The coach truly focuses on the client – who the person is, what they think is true, how they behave, and what they value. All of the extraneous details become irrelevant. A good coach is able to completely release the need to perform or prove their value. As opposed to focusing solely on results, the intention is on purposeful exploration leading organically to long-term transformation that affects all areas of a client’s life. The client naturally creates their own forward movement from a highly motivated perspective. From the literal first question, more profound, insightful coaching in underway. ~M. Franklin, MS, MCC~
Coaching – understanding the transformational approach
Transformational coaching has same principles as life (result) coaching, yet it has an important distinction – the main focus and the journey are different.
In life coaching the main focus is being put on the results – understanding the problem and solving a problematic situation. Client addresses current challenges and expresses desires, while a coach helps a client to define where they are at, clarify where the client wants to be and what the best way to get there is. When a client reaches a goal and gets a satisfying result, they move to another challenge and another desire in the same or another area of life. And again, another problematic situation is being addressed, a need for a new result is being expressed and a plan on how to reach that goal is established. Each coaching session moves the client closer to where they want to be.
Transformational coaching, au contraire, focuses fully on understanding the client – their vision, their desires, their values, their thinking patterns, their identity and their behaviours. Here, the solution to a challenging situation (a result) is a by-product of a profound long-term transformation. The coach is a guide in exploration of what is underneath ‘the problem’ and uncovers the client’s own truth, which leads to a radical change that creates shift in all areas of life.
Transformational coaching impacts all fields of your being: how you behave, the way you see yourself and the world, and how you interact with others. It is about ‘who you are’. It provides a space to improve your self- awareness and discover your own truth. You still get the results you want, yet they are the after-effect of your inner transformation. The relationship and the non-judgmental and safe environment are more important than the result itself.
What coaching is?
Coaching is about creating a partnership with a client and helping them move forward, often towards what they consider a good and satisfying life. It emphasises the value of the present moment and helps to shift the perspective, the vision, so that each person can see in the present what is possible for them in the future.
According to International Coaching Federation (ICF) conventional (life, result) coaching is: “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership. We all have goals we want to reach, challenges we’re striving to overcome and times when we feel stuck. Partnering with a coach can change your life, setting you on a path to greater personal and professional fulfilment.”
Marion Franklin, a globally recognised master coach, wrote about Transformational (Laser-Focused) Coaching: “Most people think coaching is about helping clients. While we do help them, that is not our aim. Our role is to shine a light on something our client cannot see for themselves. And with that light, clients discover things they couldn’t see before, thus helping becomes the by-product. (…) The most common approach to coaching [life, result coaching] usually follows a learned formula or model to solve a problem. The focus is on action and results, making sure the client takes specific steps before the next session. (…) By contrast,(…) transformational coaching relies on understanding the person, not their situation or a problem. A major distinction is that the coach doesn’t automatically accept the client’s words as the truth, because most of what we hear is likely that person’s perception of what’s true. Learning how to distinguish truth from perception is the foundation in Laser-Focused Coaching. It’s about uncovering the misconceptions to reveal client’s own truth rather that what’s true for someone else.”
Coaches are not necessarily better than you in what you are doing, but they are able to look at your situation from the distance and using their skills to actively listen and expertise in asking the provoking questions, they take you to where you cannot take yourself. They support you in finding new perspectives, seeing your potential, dreaming big and motivating you to get out of your comfort zone so that you become your best self and create the life you have always dreamed of.
If there are any negative thoughts or limiting ideas that hold you back, your coach will help you recognise them and create new, empowering thoughts and beliefs. During coaching sessions your coach focuses on the present and the future; therefore they help you define where you are (Present), where you want to be (Future), and how to close that gap (how to get there). If your coach goes back to your past experiences, it is used only as a means of understanding of your current life, thinking patterns and belief system, so that you have a better understanding of why you are the way you are.
Coaching is NOT
Coaching is not a therapy; therefore your coach is not your therapist. Coaches do not treat mental illness, nor provide medical advice, nor diagnose patients, nor do they treat past traumas. If you have any mental challenges, or you are dealing with serious traumas, depression or anxiety, search for help with your psychotherapist, psychologist or other licensed professional health therapist.
Coaching is not about you complaining about your partner or your work, or telling the same old story over and over again. A good coach with stop you when you get too much into the story and will help you refocus your attention towards your goals, dreams and actions that will help you move forward. If you feel the need to ‘talk it all out’, call a friend or write it down in your journal; use the time with your coach to make progress and transform yourself on a deeper level.
What I believe is very important to remember (and what has been inaccurately presented by the self-made ‘experts’ in the field), is that coaching is NOT about the past and healing from past traumas. That part belongs to health professionals – trauma therapists and psychotherapists who are licensed in healing traumas.
Also, coaching is not about your coach talking about their own traumas and their own journey. A coaching session is your time to discover your own inner world and your own deepest needs. It is your safe and non-judgmental space to be who you want to be and make choices for yourself that you want to make. The session is not the time for your coach to impress you with their experiences or present you with the results they or their clients have achieved. Some of people’s stories may be inspiring, however, you do not pay for that sort of inspiration – you pay for guidance and support in creating your own satisfying life.
The power within you
A good coach will respect ‘the 80/20 rule’ – that is you talk for 80% of the time and they take 20% of the time to challenge you and your ideas, to get to know you better and point out something that you may not be able to see. During the coaching session you and your goals are the main focus; it’s your time to peel off layer after layer and learn about yourself and find the best way to get where you want to be.
Coaches do not hold power over you. They do not give advice nor provide solutions and answers to your problems. They support you in finding your own answers and coming up with your own solutions, and they do it by asking questions and helping you to look at your challenges from different perspectives.
You have the power over yourself and your progress depends on how much effort you put into your personal development. In other words, you are the only one that is responsible for the results you are going to achieve, and your coach is there to support you on that journey so that you have a better chance to transform yourself and create the life you want.
In brief – coaching vs therapy vs consulting vs mentoring
Therapy – you work with a therapist – health professional, psychotherapist, psychologist, trauma therapist. A therapist is skilled in walking you through your past experiences in order to help you heal the past pain, work through emotional traumas and improve your mental well being. Depending on diagnose, you may or may not require medications.
Consulting – you work with a consultant, an external expert in the subject, who delivers specialised hands-on approach while working on your business. Your consultant provides professional solutions to specific challenges, prepares the analysis in the given area and gives recommendations.
Mentoring – you work with a mentor who is skilled and experienced in a particular niche and wants to pass down their knowledge to you. Your mentor provides you with training, advice and solutions in that particular subject.
Coaching is NONE of the above.
Your coach is here to help you develop your vision through the process of reflection, asking challenging questions and experimentation. Your coach allows you to dig into the resources within you so that you improve mentally and emotionally as a person, as a leader, in order to be ready to overcome the challenges that come to you, reach your goals and create a satisfying life.
Coaches provide the guidance so that you are able to see yourself from a wider perspective and recognise various opportunities for your future. They focus on the present and the future (not the past). Through asking questions they help you find the best solutions; it is you who makes all the choices and decisions regarding your goals, the direction of your path and action steps, as you are the only one responsible for your life.
Everything you receive and discover during the coaching session is done WITH you, not “for you”.
Feel like you might benefit a coaching session?
See what I do and how I work with my clients – go to ‘Transformational Coaching’.
What I like most about transformational coaching is seeing someone’s potential and making them realise they can be whoever they want to be, and do whatever they want to do, because everything is possible. If they can see it, they will experience it. It’s about shining a light on those parts of a client’s life they can’t see for themselves, so that they can address it and create a change.
It’s the attitude towards life that makes the difference. It’s the understanding of the laws of the Universe that makes the difference. It’s the letting go of control and accepting the flow of life that make the difference. It’s the trust and faith and empowering beliefs that make the difference.
It is you who is in control of making that difference for yourself. I am here to guide you and share with you the techniques and tools that will make that difference work in your favour.
If you wish to find out more about how I could be of help, feel free to click the button below.
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