Scouring the Internet, you will find many different experts providing their opinion on the definition of coaching. None of them are wrong and almost all of them are right – coaching means different things to different people. The are a million and one definitions of coaching and all of them have some validity.
There are also many words or phrases that can be used when composing a definition of coaching. Once again, you may not agree with all of them, and I may not agree with all of them, but it doesn’t make them wrong. A coach can mean many different things to many different people – that’s why the field is so wide open for creative people to hang out a shingle and become an effective and highly sought-after coach. Coaches have many different styles and work in a variety of different niches. It is a great field because you can be who you want to be while helping people and making money!
The Definition of a Coach- 31 Definitions
- Motivator
- Inspirational leader
- Mentor
- Performance enhancer
- Babysitter ( yes, some coaches do this!)
- Assessor
- Evaluator
- Problem solver
- Problem finder
- Instructor
- Educator
- Tutor
- Consultant
- Counselor, but not exactly
- Confidant
- Sort of a therapist, but not really
- Trainer
- Advisor
- Someone who gets you to do things you wouldn’t do by yourself
- Someone who gets you to think about things you would never think about without some serious prodding
- Spiritual guide
- Behavior modifier
- Peer mentor
- Someone who helps a client set goals you could really set yourself but you have no idea where to begin
- Someone with professional experience who can provide guidance in a time of crisis
- Some who gets paid to listen to your whining and complaining
- Someone who gets paid to offer suggestions, exercises, opinions, assessments, and guidance after you are done whining and complaining
- Facilitator
- Trainer
- Motivational speaker
- Someone with the knowledge, skills, passion, and intuition to help you assess your life, determine your strengths and weaknesses, analyze your situation, figure out your passions, prod you into articulating your goals and dreams, and then give you a bunch of BS as to how you need to figure out the pathway to success, achievement, and happiness
Yes, a coach cannot do it all. It is a partnership in which the coach provides some professional expertise, specific knowledge, and passion for helping people, while the client provides the dedication, determination, and ultimately the solutions. The definition of a coach doesn’t include doing for someone what they can do for themselves. The definition of coaching doesn’t include providing someone with the answers, but it does include helping someone find the answers themselves. Coaching is dynamic, adaptable, and vital. Coaching has many definitions – choose one definition that works for you and become the best coach you can be.
By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “Life Coaching Business Blueprint” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your life coaching business blueprint videos.
Dave Iuppa
JTS Advisors Strategy and Accountability Coach
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