Stages of Coaching

What is Coaching?

The word ‘coach’ comes from a place in northern Hungary called ‘Kocs,’ where carriages that were drawn by horses were manufactured. Coach’s definition as an instructor or trainer dates back to 1830 when it was Oxford University’s exclamation for a tutor who ‘carried’ a student through an exam; the phrase was then used to improve athletes’ performance in the 1800s. Thus coaching dates back to the time when sewing machines came into the picture. Well, now that we know how coaching enters this world, let us now explore what is coaching?

Coaching in simple words can be defined as a human development process. It incorporates structured, focused contact and the application of suitable tactics, tools, strategies, and approaches to promote desired and long-term change for the coachee and sometimes other stakeholders.

The popularity of coaches is undeniable, and an increasing number of organizations across all economic sectors are commissioning coaches to assist their employees at various phases of their careers. All types of coaching, in their own unique way, seek to develop a solution to cater to the needs of the clients. Thus the whole process of coaching is to provide to the client.

Is Coaching for me?

Another important question that comes into their mind is- Is coaching for me? Well, it’s true, for those who are aspiring to become a coach, always have a doubt if coaching is the right path for them. So, whatever career path you are on, be it you are a businessman, a leader, a CEO, a manager, a doctor, or any other profession, coaching is always an option for you. It’s simple, it is like an add-on advantage for you.

Now, that we know that anyone can be a part of coaching. Let us explore, different stages of Coaching.

Stages of Coaching

Coaching is a dynamic process. It requires constant attention and upgrades suiting the needs of a client. Numerous clients who are coaches have their fair share of struggles. There is a lot of uncertainty, chaos, and a lack of awareness when it comes to seeing the right way. Let’s explore all the stages of coaching to change this belief.

Comprehension

The first step in the stages of coaching is comprehension or awareness. The coaching process begins with the coach meeting the coach. This is the primary and the most important step as the coach and the coach builds a relationship with each other. Both- the coach and the coachee need to understand that they are two unknown people who are stepping into something serious. Both sides meet to discuss the goals and expected outcomes. A "confidentiality agreement" outlines what information can be shared and with whom at the end of the enrolling process. The coach and the coachee meet to get to know each other, share information, and plan the coaching process and activities. So before they even begin, they should know each other and build a powerful relationship with each other that will help them further in the coaching process.

Analysis

So after the coach and the client establish a relationship and they know each other, they move to the second step in the stages of coaching that is analysis. In this stage, the coach plays an active role in understanding the client. The coach along with the coachee sits together during a coaching session to analyze the following:

• The coachee- The coach in the second Coaching session actively participates in settling in the clone of the client. The coach does that so as to understand from what space the client is coming from. He needs to know the other person.
• The problem- The coach then steps into the problem. Problem identification is another important step. Because without knowing the problem one might not find the solution and the process of coaching will fall flat.
• The aspirations- Aspirations are another important thing to understand about the client because sometimes the clients can come up with ambitions they want to achieve that are beyond the control of humans.

Goal setting

The third step in the stages of coaching is goal setting. In this step, the coaches after the identification of the problem create an action plan to achieve the goal. By setting of goal, we mean breaking down the problem into smaller parts to identify the solutional areas to work upon. A goal must be broken down into distinct and quantifiable elements in order to be actionable. Set time limits for completing these components and check in on them on a frequent basis to see how they’re progressing.

The coach collaborates with the coachee to ensure that the development plan is well-written and prioritizes three or four "mission crucial" developing areas. The issues are described, the objectives are determined, the strategies and timetables are set, any obstacles/hurdles to achieving the primary objectives are recognized, and ways to overcome the barriers are explored. These need to be well defined and established so that in the further stages of evaluation, the measurement can be correct.

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