The School Athletics Center - Copernicus Education Gateway

Coaches

The Emergence of Professional Coaching

When the greatest names in sports are mentioned, Deborah Lindholm is not among them. Muhammad Ali, Nadia Comaneci, Martina Navratilova, Michael Jordan are listed. They personify years of dedication and hard work, incredible talent, unparalleled success. In addition, these supreme athletes have something else in common -- a coach who offered them unwavering support, continually asked for more, and who held a space of greatness for their students.

The dictionary confirms the connection of coach to sports. It defines a coach as "a person who trains athletes or athletic teams." That definition is now expanding. The Professional & Personal Coaches Association defines coaching as "an ongoing relationship that focuses on clients taking action toward the realization of their visions, goals, and desires." This definition certainly fits marathon running as well as jumping out of an airplane. But if also fits building a business or starting a foundation -- or any other vision, goal, or desire.

Professional coaching takes the principles of athletic coaching and adds a deep respect for the individual's inner knowing. It is a process of inquiry that leads to awareness and then action. Consultants have the right answers; professional coaches have the right questions.

A key to professional coaching is to hold the client's agenda. The client has a vision, goal, or desire. Powerful questions are posed by the coach to elicit awareness -- and then followed by action. What does a successful business look like to you? When can you complete the marketing plan? When do you need to say no? Who are the key players in the organization regardless of title? How much effort are you willing to commit to this? The client decides what to do.

The goal of a professional coaching relationship is to maximize human potential and at the same time maintain life balance. There are many aspects to a life: profession, finances, physical well-being, primary relationship/family, other relationships, spirituality, personal development, physical surroundings, rest, and relaxation, among others. All areas need attention if balance is to be maintained.

As the coaching process develops, the client leads the agenda and the coach offers support, structure, and feedback. Part of the support is to build in responsibility. The coach makes direct requests of the client; for example, "I have a request: Will you write the memo by Friday and fax me a copy?" It is then up to the client to accept the request, say not to it, or alter it in some way to make it acceptable.

Professional coaching is an empowerment process. The client is in charge and commits and then takes action. How different this is from the usual experience in a traditional "tell" instead of "ask" management format: do this, this way, by this date. The old exterior imposition model is replaced in the coaching process by an internal decision-making, personal-ownership model.

The professional coaching relationship is about integrity. Making commitments aloud to another human being can make them real.

One of my clients shared the following missive with me. It speaks to the power and magic of the coaching process.

TO: My Coach
FROM: The Client Who is Creating Today!
Where can I go and receive the following:

Unconditional support

Someone who always holds the big picture for me

Someone who points out my achievement, and, no matter how small they are, says they are big!

Someone with whom I can plan my life

Someone who provides clarity around what my truth is

Someone who can play with my self-doubts and have fun at the same time

Someone who offers spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual feedback and new perspectives

Someone I can always count on, no matter where my head is

Someone who will ask me to stretch because he or she knows I can and that it would support my desires and dreams

Someone who is fun on the phone -- really!

Someone in the world who is out there thinking about me and who believes that I have special gifts to offer

These are a few reasons I choose to be a coach.

--Deborah Lindholm

Deborah Lindholm is a professional coach who has spent more than twenty-five years in education, business, and counseling settings, assisting people in achieving their personal goals and dreams.

Excerpted from Inspiring Others to Win, edited by Robert B. Sommer
© 1998 by Griffin Publishing Group
This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable rights. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including fax, photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system by anyone except the purchaser for his or her own use.
The material used in this publication is the sole responsibility of Griffin Publishing Group.

For information on purchasing the book from bookstores or here online, please go to the Web page for Inspiring Others to Win (Griffin Publishing).