why use coaching and what does it entail?

Coaching helps people explore their strengths and weaknesses in order to improve an aspect of their working or personal life. A coach will empower a client to make decisions, set and reach their goals, or deal with challenges. Often people use a coach to build their self-confidence when they face a particular challenge.
 
In a ‘2017 Global Consumer Awareness Study’, the International Coach Federation found that participants in the study gave the following reasons for participating in coaching (in no particular order):

• Improve work/life balance
• Increase self-esteem/self confidence
• Expand professional career opportunities
• Improve business management strategies
• Increase productivity
• Optimise individual/team performance
• Improve communication skills

 
Benefits of coaching
 
Having a coach will enable the client to:

• Set realistic goals and ensure that they are the ones the client wants to achieve 
• Start taking action immediately
• Develop new skills to increase the chance of success
• Increase their focus and productivity and spend more time on what matters to them
• Eliminate the blocks that keeps them from achieving your goals and
• Improve their motivation and create a momentum that makes it easy to get results.

 
A typical individual coaching approach
 
Coaching is forward focused to deliver results and is typically in three stages, highlighted below.
 
These stages and the number of sessions are designed and customised depending on the need of the client. The session plans are also flexible and the coach is ready to adapt the session, even within a session, depending on what has happened since the last session.
 
1 - The chemistry session(s)– this initial work is aimed at building a rapport with the client and clarifying their goal.  Typically over one or two sessions, the coach helps to focus the client on defining what they would like to achieve and to understand where they are now in relation to their goal. 
 
2 - The coaching sessions– as a thinking partner, the coach creates an environment for the client to create their own self-awareness through looking at values, beliefs and behaviours. The aim is to enable the client to eliminate blocks, facilitate deep-rooted behaviour change and take action. During the sessions, the coach will challenge the client’s thinking and deal with any live issues whilst keeping in mind progress towards the desired goal. 
 
The sessions can be face-to-face, but are increasingly by video-call or by phone. 
 
It is usual for the most change to take place in between the sessions when the client continues to learn, reflect and practice any behaviour changes or take action as appropriate.
 
Learning and progress on any actions that the client commits to, is reviewed at every session.
 
3 - The final session– this is where the coaching is evaluated and progress is recognised and celebrated. Plans are also made to make any changes in behaviour sustainable.
 
Mazamo individual coaching is usually over six sessions, with each session normally being 4 weeks apart. Team coaching is normally four sessions over a total three-month period.
 
If you would like to know more about coaching and how Mazamo can support you or your organisation, please contact Mario Moustras to arrange a phone conversation.

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Author

Mario Moustras PhD CSci CChem FRSC is a leadership and talent development coach. He is a members of the International Coach Federation.
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