What is coaching?
What is coaching?
What is coaching?
Think about the last time someone gave you their full attention while you thought something through.
Think about the last time someone gave you their full attention while you thought something through.
Think about the last time someone gave you their full attention while you thought something through.
Coaching creates dedicated time and space for exactly that. A coaching conversation gives you an opportunity to think out loud with someone who is listening closely, reflecting some of your thinking back to you and asking questions that can help you see things differently.
Coaching creates dedicated time and space for exactly that. A coaching conversation gives you an opportunity to think out loud with someone who is listening closely, reflecting some of your thinking back to you and asking questions that can help you see things differently.
You bring whatever you want to explore. You don’t need to arrive with a neatly defined goal, let alone the answer.
You bring whatever you want to explore. You don’t need to arrive with a neatly defined goal, let alone the answer.
What happens in a coaching conversation?
What happens in a coaching conversation?
What happens in a coaching conversation?
There isn’t a predetermined route through a session.
There isn’t a predetermined route through a session.
There isn’t a predetermined route through a session.
We might explore what you want to change, what matters to you, what you have already tried, or what might be getting in the way. I may notice an assumption in something you’ve said, reflect back a pattern, ask a question you weren’t expecting, or invite you to look at something from another perspective.
We might explore what you want to change, what matters to you, what you have already tried, or what might be getting in the way. I may notice an assumption in something you’ve said, reflect back a pattern, ask a question you weren’t expecting, or invite you to look at something from another perspective.
Sometimes that will mean slowing down and staying with a thought. At other times we might explore possibilities, experiment with a different way of looking at something, or consider what you want to do next.
Sometimes that will mean slowing down and staying with a thought. At other times we might explore possibilities, experiment with a different way of looking at something, or consider what you want to do next.
What matters is what becomes useful in the conversation we create together.
What matters is what becomes useful in the conversation we create together.
Why not just think about it myself?
Why not just think about it myself?
Why not just think about it myself?
You can, and self-reflection can be enormously valuable. But when we think alone, it can be difficult to notice the assumptions we’re making, the beliefs underlying our thinking, or the possibilities we have unconsciously ruled out.
You can, and self-reflection can be enormously valuable. But when we think alone, it can be difficult to notice the assumptions we’re making, the beliefs underlying our thinking, or the possibilities we have unconsciously ruled out.
A coach provides another perspective without taking ownership of the decision. I can notice, reflect, question and challenge while the thinking, choices and ultimately the next move remain yours.
A coach provides another perspective without taking ownership of the decision. I can notice, reflect, question and challenge while the thinking, choices and ultimately the next move remain yours.
Isn’t that what a good friend does?
Isn’t that what a good friend does?
Isn’t that what a good friend does?
A good conversation with someone you trust can be invaluable too. But friendship is a different relationship. Friends may understandably offer advice, tell you what they would do, reassure you, or hold back from challenging you.
A good conversation with someone you trust can be invaluable too. But friendship is a different relationship. Friends may understandably offer advice, tell you what they would do, reassure you, or hold back from challenging you.
In coaching, the conversation is deliberately focused on your thinking. My job isn’t generally to give you my answer. It’s to help you explore yours.
In coaching, the conversation is deliberately focused on your thinking. My job isn’t generally to give you my answer. It’s to help you explore yours.
“What I valued most was that Philip never told me what to do. He offered thoughtful insights and perspectives without ever forcing them, allowing me to arrive at my own conclusions with confidence. His ability to listen, notice what others might miss, and ask exactly the right question at exactly the right time is a real gift.”
“What I valued most was that Philip never told me what to do. He offered thoughtful insights and perspectives without ever forcing them, allowing me to arrive at my own conclusions with confidence. His ability to listen, notice what others might miss, and ask exactly the right question at exactly the right time is a real gift.”
“What I valued most was that Philip never told me what to do. He offered thoughtful insights and perspectives without ever forcing them, allowing me to arrive at my own conclusions with confidence. His ability to listen, notice what others might miss, and ask exactly the right question at exactly the right time is a real gift.”
Rachel
Rachel
Coaching is something we do together
Coaching is something we do together
Coaching is something we do together
Coaching isn’t something a coach does to you. The relationship we create is an important part of the work.
Coaching isn’t something a coach does to you. The relationship we create is an important part of the work.
Coaching isn’t something a coach does to you. The relationship we create is an important part of the work.
I’ll bring attention, curiosity, questions and challenge, and I’ll take responsibility for how I work as a coach. Effective coaching also asks something of you: a willingness to think, to reflect honestly, to consider different possibilities and, sometimes, to have your assumptions challenged.
I’ll bring attention, curiosity, questions and challenge, and I’ll take responsibility for how I work as a coach. Effective coaching also asks something of you: a willingness to think, to reflect honestly, to consider different possibilities and, sometimes, to have your assumptions challenged.
What you choose to do with what emerges from our conversations remains yours.
What you choose to do with what emerges from our conversations remains yours.