Unraveling the Confusion around the word, … COACHING

As it is with many things, we’ve come to know the meaning of coaching from our own perspective. If we drill down to the origin of the word, according to Merriam-Webster.com, the earliest use of the term, coach, referred to a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage in the 15 th century and was later used to describe an educational tutor in the 18 th century.

It seems obvious in both cases, that the purpose of a coach is to assist with “transporting” someone from where they are to where they want/need to be. When we stop to consider how many different possibilities there are in how that assistance might be given…. it’s no wonder we’re confused!

The WHAT of coaching provides assistance with reaching a destination/goal.

The HOW of coaching takes multiple forms, refers to many types of professions (athletic coach, life coach, business strategy coach, wellness coach, executive coach, trainer/mentor coach, and so on), requires specific knowledge/competencies, and begins with a varied understanding about the process itself.

Therefore, the commonality of coaching can be found in the WHAT while much of the confusion rests in the HOW. Communicating a clear focus and expectations at the start will help to minimize confusion.

LAUBER COACHING is focused on:

• Professional Development Coaching within organizations, and it may include executives, other leaders, teams, and individual contributors
• The belief that each coaching participant is unique, creative, and ultimately responsible for moving their own life forward in the direction of their goals and aspirations
• Creating an equal and trusting partnership where the Coach utilizes specific competencies to assist the participant with recognizing gaps in their thinking and designing actions that lead to a positive path forward

What to Expect
With a Lauber Coaching Engagement, participants can Expect to look up from their day-to-day responsibilities and reflect on their performance in a confidential, non-judgmental environment. More than a series of open-ended questions, the Coach will bring skills of reflective inquiry and challenging feedback - based on current research about sustaining desired change. And, while many participants have had prior experience with assessments, the Coach creates significant value by integrating in-depth assessment insights with practical steps for professional growth. Finally, when it’s clear that the participant would benefit, the Coach will share relevant knowledge or expertise as an alternative course of action, not as specific advice or a directive.

While we may not have eliminated all confusion around the word coaching, we hope that we’ve clearly highlighted HOW we go about Lauber Coaching.

At Lauber Business Partners, we understand what it takes to deliver exceptional Coaching services that will significantly impact your bottom line. If you want to learn more about how your organization could benefit from Lauber Coaching, please contact us by email [email protected] or by phone 414-273-8060.