Coaching is a process that enables learning and development to occur and thus performance to improve.
Directive coaching - is where the coach offers solutions, tools and techniques for moving forward (as in the sports arena). Sometimes it may be useful to offer solutions, however the danger is that the solution may not be quite appropriate for the situation and consequently people may not feel fully committed to the solution provided.
Non-Directive coaching - is coaching where the coach asks questions to allow people to find their own solutions. A non-directive coach will not offer advice and rarely even give suggestions, although through skilful questioning they will help someone to see their situation from a different perspective, gain clarity, uncover options, challenge inconsistencies and hold them accountable to their actions.
Coaching can differ from other development methods such as e-learning and training courses because while e-learning and training programmes give the ‘employee’ the answers they need to succeed coaching helps them to find the answers themselves by the coach asking questions that will give results. They also differ in the end result. E-learning or a training course will have a structure and will end in a result that has already been planned out where as coaching goals can change throughout the process and are much more personnel to the coachee.
The coach is the trained person who listens to the coachee and reflects on the coachee’s ideas and worries in life. They ask questions to help the coachee produce results and ideas for themselves.
Performer
The performer creates their own goals.
The performer’s confidence will grow as they come up with new ideas and solutions to overcome problems.
The performer will be able to talk about how they feel about certain situations and reflect on how other people may feel in the same situation.