What is coaching for? A personal development key?
Today, coaching has become an increasingly popular tool for personal and professional development. But what exactly is coaching good for and how can it help us achieve our goals? In this article, we take a detailed look at the benefits, methods and applications of coaching.
What is coaching really?
A coaching a process whereby a trained professional (the coach) helps the client (the coachee) to achieve his or her goals, develop skills and fulfil potential. A coaching is not counselling or therapy, but a collaborative form where the coach supports the client with questions and techniques to find their own solutions.
The principles of coaching
- Partnership: A coach and coachee are equal partners in the process.
- Liability: The client is responsible for his own development and choices.
- Future orientation: Coaching focuses on future goals and solutions.
- Action orientation: The process results in concrete steps and action plans.
Differences between coaching and other development methods
| Method | Focus | Duration | The role of a professional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coaching | Present and future, achieving goals | Usually short to medium term | Ask a question, support |
| Therapy | Dealing with past problems | Often long-term | Diagnosis, treatment |
| Mentoring/Counselling | Transfer of experience | Long-term | Advice, leading by example |
| Training | Skills development | Short, intense | Education, training |
What is coaching for? The main benefits
A coaching can help in many areas for individuals and organisations alike. Let's take a closer look at the benefits it can bring:
1. Supporting personal development
A coaching is an excellent tool for personal development. It helps:
- Deepening our self-awareness
- Identifying and exploiting our strengths
- Identifying and improving our weaknesses
- Increasing our confidence
Example: boosting self-confidence through coaching
A client who consistently undervalued himself at work, with coaching recognised their strengths and learned how to communicate their values more effectively. As a result, she was more confident in meetings and successfully negotiated a pay rise with her boss.
2. Career development and achieving professional goals
Coaching can be very effective in in building your career and achieving your professional goals:
- Support for career planning and change
- Developing leadership skills
- Improving conflict management skills
- Developing more effective time management
Example: career change with coaching support
A marketing manager felt burnt out in his current position and wanted a change. Through a coaching process, she uncovered her true passions and skills and developed a plan of action to successfully transition into the nonprofit sector, where she could put her marketing skills to work for social good.
3. Managing stress and improving work-life balance
A coaching can help you to manage stress and achieve a more balanced life:
- Identifying and managing sources of stress
- Learning relaxation techniques
- Prioritisation and setting boundaries
- Building a healthier lifestyle
4. Develop communication skills
Effective communication is key in both your personal and professional life. Coaching can help:
- Learning assertive communication
- Developing presentation skills
- Practising active listening
- Awareness of non-verbal communication
5. Improving decision-making skills
Coaching supports better decision-making:
- Analysis of decision situations
- Exploring and evaluating alternatives
- Risk analysis and management
- Thinking through the consequences of decisions
How does a coaching process work?
The coaching process usually consists of the following steps:
- Contacting and signing a contractThe client and the coach get to know each other, clarify expectations and agree on a framework.
- Setting objectives: The client defines what they want to achieve during the coaching.
- Situation analysis: The coach helps the client to identify his/her current situation, strengths and areas for improvement.
- Action planning: Specific steps and tasks to achieve the objectives.
- Implementation and monitoring: The client implements the planned actions and the coach provides support and feedback.
- Evaluation and closure: At the end of the process, they jointly evaluate the results achieved and conclude the coaching relationship.
Coaching techniques and tools
Coaches use a variety of techniques and tools in the process, such as:
- GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will)
- NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) techniques
- Values-based coaching
- Cognitive behavioural therapy elements
- Visualisation exercises
What types of coaching exist?
Coaching can be used in many areas. Here are some popular types:
1. Life coaching
Life coaching helps clients to achieve their personal goals, improve their relationships and enhance their overall quality of life.
2. Business coaching
The business coaching for entrepreneurs and managers support them in overcoming their business challenges and developing their companies.
3. career coaching
Career coaching supports individuals' professional development and career change.
4. Executive coaching
The drivers coaching helps leaders develop their leadership skills and manage their teams more effectively.
5. Team coaching
Team coaching aims to improve teamwork and performance.
6. Group coaching
Group coaching is similar to team coaching above, except that in team coaching we are talking about a team of people who know each other and work together, while group coaching is coaching a larger number of people, but we are not talking about a group of people working together as a team, but about a larger (8-10 people) group of people working together at the same time.
Case study: developing leadership skills through coaching
Background
John has recently been promoted to middle manager in a large company. Although he excelled professionally, his management experience was limited and he had difficulty managing and motivating his team.
Challenges
- Communication problems with team members
- Difficulties in delegation and priority setting
- Feeling stressed and overwhelmed
The coaching process
John started working with an experienced executive coach. In the process:
- John's leadership style and its impact on the team revealed
- They practised assertive communication and feedback
- An effective delegation strategy has been developed
- They have learned stress management techniques
Results
After six months of coaching, János has made significant progress:
- Improved communication within the team, increased trust
- John has learned to delegate tasks effectively, reducing his own workload
- Team productivity increased by 20%
- John has become more confident in his leadership role and his stress levels have decreased
How to choose a coach?
The right coach selection is key to successful coaching process. Here are some aspects to consider:
- Qualifications and experience: Check the coach's qualifications and professional experience.
- Specialist area: Choose a coach who is skilled in the area you want to improve.
- Personal match: It's important that you can work well with the coach and trust him.
- Methodology: Learn about the methods and techniques used by the coach.
- References: Ask for references or read feedback from previous customers.
Summary: Why choose coaching?
Coaching can be a very effective tool to support our personal and professional development. In summary, coaching can help:
- In clarifying and achieving our goals
- Increasing our self-awareness and self-confidence
- Developing our skills
- Improving our performance
- Managing stress and improving our quality of life
If you feel stuck in an area or want to move forward but don't know how, you should consider coaching. With the support of a good coach, you can make changes you might not have thought possible.
Remember, the coaching is an investment in yourself and your future. The skills and insights gained here will pay off in the long term in all areas of your life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about coaching
How much does a coaching process usually cost?
The cost of coaching can vary widely, depending on the coach's experience, specialisation and the length of the process. In general, the cost of a coaching session can range from 20.000 HUF up to 100.000 HUF or even higher. A full coaching process usually consists of 6-12 sessions, but this can vary from individual to individual.
What qualifications should a good coach have?
In Hungary, there is currently no mandatory state qualification for coaches, but many coaches start with just a few days of training in the background, but already in Hungary several universities (Corvinus University (BCE), BGE, BME...) offer more serious coaching courses of several semesters, which provide practical background and are accredited by an international organisation, which really gives a university-level coach diploma. The majority of CoachLab coaches have such high level qualifications and several years of experience in coaching and other professional fields, including management. There are also a number of internationally recognised accreditations. The most well-known organisations include the International Coach Federation (ICF), the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and the International Association of Coaching (IAC). These organisations offer different levels of accreditation (e.g. ACC, PCC, MCC for ICF). In addition to qualifications, continuous professional development and practical experience are important.
How does online coaching differ from face-to-face coaching sessions?
Flexibility: online coaching is easier to fit into a busy schedule and does not require travel.
Technology: online platforms (e.g. Zoom, Skype) are used for communication, which can sometimes present technical challenges.
Environment: the client can be in their own familiar environment, which is more comfortable for some, more difficult for others to concentrate on.
Non-verbal communication: in face-to-face sessions, the coach is better able to read the client's body language.
In terms of effectiveness, research shows no significant difference between the two methods, the choice being more a matter of personal preference.
How can the effectiveness of coaching be measured?
There are several ways to measure the effectiveness of coaching:
Achievement of objectives: to assess the achievement of the specific objectives set at the beginning of the process.
Self-assessment: the client's subjective assessment of his/her own progress.
360 degree assessment: feedback from the client's environment (colleagues, managers, family members).
Performance indicators: changes in measurable business or personal performance indicators (e.g. sales results, customer satisfaction).
Psychometric tests: comparison of standardised tests completed before and after the process.
ROI (Return on Investment): in the case of business coaching, a comparison between the amount invested and the financial value of the results achieved.
What ethical rules should a coach follow?
Coaches follow a strict code of ethics. Key ethical principles include:
Confidentiality: the coach is obliged to keep information received from the client confidential.
Avoiding conflicts of interest: the coach must not take on a client with whom a personal or business relationship could influence the coaching process.
Respecting boundaries of competence: the coach will only work in areas in which he/she is competent and will refer the client to another professional if necessary.
Professional development: continuous self-development and following the evolution of the coaching profession.
Fair contract terms: clear and unambiguous agreement with the client on the framework and remuneration of the process.
Respecting client autonomy: the coach should not make decisions for the client and should respect the client's values and goals.
These ethical rules ensure that the coaching process is professional, safe and in the best interests of the client.
