What sort of techniques are used in coaching?
The coach will usually help the client to make very specific goals – and will often insist that they conform to the acronym SMART. This stands for: • Specific. • Measurable. • Achievable. • Realistic. • Time bound . I generally add another ‘T’ – which stands for ‘True to yourself’ – which I feel is slightly different from being Realistic. I think, for example, that someone who hates gyms is not being true to him or herself by deciding on a goal of going to the gym every day. It may be realistic in that he can make the time and passionately wants to get fit, but if he hates the activity, he is not being true to his own nature and the goal will fail. Similarly, someone who decides to go on the Atkins diet will fail if she tells you that: ‘Bread is the problem. I love bread. I can’t imagine life without it. And how will I have a quick lunch anywhere if I can’t get a sandwich?’ She may then go on to say that she wants to do the Atkins because all the stars do so well on it. But with her lo
Most coaches use well-established procedures that generally have a snappy acronym. One model is CEDIR. This enables the coach and client to ‘cut to the chase’ or to quickly get to the ‘bottom line’. It goes: • Clarify • Establish goal • Develop action plan • Implement it • Review. Obviously, the implementation takes place between sessions and the review is generally made when the coach and client next meet. This model gets the client focused on moving on – and eliminates unnecessary detail or chatter. Another common model is GROW – which stands for : • establish the Goal • examine the Reality • consider all the Options • confirm the Will to act. But however a coach chooses to conduct the session, he or she should help the client to pick an issue, work out some strategies for change, and encourage the client to look at why he or she might not stick to those strategies. Time limits on various goals should also be set. A coach will usually collaborate with a client to draw up a coaching p
