Celebrating International Coaching Week
Celebrating International Coaching Week — Feb. 6-12, 2011
What is International Coaching Week?
According to the International Coach Federation (ICF) on their “coaching week” website page, it is “…for coaches and clients to educate the general public about the value of working with a professional coach and to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process.”
To see more information on what International Coaching Week is, visit their website page at http://www.coachfederation.org/coachingweek/.
For coaches interested in how they can participate, see ICF’s website page at http://www.coachfederation.org/coachingweek/index.cfm/intcoachingweek/participate.
What is coaching?
From their website, “The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Aubrey Malphurs, author of “Maximizing Your Effectiveness”, describes it as, “…helping people discover what they could not discover on their own, so they can become what they want to become.”
Gary Collins, author of “Christian Coaching”, says, “Coaching is the art and practice of guiding a person or group from where they are toward the greater competence and fulfillment that they desire.”
What coaching is not
There is some controversy and discussion in the coaching world as to what truly constitutes coaching. We like to distinguish coaching from counseling and consulting.
Coaches do not focus on the past or deal with healing the client emotionally or mentally like counselors do.
Coaches do not do a lot of telling or teaching to the client assuming that the coach has the answers like consultants do.
Instead coaches use the value of self-discovery and client-generated solutions by asking thought-provoking questions.
Common tools/techniques
With all the controversy around what coaching is and is not there is at least one common tool that all true coaches employ. Marion Franklin, MCC, puts it this way, “As for tools and techniques, ironically, the ONLY tool/technique that can be universal—[is] listening. How we listen, what we hear, don’t hear, that is what coaching is all about.” Marion can be found at http://www.lifecoachinggroup.com.
What distinguishes Christian coaching from secular coaching?
Christian coaching is a specialized form of coaching where the coach permits the Holy Spirit to guide them in their relationship with the client. It includes praying for the clients before, during or after sessions.
It is allowing the Holy Spirit, prayer and Bible principles to permeate the entire coaching process. Christian coaching is also about making sure the answers are coming from the Holy Spirit within, not the carnal man within.
What are the benefits of coaching?
Some of the benefits of receiving coaching are clarity, confidence, enhanced decision making skills, self-awareness, and shifts in thinking. Other benefits include accountability, increased productivity and goal achievement, and enhanced personal satisfaction in life.
Additionally, if the coaching is done from a Christian perspective properly, the client can be assured that the goals, solutions, and outcomes are all in line with God’s will for their life and that they have been drawn closer to God in the process.
If you would like to experience Christian coaching or have any questions please either leave a comment below or fill out the contact form.