A coach is, in other words, a personal trainer — someone who supports you in the development process. The fundamental difference between a coach and a mentor or advisor is that a coach gives their client far greater decision-making independence.
Such a person does not impose their views, does not point out mistakes, but also does not hand over ready-made solutions. Their efforts are focused on motivating the client to conduct their own search in order to discover individual abilities, talents, and personal potential.
In coaching, what counts is the here and now – defining the existing situation and finding tools and methods that will make change possible. It is not a therapy session where you deal with the demons of the past.
Coaching aims to improve the client's performance results, as well as to enhance their way of learning and, consequently, to raise their quality of life. Coaching focuses on the present and the future. It does not analyze the past or the influence of past events on an individual's current functioning.
When is it worth getting help from a coach?
- when we care about achieving a certain goal, when there is a challenge, an opportunity to achieve something important
- when our knowledge, skills, and self-confidence are insufficient to achieve the goal
- if we display attitudes or behaviors that do not favor the realization of goals
- when we are not aware of our strengths and of how to develop them
- if there is a lack of a clear assessment of the situation when decisions need to be made
- in a situation when a great effort is needed within a limited time
- when we feel a lack of balance between professional work and personal life
- when there is a need for better organization and independent management of one's own life.
When choosing a coach, one should be guided by:
- the standards under which the coach works (competencies and code of ethics)
- coaching experience
- current membership in coaching organizations
- their attitude and the trust they radiate
- most often, the first meeting of about 30 min is a pro bono session, so it should be used to check whether
- this particular coach is the right person for me.
- on the ICF Global and ICF Poland websites there are profiles of accredited coaches, as people worthy of recommendation who
- provide coaching services based on global standards
A skeptical approach
According to research, Poles still associate coaching and personal development with fraud. Is it really a scam? Personal development is a scam if a development specialist promises that in an easy, quick, and pleasant way they will help you change your life. Personal development is a scam if you think that reading one motivational sentence a day is enough to make real changes to your current habits.
But personal development will not be a scam if you look at yourself holistically and understand that true development must concern your whole person, and therefore not only the soul and mind, but also the body. And development will not be a scam if you accept that it is a process, not a one-time action.
Watch videos by Polish personal development trainers:
