Definitions of Coaching

Often people ask me, “What is coaching?”

To understand it, like all science, there are a variety of definitions. Here’s a few:

– The Association for Coaching defines coaching as ‘A collaborative solution-focused, results orientated and systematic process in which the coach facilitates the enhancement of work performance, life experience, self-directed learning and personal growth of the coachee’ (AC, 2012).

– The International Coach Federation defines coaching as ‘partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential’ (ICF, 2012).

– The World Association of Business Coaches defines business coaching as a structured conversation designed to ‘enhance the client’s awareness and behaviour so as to achieve business objectives for both the client and their organisation’ (WABC, 2012).

– The European Mentoring and Coaching Council defines coaching (and mentoring) as ‘activities within the area of professional and personal development…to help clients…see and test alternative ways for improvement of competence, decision making and enhancement of quality of life…with the purpose of serving the clients to improve their performance or enhance their personal development or both…’ (EMCC, 2011).

I interpret this as focus, clarity and results and it happens in a conversation partnership where we find together where you are and where you want to go and how you’re going to get there.