What is Coaching?

‘Building awareness, responsibility and self‐belief is the goal of the coach’

John Whitmore

 

Imagine having someone who is listening to you without judgement; who cares about your ambitions and achievements; who believes in you and your goals and who will work with you in a partnership in order to to attain your chosen goals.

Coaching is a process which supports the individual to create focus, set targets and achieve objectives in a way that benefits them.  It is a process of taking people from where they are now and supporting them in moving forward.  It is based on a two way relationship between the coachee and the coach – of trust, respect, honesty and understanding.

It is simply a process to gain the things that you want out of life – to take control.

So:

Coaching is: Coaching is not:
  • Goal/outcome – centred
  • Performance improvement
  • A non-directive form of development
  • Unlocking potential
  • A fast-track development
  • Counselling
  • Advice giving
  • Thinking for other people
  • Structured training

Key questions to ask before coaching:

  • Am I looking to make changes?
  • Am I ready to take responsibility for where I am and where I would like to move to?
  • Am I open to being challenged and looking at new perspectives?
  • Am I ready to be the best I can, and not sabotage myself in any way?
  • Am I willing to be different and take any action that is necessary.

 

At Barefoot Trainers we will encourage you to take responsibility and control for your own learning by:

  • Helping you to work out things for yourself
  • Helping you to explore options
  • Actively listening and helping you to explore your ideas without imposing our own
  • Asking questions to challenge your thinking and get you to explore issues more deeply
  • Encouraging you to carry out your chosen actions
  • Providing constructive feedback as and when appropriate and with your permission

 

Louise made me think about me, that I was important, that I had a choice to make my working life better, but more poignantly that I had to do what was best for myself.

Nicola Banks

Nursery Manager, October 2015

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