Ditch the Doubt: Why Coaching Delivers Lasting Results

Is coaching a fad or is it something that really, truly works?

"What is the difference between a coach, a trainer, and a mentor?" I often get asked these questions by people trying to figure out if they could benefit from hiring a coach or becoming one. Every second person on LinkedIn seems to be a coach these days. Not all of them offer professional coaching, many are helping or keen to support people, but often the lines between trainer, mentor, and coach get blurred.

A mentor will dip into a reservoir of experience and share it forward, a trainer has specific knowledge or skills passed on, but a coach offers no advice, teaches no specific tradecraft, and yet can unlock so much value for the client. How and when does this happen?

Instead of trying to explain, I always offer a "show and tell" experience.

Here is a typical conversation.

"Does coaching work Nikhil?". "It has worked wonders for me... tell me is there anything currently frustrating you at work or in your personal life..." This question could open the door to delve into how coaching could be supportive. If the answer to that is no, a follow-up question could be, "I found coaching very helpful when I was at a career crossroads, are you at any crossroads in life?" Or another option could be "Coaching helped me get back on the tennis court after years, is there anything your dream of doing that you have put on hold?" Try a coaching session,  and see if it feels like it is something that works for you. Invest an hour and you will know if coaching works for you.

Frustration. Anxiety. Dilemma (or Desires) FADS. 

  Most often, one or more of these (FADS) is why a client comes knocking on my soul2sole coaching door. Once they get a taste of how powerful coaching can be to support them in finding their way through and forward the next door opens. That door is often one of transformation. The desire to change can come from wanting to fix something that is not working (Often a source of Frustration. Anxiety. And or Dilemma / Desire).

Once that has been worked on the possibilities of transforming become very real.  A new muscle has been activated and keen to strengthen it clients often shift their focus to other areas of their lives to see how coaching can help.

This is where the transformation journey begins to build strength in areas that work well. While coaching is powerful in working with Frustration, Anxiety, and Dilemma areas, it’s equally powerful when working with strength areas and pursuing one's desires.

So, in essence, coaching FADS is what ensures that coaching is not a fad. It is a sustainable way to support and inspire a client to see that they are whole and complete as they are. By creatively unlocking the resourcefulness of a client they come to appreciate that they have all the resources within themselves to navigate the next turn in the road and pick up speed (or slow down) if they so desire as they drive through life.

The next time somebody asks you "What is coaching?", ask them what their FADS are and open up a door for them to understand coaching through their own eyes and then it becomes real for them.