The Insights Into Coaching

What is Coaching? Case Study: Growth Coaching

The Growth Coaching Programme is a component of our Human Capital Portfolio of Interventions in our Business Model. Coaching is one of the youngest but fastest growing professions and practices in the human capital development sector whose consumption is dictated to by the clients and/or client companies. Their experience with coaching is what determines their choice of coaching partners in their development and growth journey. Coaching is not yet easily accessible to the general staff in employing organizations and to the public. Yet it is one of the most empowering human capital development interventions. Coaches, and clients, are partners in the client's interest. The coaching relationship is the relationship of the equals and based on common objectives. Coaches aim to contribute to the growth of this relationship with clients.

FREQUENTLY ASKED COACHING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. What is Coaching? "Coaching is a development intervention in which the coach becomes the thinking partner of the client and facilitates the process of self-discovery, self-awareness, and individual capacity development to successfully deal with the growth and development challenges in personal and professional life", Sam Tsima, CEO & Executive Business Coach, COMETSA GoC International (Pty) Ltd.

2. What is the difference between Coaching and Mentoring? In Mentoring, the Mentor is often someone who is elder or more experienced than the mentee, and he is more telling than challenging the mentee to think out solutions for himself or herself. Coaching is based on the relationship of equals, and the coach partner and challenges the client.

3. How long is each Coaching session? The coaching session may last for  an hour to two hours. This is a negotiated matter between the coach and client.

4. Is it possible to buy multiple sessions and constitute a Coaching Programme? Absolutely. That is the whole idea. Coaching is not an event but a process. You may buy a once off coaching session or buy many sessions and in our case at COMETSA,  build a Growth Coaching Programme of couple of months.

5. How long on average is a Coaching Programme? You are welcome to constitute a one month, two months, three months, six to twelve months Growth Coaching Programme, or even more, depending on the challenges or growth opportunities lying ahead. However, coaching programme cannot go on forever. You want to avoid dependence on the coach. 

6. What is the appropriate Coaching qualification? Coaching is a practitioner profession. Coaches have different levels of intensity of theoretical qualification. The most important consideration is the knowledge and understanding of the coaching fundamentals. Thereafter what matters is the practice, the number of hours covered. the accreditation/credentialing, and the coach's coaching-way of being.

7. What is the role of a Coach in a client's development? Your Coach is many things to you in your personal and professional development. He or she is your thinking partner, confidante, challenger, motivator, facilitator, and more so your Accountability Partner. He/she helps you in formulating your Coaching Theme, Goals, Objectives and supporting Actions.

8. How many times a month must I attend Coaching sessions? We believe that the real coaching happens in between the coaching sessions when the client applies the knowledge from the coaching session, observes the environment, implement the actions, and experience the impact as a result. So, the frequency per month is not important. What the coach would like to see is that the client implements the actions from the coaching sessions. In the subsequent sessions the coach should hold the client accountable. The client must demonstrate that he or she practiced what was agreed on and they have observed what they had to, 

9. How will I book my monthly coaching sessions? Once you have bought your session you should contact the coach's office and schedule the coaching sessions. Some coaching companies have administrators dedicated to scheduling the coaching sessions with the clients. But in principle the scheduling of the coaching sessions is the responsibility of the client.