Coaching
- Coaches help people make changes in their lives
Coaching to facilitate change was a model introduced in the late 1980s. It uses techniques derived from clinical psychology, focuses on finding solutions, and is future-oriented.
During the 1960s and 1970s it was most common that upper management in large organisations made the decisions. This started to change in the 1980s; workers were encouraged to contribute to decisions, giving them opportunities for growth and change. With these opportunities came the need for training and the management of one’s own career.
Over the past two decades the concept of careers has changed dramatically. Careers used to be linear and employees tended to rely on their employers for promotion and movement, with stability being a given. However, today, change is constant – our lives are becoming increasingly unstable and transitory.
Coaches generally work one-to-one with their clients to inspire them to become self-reliant and manage change effectively.
Coaches work with their clients on issues such as:
- work-life balance
- dealing with conflict
- increasing productivity
- working as part of a team
- effective leadership
- communication skills
- relationships
- parenting skills.
Coaches may use techniques that help their client to:
- identify life values
- clarify what they want from life
- set effective goals
- monitor progress
- stay focused
- remain committed
- reassess and re-examine ideas and strategies.
The coaching approach sits well with career professionals because it is goal-oriented. People turn to coaching for a range of reasons; however, the constant theme is that they wish to be successful in making a life change.
Sources
- Grant, A, 'It’s Your Life. What Are You Going to do With It?', Harlow: Pearson Higher Education, 2004.
- Hudson, F, 'The Handbook of Coaching', San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.
