We continue to use the term coaching from English, which we translate into Spanish as "training". Word that falls short of what coaching means.
A coach performs the functions of coach, when it facilitates participation by clients in certain practices, either individually or in groups, in order to develop competencies and behaviors, the functions of a coach being broader than those of a coach.
Coaching is a process that has to be developed in a short time, ten or twelve sessions of approximately one hour, on average, although in some specific cases it could also take longer. Nor is it a one-off intervention, it is more of a process.
Comparison of coaching with other activities, to know what they have in common, and how they differ, for when they try to sell us coaching, to know what they are offering us.
In this first article I discuss the similarities between coaching and mentoring and between coaching and consulting, in others I will comment on the similarities and differences with other activities such as: counseling, mentoring, psychotherapy, training, etc.
Coaching and mentoring
The coach mentors without actually completing the client's work. It is not necessary for the coach to know in depth and in a professional way the topic that is covered in the tutorial, although if it is necessary for the tutor, to know very well the topic that is being discussed.
The tutor must know the context in which his client acts, as well as his attitudes, aptitudes, interests and motivation, to proceed to act, giving guidelines to his client regarding the learning process in which he is involved, as well as assist the client in their integration into the group to which they belong, if necessary.
It is the tutor's task to promote the performance of his client, jointly carrying out activities to guide him. You have to follow a series of steps with your client that increase the level of difficulty and understanding, so that the client is formed.
The tutor must have the capacity to solve problems, applying himself in a flexible and pertinent way, thus adapting himself to the context and to the demands that unfavorable situations pose for his client.
Something common between the coach and the tutor is making an appearance in front of their client, in order to see the possible changes that are taking place, at the same time as making the necessary feedback, in order to introduce changes if they become necessary.
The coach is someone who facilitates learning, who helps us open our field of vision. It helps us realize the sleeping potential that is within us.
He is also someone who accompanies us in that fear, that arises and feels when we try to change, and get out of our comfort zone, giving company and confidence so that this fear is dissolved and does not keep us immobilized.
In general, coaching is not tutoring, nor is coaching when you are a tutor, although there are many things in common. Mentoring by someone who knows coaching possibly for better results. The actions of the tutoring itself are applied, from a deeper knowledge of the needs of the person being tutored, for example using the «art of asking», at the same time that the tutored participates in the results that are getting.
Coaching and consulting
Consulting must help people in their professional performance. The consultant is an "expert" person, who provides her services, so that the people she serves improve their functions, this is often the case in the business world.
The progress that comes from the consultant's hand is an improvement based on the consultant's experience, given his conditions as an expert on the subject for which he has been required. Normally, it is not about working and taking out the potential that the client has inside, something on which the coach is based, who does not have to be an expert in the specific subject being worked on.
The coach can work in any activity, since he does not need to be an expert in that activity, while the consultant only works in his area of knowledge, contributing from his experience, however the coach must know about the arts and tools of coaching and have the ability to know how to adapt them in the case that they work, so that people can give their best.
In various cases the results of the coach and the consultant may be similar, although the means used are different, and they are not always substitutable for each other.
The consultant provides solutions with his experience, from his ability to know how to adapt it to the situation that arose for him, while the coach works so that it is the client who finds the solutions.
If it happens that the coach is an expert in the subject he is dealing with his client, he must not provide solutions, he must wait for the client to find them. His task is to help the client understand the case, and through his arts and tools help him find solutions.
In the case where the client, after a lot of work, does not find solutions, the coach could suggest or use some metaphor so that the client begins to realize the solution, although he does not have to give a solution directly, as the consultant would do.
The consultant could benefit from the arts and methods of coaching and from his expert position use the art of asking, to involve the client in the process and feel like a co-creator in the solution of what is being worked on..
Another thing in which the consultant of the arts and tools of coaching can benefit is in increasing their ability to observe and understand the situations they are going to work on, so that the contribution of their experience of better results.
There is a difference between coaching, helping to obtain the solution that is within each person, and acting as a consultant, giving solutions from experience. A consultant who uses coaching in their consulting processes has a better chance of success.
