“A coach is someone trained and devoted to guiding others into increased competence, commitment, and confidence.”
— Frederic Hudson, Handbook of Coaching
“In contrast to the emphasis on imparting information through tutoring and instruction, coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize his or her own performance.”
— Adapted from Sir John Whitmore, Coaching for Performance
Therefore, coaching is primarily focused on the individual or group being coached. It seeks to stimulate people to develop their own understanding, exercise their judgment, make informed decisions, and take meaningful action.
Unlike some helping professions, coaching does not involve making a diagnosis or giving prescriptive advice. A coach does not necessarily need to be an expert in the specific areas that concern the person being coached. Instead, the coach brings skills in listening, understanding, asking thoughtful questions, summarizing, and facilitating reflection.
The coach's role is to guide as non-directively as possible, creating a supportive environment in which individuals can explore their own situations, gain clarity, reach their own conclusions about what they want to do, and take responsibility for putting those decisions into action.
As Gary R. Collins explains in Christian Coaching, effective coaching is ultimately about helping people discover their own potential, make their own decisions, and move toward purposeful action.