The 10 myths about Coaching
Although today it is considered a fashion or a popular tool, actually Coaching is one of the oldest human empowerment tools that exist , in addition to those that more self-knowledge, learning and welfare report to people. Why?
Simply because this tool follows the principles of human nature itself: listen, know yourself, see yourself, and through a mirror that asks you powerful questions (that is the coach), discover all the potential we have and develop it through action (in addition to reflection). However, today there are a thousand myths about coaching and this makes it difficult for us to know what the reality and potential of this tool is. Do not be fooled. Find out what it is with this article, but above all do not forget to experience it.
Defining concepts
Coaching, really, comes from the Socratic dialogue . Socrates, with his followers, used a system of active listening and powerful questions so that they themselves would discover how they interpreted life, tried to solve problems, or what their blockages were (blockages that we create ourselves, through our values, beliefs, impressions, interpretations, judgments about others and ourselves, always biased and limited).
This tool was modernized in the last century with the practice of tennis, and later, with the development of a new type of business consulting in the USA (where these consultants, with the support of social psychologists, discovered that the most profound changes occurred in people who were responsible for their decision making and were aware that they were the ones who could change their reality by changing something of themselves). Today, Coaching is a powerful tool for human empowerment, both for companies ... and for anyone, since Coaching works with people, it is a system for human beings.
The reasons for the controversies surrounding Coaching
Why are there so many myths then if the tool is so simple? Mainly for three reasons. In the first place, Coaching has become so popular (due to the powerful results it offers) that there is a lot of professional intrusion. In short, many people say they are "coach" when they are not, but they offer talks, try to motivate, and sell you a theory of happiness, or advise you in some way (in nutrition, sports, public speaking, well-being, entrepreneurship , life of a couple, etc.).
- By the way, in this sense it is necessary to distinguish clearly: I recommend the article "Differences between Psychology and Coaching".
Second, because there are too many Coaching labels today , when in reality there is only Coaching and labels are just marketing strategies. And third, because many people, instead of learning and experiencing what Coaching really is, prefer to keep the wrong impression. Let's explain 10 simple myths about Coaching ... to help you really know what it is;)
1. Coaching is for companies
Coaching is a tool that smart and human companies usually use. Why? Because the results obtained depend on the state in which the people are ... When a person awakens his potential and feels full, his professional results are greater. So Coaching is not for companies ... but for people, and companies are made up of people.
Coaching is for anyone who wants awaken your talent and experience a profound change.
2. Coaching is training
Although in English "coach" means to train, the profession of Coaching owes its name to the term "kocz" of the Hungarian language, which means "car". It is said so because a Coaching process is like a car trip, from where you are (as you think, believe, feel and act now) to where you can be (where you want to be if you develop that part of you that is a bit stuck)
3. Coaching is motivation for groups
Coaching does not motivate, but rather Accompanies a person to learn to motivate herself . This is effective and lasts forever, while a motivation for groups is just that ... a talk whose effect vanishes over time. Remember that Coaching is a tool that takes place privately and personally, between the person and the coach, not in groups. In a group, Coaching tools can be used, but it will never be like a true Coaching process.
4. Coaching is a system to make money
Nothing is further from reality. Coaching is a tool of human empowerment, where you choose your goals and what do you want to achieve in your life, what do you want to change about yourself, what area of your personality do you want to develop, what do you want to learn?
5. Coaching is therapy
Coaching is not therapy, nor psychology. Coaching is a tool focused on the present, on what happens, and above all on solutions and on your learning, while therapy focuses on dysfunctional problems or behaviors.
6. Coaching is professional training
Coaching helps you discover your talent and develop it, and this may help you professionally or not, it depends again on your goals. A true Coach, he accompanies you to achieve your goals, and it is you who learns from yourself. A coach does not train you, does not teach you, does not intrude you, is not a teacher. A coach only accompanies you expertly so that you learn from yourself, as Socrates did with his students, as if he were a faithful mirror of yourself.
7. Coaching is a technique to quit smoking, lose weight or have better self-esteem
The objectives that you choose in Coaching depend on you. You will tell your coach and that professional will help you focus clearly on what you want. Never Coaching is a system to achieve specific objectives, but the person chooses freely.
8. Coaching is a fashion tool
As we said, Coaching is as old as Socrates . Probably Coaching exists since a human being listened to another, understood his way of seeing life, and asked him some question that made him realize that everything can be different.
9. Coaching is magic
The results of Coaching they do not happen by magic nor are they based on any "secret". It is you, the person, who gets the results with your change, with your actions, with your commitment. The coach accompanies you on that path.
10. Coaching transforms your life
Coaching is just a tool, but the protagonist is you. The coach is an expert in accompanying you in a way in which you will learn in an accelerated way about yourself and where you can change your mental programming or way of seeing life and feel it ... in such a way, that something will change in you and you can be more yourself than ever, more natural and full. It is you who transforms himself.
And finally, an important myth, not about Coaching ... but about Coaches:
11. Being a coach is easy, you just have to have charisma ...
A coach is first of all a professional, a person trained in Coaching in an arduous way (at least, Master's degree and several years of learning and professional experience , besides setting an example with their own lifestyle, motivated by changes, challenges, responsibility and commitments). A coach is not the protagonist, but you are the protagonist. The success of a coach is the success achieved by the people with whom he works. A coach can be a great speaker or have charisma, but above all you need a lot of learning, humility and experience, as well as knowledge and training. Actually, the most beautiful thing about this tool that can make us see how valuable we are and the great power we have to change our reality ... is to be a coachee (the person who hires the coach and wants to live the process).
- How should a good coach be? Find out by reading this article.
Also remember that a coaching process takes place privately between coachee (client) and coach, in private sessions (between 6 and 12). Coaching it's just a system to accelerate your learning and discover you in time . Dare to start a path towards yourself.
