11/10/2023
Where does coaching sit?
Coaching is a powerful intervention. The effect of a coach on a team or on a sportsperson is often an inspiration to us all. But what is it?
A common way of describing coaching is to put it in the context of the other 4 main interventions: consulting, mentoring, coaching and therapy.
There is a great deal of overlap between these, and we might experience elements of all of these in a conversation. But in most circumstances if we need “something” the starting point will depend on the need. If one does not know how to do something and needs to ask how to proceed, mentoring is the best intervention, as the expert can share their experience and guide. If I need to be told the answer, there is something I do not know, then consult is the place to start. “How do I…”. A therapist or counsellor is best placed to guide us when we want to make sense of a problem, especially where the past has a hold on us.
If we are stuck and we want to move forward for the solution to our “stuck-ness” coaching is often best placed for a way forward.
