Someone asked me this question in an online forum. Here was my response:
“It depends on your definition of coaching. ICF (International Coaching Federation) defines coaching as ‘partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.’ I submit to a definition that is ‘the facilitation of growth and change.’
If you are making a distinction in the processes of coaching and consulting, then ICF describes a true coaching-only process as 95% of the time the coach is asking questions and listening to the answers, and 5% of the time or less giving advice. I was trained at CoachU in an ICF-certified program and in many other coaching and emotional and energetic healing programs over the past 16 years.
My professional background is in leadership, management, employee development, teaching and sales. Therefore, I use a hybrid of coaching, training, teaching and healing to give my clients the best results in the fastest, most sustainable and most enjoyable way for them.
That said, the work starts with coaching by helping the client clarify their vision and direction; ends with coaching, because I can advise someone in a particular strategy or teach them a skill or set of skills, but in order to have the best implementation an execution of those, those need to be 1. Determined by the client if they are appropriate solutions for them (using coaching techniques); 2. Helping the client customize and the solutions for the client’s best use of them and desired outcomes; and using coaching throughout the relationship to find what works best for them and help them discover and apply learnings, and course-correct to get the best results.”
The question of if the process I use with clients is coaching or consulting was asked after providing my Coaching Services page as an example list when asked what solutions business coaching can bring to a client.
No matter how you personally define coaching, consulting, training, etc., I believe the more important question is “What results do your clients get?” That’s when you can see if there’s alignment enough to go into a deeper conversation and see if a coach is the right one to help you overcome your challenges and achieve what you want.
