Has Coaching Become Too Technical?

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Has Coaching Become Too Technical?

I have been researching coaching for a number of years - partly in the hunt for the 'simple but effective' set of tools. The more I read, the more I seem to get confused.
In my early learning of coaching, it was quite straightforward - grow and a set of quality interpersonal skills. The results were successful with my clients and life was good.
I ventured into a level 7 executive coaching and mentoring qualification and fear I am losing the plot. So much so that I have had coaching supervision to get back to what I do best as opposed to what others think we should be doing.
For the majority of jobbing coaches working with middle managers, has coaching become too technical?

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		3 J. Ignasi Coach, Spain
	Coaching Specialities I wonder if coaching schools are making coaching more complex and less natural as part of their business strategy? I'm surprised by the increasing number of specialities associated with coaching. I think the objective of this is to open new markets for schools. Somebody said that when people know how to do something they do it. When they don't know how to do it they teach it. Maybe many people want to teach because they don't do coaching... Knowing how complex it is to be a good coach, I'm not sure all learnings are well focused.

		3 John Wright Consultant, United States
	Doubt Kills the Warrior I always listen to prospective clients. If they want help improving their business performance or issues with people at work, I will accept the engagement. If they want me to do their job for them, I won't. If you internalize everything from every "somebody", you will kill the warrior in you. Evaluate what others have to say. If it makes sense, use it and incorporate it into your services. If it isn't useful, ignore it. I listen to my clients and focus on what they tell me. Sometimes what they say is valuable and sometimes they attempt to deflect me because I am getting too close to the root cause(s) they need to address. Don't be too concerned with everything everybody else is saying. It will overwhelm you. A mantra I follow is; "what you think of me is none of my business." I listen to experts I respect. For others I follow the advice quoted above. If you are doing a good job and your clients are coming back and telling you: "You've changed my life..." keep going...

		0 steven zuback Coach, United States
	Response to Alec Only if you let it become too technical.

		3 Louise Sparks Coach, Australia
	Coaching is Becoming Technical Alec, I agree with both J. Ignasi and John Wright. The way I see it is similar to doing my degree: in order to get the qualifications you must learn the theory and do what is required by the assessor. Now when you are seeing your clients and applying your knowledge, you will use some of the skills you have learnt, depending on the requirements of your client. You will modify some of the skills you have learnt because so far your experience tells you that is working. Some knowledge and skills you may never use in your coaching. Maybe look at collecting your qualifications differently to coaching your client - even though they are intertwined - when you study your student, when you coach your coach... Do you see what I mean? Don't give up just think of this a bit of a challenge that you will be able to do by changing your approach a little. Good luck with it... You know you can do it. Remember just keep it simple! One is studying, the other is coaching!

		0 Stefania Di Cristofalo Coach, Italy
	Sometimes Coaching has to be Technical I think coaching school are a business but is also true they are a means to become a professional coach. Obviously it depends on the school. Sometimes coaching has to be "technical" if the client want it so. HR offices want to be confident you perform as a coach and not as a psychologist. Tools, conversational models, questionnaires help to demonstrate the approach and provide a repeatable and measurable framework. This does not always mean that the coach performs better and the coachee reaches a higher degree of awareness. In my experience, coaching becomes technical when I have to coach teams which are required to learn and apply a new management & engineering approach. In this case I must be able to change hat, coaching soft skill such as trust and communication style, while I am performing as a technical trainer.

		2 ian cockerham, United Kingdom
	Has Coaching Got Too Technical? Remember: coaches need coaching too; every coach has a coach. How long since you the coach had a coaching session yourself? Was it too technical or did it feel 'right' for you? The client is the measure of the success of the coach....

		2 Cynthia Crump Antigua and Barbuda
	Has Coaching Become Too Technical In my field, coaching is not too technical. I use coaching as a school-based alternative to teacher professional development to complement the traditional training model. From my research, coaching became important in the 1960s, influenced by the requirements of progressive education, but now coaching is propelled by conctructivism. The coach (mentor or peer) working with an individual or a group fosters reflection on experiences and helps in the construction of understanding of pedagogy or methodology. The tool box could include observation schedules, samples of reflections, student -centered experiential strategies, live-taped model lesson by an experienced teacher, and competencies of master teachers in the form of mentors, observers and supervisors. The teachers are given the opportunity to observe each other, share and reflect on the data and their practice, fostering improvement. The main difficulty is the peer coaching activities - time was the biggest constraint; that is, time to meet and plan and share.

		0 Stephan Weber Business Consultant, United Kingdom
	Has Coaching Become Too Technical Alec, an interesting question. For clarity, what do you mean by technical? Looking forward to hearing from you.

		1 David Smith Business Consultant, United States
	Has Coaching Become Too Technical If you are connecting coaching to technology then I must say you are right. With changing technology such as internet and smart phone, the work of a business coach increased. A business coach must be up to date with changing technologies, know all the trending strategies to be able to provide modern solutions.