What is Coaching?
There are all kinds of coaches. It’s a wide and dynamic field that began at the beginning of the 90s. It’s related to psychology but we are not degreed psychologists, though many psychologists are in fact coaches as well. Nonetheless a coach has to be a practical psychologist simply because of all the things involved.
Traditional talk therapy focuses on issues (“what’s the problem?”) and revisits the past and hurt (“what happened?”), coaching focuses on solutions and resources (“what do you want”?, “ how can you get it?”) or discovering other important things (“whatever else will bring your life into balance?”). If you’re depressed for example; you might go to a therapist so as not to be unhappy any longer. Coaching does not treat depression or any other mental illness. Coaches have a different kind of training and methods. Instead we teach things, support you and help you to focus. Something we might do is figure what the things are that mean most to you - and have you feel as if you already have them. Then, take little steps to actually go after them. Not to mention get you literally moving, also little by little. If you were really working on the things that really matter to you - how do you feel?
“Self-Esteem is The Immune System of the Mind and Spirit” – Lee Pulos
A physical therapist or trainer are a little more like a coach in that they will help you do the exercises that will hopefully regain normalcy and improve a condition. A life coach is somewhat similar but whatever problems we come across are just obstacles to overcome on our way to your goals including ones that balance your life. “Most people have very few points of view” - John Overdurf (one of my teachers). It’s my job to help you get more points of view. That will give YOU more space to maneuver. If you had a coach what would you want that coach to do for you? Let me ask that again in a different way; if you were at your very best; what would you want a coach to help you with?
Where would the winning team be without their coaches? Or the individual athlete? Coaching is the difference between the ice skater getting the gold and the one watching her get it. A coach helps you get and keep the mindset of a winner because that’s how you win. Do you really think you can succeed with a mindset that lacks the winning edge? Practice is a most important thing but if you practice incorrectly you'll be very good at doing something poorly. A coach helps you get it right and consistently. This is how excellence is achieved - by anyone at all. Though a coach and his client enjoy a close and confidential relationship it’s not long term. How long the business relationship lasts depends on what type of coaching is being done. I could coach you and you might get your outcome with one session or we can have an ongoing relationship that produces huge results.
When I first got my coach Doug O’Brien, my performance and results sky rocketed. He helped me stay focused on the things I was already doing but there was more. I went from talking about going after a dream to actually going after it! After a while, as an experiment and to learn more from other coaches I let him go. My performance was not nearly as good. And it got worse over time. Then I asked a friend to coach me (for free) who had no experience in these matters but had a really good head on his shoulders. My performance improved but not by much. And that also waned. Why? Well obviously one is expert and the other is not. However that’s not all of it. It’s that one I paid and the other I did not. When you care enough for something to actually pay for it out of your own pocket - then you get what you’re paying for. When you invest your hard-earned cash then you take it seriously. There’s an old saying about the difference between money and BS. What was it now?
A huge dynamic with coaching is accountability. When you leave your home you get dressed and look your best so that others can see you that way. Most people you come across don’t even know you, yet you still want them to see you that way. More so, the people you associate with; you want them to think of you in a certain way. Now imagine how it will be with a coach. It’s a primary benefit of the relationship. You’ll want to do good … and you will. You’ll have no greater advocate.
It’s real simple. Having a coach greatly improves your performance. However psychology being the wonderful thing that it is has a great surprise for us. Definitely knowing you’re getting a coach also improves your performance, though not as significantly. Having no coach and knowing you’re not getting one gives you exactly the performance you’ve been having. The mind is a remarkable thing.
Captain Coaching
Traditional talk therapy focuses on issues (“what’s the problem?”) and revisits the past and hurt (“what happened?”), coaching focuses on solutions and resources (“what do you want”?, “ how can you get it?”) or discovering other important things (“whatever else will bring your life into balance?”). If you’re depressed for example; you might go to a therapist so as not to be unhappy any longer. Coaching does not treat depression or any other mental illness. Coaches have a different kind of training and methods. Instead we teach things, support you and help you to focus. Something we might do is figure what the things are that mean most to you - and have you feel as if you already have them. Then, take little steps to actually go after them. Not to mention get you literally moving, also little by little. If you were really working on the things that really matter to you - how do you feel?
“Self-Esteem is The Immune System of the Mind and Spirit” – Lee Pulos
A physical therapist or trainer are a little more like a coach in that they will help you do the exercises that will hopefully regain normalcy and improve a condition. A life coach is somewhat similar but whatever problems we come across are just obstacles to overcome on our way to your goals including ones that balance your life. “Most people have very few points of view” - John Overdurf (one of my teachers). It’s my job to help you get more points of view. That will give YOU more space to maneuver. If you had a coach what would you want that coach to do for you? Let me ask that again in a different way; if you were at your very best; what would you want a coach to help you with?
Where would the winning team be without their coaches? Or the individual athlete? Coaching is the difference between the ice skater getting the gold and the one watching her get it. A coach helps you get and keep the mindset of a winner because that’s how you win. Do you really think you can succeed with a mindset that lacks the winning edge? Practice is a most important thing but if you practice incorrectly you'll be very good at doing something poorly. A coach helps you get it right and consistently. This is how excellence is achieved - by anyone at all. Though a coach and his client enjoy a close and confidential relationship it’s not long term. How long the business relationship lasts depends on what type of coaching is being done. I could coach you and you might get your outcome with one session or we can have an ongoing relationship that produces huge results.
When I first got my coach Doug O’Brien, my performance and results sky rocketed. He helped me stay focused on the things I was already doing but there was more. I went from talking about going after a dream to actually going after it! After a while, as an experiment and to learn more from other coaches I let him go. My performance was not nearly as good. And it got worse over time. Then I asked a friend to coach me (for free) who had no experience in these matters but had a really good head on his shoulders. My performance improved but not by much. And that also waned. Why? Well obviously one is expert and the other is not. However that’s not all of it. It’s that one I paid and the other I did not. When you care enough for something to actually pay for it out of your own pocket - then you get what you’re paying for. When you invest your hard-earned cash then you take it seriously. There’s an old saying about the difference between money and BS. What was it now?
A huge dynamic with coaching is accountability. When you leave your home you get dressed and look your best so that others can see you that way. Most people you come across don’t even know you, yet you still want them to see you that way. More so, the people you associate with; you want them to think of you in a certain way. Now imagine how it will be with a coach. It’s a primary benefit of the relationship. You’ll want to do good … and you will. You’ll have no greater advocate.
It’s real simple. Having a coach greatly improves your performance. However psychology being the wonderful thing that it is has a great surprise for us. Definitely knowing you’re getting a coach also improves your performance, though not as significantly. Having no coach and knowing you’re not getting one gives you exactly the performance you’ve been having. The mind is a remarkable thing.
Captain Coaching