What Coaching Is: My Point Of View

Sanchita, an MBA student who is interning with my company (Symphony Services Corporation), met me yesterday to discuss some aspects of her summer project on 'coaching quotient.' During this discussion, I found myself creating the following in response to her question on 'performance coaching.' I acknowledge Sanchita for triggering these thoughts in me:

All coaching is for about and about only performance - performance at work and outside work, in any and every aspect of one's life. Therefore, the word 'performance' in 'performance coaching' is redundant. Conversely, if performance is not the focus of 'coaching' then it is not coaching.

'Coaching' is not very clearly distinguished from other forms of learning-support activities like mentoring, training, counselling, advising etc.

The distinguishing features of coaching can be understood from what a coach does. These are:

1. Coaches commit themselves to the coachees meeting their aimed-for performance - they declare themselves to be an unquestionable stand for the coachees to win



2. Coaches observe the coachees when they are actually performing, 'on the court' so to say, and assess what needs to be brought forth by the coachees to up their performance



3. Coaches decide what the coachees now need to do to impact their performance



4. Coaches instruct the coachees to do (and/or not to do) this, that and the other



5. Coaches observe the coachees as they are carrying out the instructions as above



6. Coaches correct the coachees - often on the spot - based on such observations



7. Coaches do everything and anything that is required to have the coachees perform as aimed for - including teaching including domenstrating, encouraging by providing positive strokes, and even admonishing when needed.