{"id":10828,"date":"2012-02-13T06:03:44","date_gmt":"2012-02-13T14:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/?p=10828"},"modified":"2016-08-15T07:27:30","modified_gmt":"2016-08-15T15:27:30","slug":"what-is-the-definition-of-coaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/what-is-the-definition-of-coaching\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Definition of Coaching?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you are a potential coach or a potential client, it is good to have a clear definition of coaching<\/strong><\/a>. To come up with a good definition of coaching<\/span>, it helps to know what coaching isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

What Coaching Isn\u2019t<\/h3>\n

Coaching isn\u2019t consulting. Consultants often have experience in one specific area and are hired to solve a problem in that certain area. Consulting is specific while coaching can be both general and specific. Consulting is narrow; coaching is broad. Consulting is restricted; coaching is unconfined.<\/p>\n

Coaching is sometimes similar to mentoring, but not quite. Being a mentor is more like being a teacher; a mentor-student relationship is very similar to a teacher-student relationship, which is not the same as a coach-client relationship. A coach-client relationship is more balanced and coequal than that of a teacher and student.<\/p>\n

Coaching is definitely not therapy. Though it may seem like it with certain needy clients, a definition of coaching<\/strong> does not include being a therapist. The use of psychology in your practice is not uncommon, but therapy is not what you do as a coach! If your clients want therapy, tell them to look elsewhere!<\/p>\n

What Coaching Is<\/h3>\n

There are many possible definitions of coaching, and it may mean different things to different people. However, to better understand the definition of coaching<\/span>, it is good to see what the two primary governing coaching bodies have to say about defining their profession.<\/p>\n

To paraphrase the ICF (International Coaching Federation) definition, coaching is partnering with your clients to inspire and motivate them to maximize their professional and personal potential.<\/p>\n

To paraphrase the ICA (International Coach Academy), the definition of coaching<\/strong> is a collaboration between the coach and the client to help clarify their values and achieve their goals. The ultimate goal is to help the client achieve a fulfilling life.<\/p>\n

From these definitions, we can conclude that coaching can be defined as:<\/p>\n