What Is Coaching?
The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching honors the client as the expert in their life and work and is grounded in the belief that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.
From this foundation, the coach’s responsibility is to:
- Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
- Encourage client self-discovery
- Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
- Hold the client responsible and accountable
Coaches are trained to listen, observe, and customize their approach to each client’s needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client, trusting in the client’s natural creativity and resourcefulness. The coach’s role is to provide support that enhances the skills, resources, and creativity the client already possesses.
