Why coaching is so powerful

Why is coaching becoming so commonplace in companies large and small around the world? Because it works. Coaching is powerful.

Coaching helps people at any level – whether they are self-employed or gainfully employed – learn and grow to become better versions of themselves. The key reasons why coaching seems to be so powerful are these:

• There is a plan
• There is forward movement
• There is reflection
• There is accountability
• There is support
• There is enthusiasm

Let us look at each one of these reasons to better understand how they support the effectiveness of coaching.

1. There is a plan. Most coaching engagements have a clear plan for what the coachee aspires to achieve through the work. At times the aspiration may be to develop certain skills and capabilities while at other times it may be to reach a long-sought goal. Either way, there is clarity, which is powerful in and of itself. So many people fail to focus their energy on a plan with clarity and that holds them back from being truly great.
2. There is forward movement. Coaching is all about looking out into the future, mapping out a plan to get to the desired destination, then taking massive action to get there. In the beginning of a coaching program, a weekly cadence of meeting with a coach usually creates the best momentum. In between meetings, there is forward movement. With this regular purposeful action, coaching gains its power to change lives.
3. There is reflection. Action without reflection may get you moving but in the wrong direction headed to the wrong destination. Reflection during coaching conversations and in between sessions helps the process of adjustment, an essential part of achievement. Coaching brings reflection into the lives of coachees and gives it meaning and space to generate new ideas for adapted forward movement. It’s an important process that many skip in the busyness of daily life.
4. There is accountability. While great achievement is entirely possible without someone there to push and hold one responsible for action, it is less likely to happen without it. Moreover, the results probably wouldn’t occur as quickly without accountability. It’s not a coincidence that winners like accountability and great coaches present it in a positive way. Indeed, some prospective coachees hire coaches almost exclusively to be held accountable to get the work done that truly matters in the long run.
5. There is support. Accountability without support can feel cold and hard. The best coaches bring both and the sixth element, too. Everyone likes support, even those who are internally driven. Life moves fast and many are focused on themselves. A coach focuses 100% of their energy on the client and provides sincere support that gives boost to the motivation to succeed even during tough times.
6. There is enthusiasm. Coaches stand in the gap between where the coachee is and where they want to go. In that gap the coach claps and cheers as each important milestone is reached with great enthusiasm. As noted above, superior coaches will balance accountability, support and enthusiasm in proper portions at the right times to pull the client’s absolute best effort out of them again and again.

Now pull up for a higher look at these six elements and you might notice that the first three are mostly done by the client while the latter three are mostly done by the coach. This circle of coaching, which rolls forward, is powerful and able to get done what may have been elusive previously. And this may be a key reason why coaching is a growing field and being used increasingly across all levels of organizations to propel them further and faster towards success.

Want to learn a way to raise the power of your coaching? Read our article about avoiding stacking questions in coaching conversations here.

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• Why Executive Coaching is So Powerful! | Benefits of Working With an Executive Business Coach
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