed the post, please click the thumbs up (Like), love, etc. icon to let me know and...."share" the post with your network! Please share in the comments.

About ShowUp!?The company - aptly named "ShowUp!" - takes a results-oriented approach to advance our mission. Launched in 2007, we are based in the Washington DC area and have fast become a go-to resource for female and male leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, politicians, and organizations who are committed to raising the bar and 'showing up' for the successes they deserve. Through targeted corporate training facilitation from entry-level through executive, group keynotes and workshops, and individualized one-on-one coaching, we make an impact through leadership development, personal brand coaching, executive presence, and perception management, individualized personal style consulting, and business etiquette.?www.showupllc.com