This blog is to clarify what the different types of coaching are, to help anyone that is thinking about having coaching or anyone that is interested to learn what it’s all about.
I detail the definition and impact of nine different types of coaching and I haven’t included life coaching or wellness coaching. – No wonder its confusing!
To add to the confusion, the objectives of one ‘type’ of coaching often cross over with the objectives of another ‘type’.
As coaches we provide different types of coaching in one session, depending on what the client needs.
I am an Executive, Leadership and Development Coach, trained to ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching and NLP Practitioner trained. My coaching supports the definition and impact of all types of coaching I’ve listed. I use whatever coaching skills, tools and models as well as NLP techniques depending on what is relevant to the person at the time. I will positively impact a clients business but I don’t describe myself as a business coach.
So what are the different types:
- Executive Coaching
- Leadership Coaching
- Business Coaching
- Performance Coaching
- Strengths Coaching
- Team Coaching
- Transformational Coaching
- Transition Coaching
- Career Coaching
- Wellness Coaching
When you hear the word coaching, some general thoughts may come to mind, maybe ‘self-development’ or ‘personal and professional growth’.
Coaching is probably one of the most—if not the most—individually tailored practices in talent development. It is bespoke and totally focused on the client. It’s a partnership that unites on a clients goals.
But what is it exactly is it and what does it do. What’s the impact?
Definition of coaching:
According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching is defined as:
‘ a partnership with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching is a client-driven process that’s distinct from other service professions, such as counselling, mentoring, consulting and training’
It’s being used for professionals who want to be their best and managers and leaders who want to use coaching skills to work on an organisations culture.
A well-managed coaching relationship, along with an adequate period of time and a motivated client can lead to impressive results.
But it’s confusing . What sort of coaching is right for you. There are so many different types. So let’s get to it…
Executive Coaching:
Definition: Fundamentally, executive coaches support their clients to navigate through their workload and identify key moments when they are most open to learning, to reach their individual goals and to exceed corporate expectations.
Executive Coaching creates a space to work through dilemmas so executives can transform their learning directly into results for themselves and their organisation.
Impact:
Executive Coaching results in:
- Clarity of purpose and connects people in the organisation to it.
- Organised thinking, visioning, planning and expectations.
- Expanded learning that goes beyond the current level of competence.
- Increased capacity for resilience in tough situations.
Leadership Coaching
Definition: A tailored, individualized approach to maximise performance .Encouragement to accomplish an objective. Leadership coaching works on understanding and then alleviating the barriers that exist in the direction of the leader achieving their purposes.
In its purest form leadership coaching refers to working with the leaders of an organization to help them maximize their abilities and lead their teams in their best way. It provides bespoke personalised support considering a person leadership style and their aspirational style.
Impact:
Leadership coaching results in:
- an increased ability to self-manage.
- an increase in self-reliance and empowerment.
- People gaining new perspectives and insights into how they lead and how they are perceived in their leadership.
- enhanced independent thinking resulting in authentic leadership.
- improved performance of the individual and their team.
Business Coach
Definition: A business coach is a type of consultant that provides an outside perspective for you and your business. They will help you address not only business issues, but issues of a more personal nature, like finding career fulfilment and figuring out what’s most important to you.
Impact:
Business Coaching results in:
- Radical personal understanding
- A thought-provoking, introspective and creative process
- Empowerment to maximise personal potential.
- Empowerment to maximise business potential.
- Successful companies.
- Stronger leadership qualities
- Higher states of performance.
- Improves trust in a team.
- Increases efficiency
- Improves focus.
Performance Coaching
When we think of performance we often think of sport and a competitive mindset.
But performance coaching is suitable for leaders, employees, groups and individuals irrespective of their working environment.
Definition: Performance coaching, also known as high performance coaching is an ongoing process that aims to improve employee performance in the workplace. It involves providing support as a coach, sharing feedback and encouraging continuous improvement.
Performance coaches use a combination of high challenge and high support.
Impact:
Performance Coaching Results in:
- Increased will power and self-discipline.
- Identification of barriers to achieving.
- Improves efficiency, productivity and effectiveness.
- New habits and learning new skills.
- An accountability partnership.
- Personal and professional performance
- Identifying skills gaps/skills improvement.
Strengths Coaching.
This style of coaching uses a strengths based approach.
Definition: ‘Supporting a client to identify their own strengths as a means to build confidence and self-efficacy to face into challenges, solve problems and achieve the changes they are seeking to make.’
This work may be supported by a psychometric tool that defines a person’s strengths and supports performance and the achievement of goals.
Impact:
Strengths Coaching results in:
- Increased motivation.
- Clarity of strengths.
- A focus on the positives.
- Increased performance.
- Identification of drivers
- Aligned motivations to goals
Team Coaching
This is all about results for the team, the organisation and for the individuals that make up the team.
Definition: A challenging and unpredictable process that goes beneath the surface of team dynamics, hierarchy and the perceived presenting challenges. It seeks out the root of what needs to be addressed, the root that never normally sees the light, in order to make transformational change.
It cuts through the distractions and the noise and focuses on what matters. It’s all in service of a team uniting on a common goal.
Impact:
Team Coaching results in:
- Ability to navigate challenges successfully.
- Greater collaboration.
- Increased trust.
- Enhanced rapport and relationships.
- A high performing team.
- A united approach.
- Increased results.
Transformational Coaching
Definition: Transformational coaching supports an increase in self-awareness and to recognise what is happening subconsciously, with a view to exploring helpful ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.
It is conducive to team working, it supports the development of all relationships, personal and professional, builds on appreciating diversity in a team and helps teams work collaboratively.
Impact:
Transformational Coaching and transition coaching (below) share impacts with all other types of coaching listed in this blog with the emphasis on transformation.
Transition Coaching
Definition: It supports transition in a person’s life, perhaps a career change or promotion.
- A new role or position
- Provides clarity about objectives in the short-medium term
- Addresses obstacles and challenges
- Work on a development plan
- Consider elements of the role and how to engage with it e.g stakeholder engagement.
With both transformational coaching and transition coaching the focus is on the individual. If the individual is motivated and happy, this will show in their results, their leadership and their level of job satisfaction.
Career Coaching
Definition: Career coaching is when a coach and a client work one to one to help reach career goals and full potential. Career coaches help with career planning, career changes, career advice and other carer decisions.
Impact:
Career coaching results in:
- Clear navigation of a career transition.
- Carer planning
- Identification of transferable skills.
- Establishment of career goals.
- Development of professional goals.
- Clear way to upskill or reskill.
- Strategies to enhance career develop
Phew, so that’s a whistle stop tour of nine different types of coaching.
If you’re looking for a coach, I invite you to consider three things:
- Work backwards. Firstly, consider what you want the outcome of coaching to be. What do you want to achieve by the end of it?
- Consider your current position and stage of development and see which ‘type’ it aligns with. What’s missing for you?
- Do some research, have a look at their website and their social media and see how you feel after reading about them/ what work they do. Arrange to speak with them and ask as many questions as you need to ask.
The most important thing is feeling that you could work with that coach. You need to feel comfortable to get the most out of the sessions.
If you have any questions or would like further information please feel free to get in touch. I am more than happy to answer any questions about coaching to help you choose the right person for you.
A coaches primary role is to serve you, help you identify what you want and how to achieve it.