(Read time: 3 Min.)
There are many reasons why people decide to work with a coach. Perhaps something terrific has happened to them resulting in significant life changes, or something terrible has happened and the future is uncertain. It could be that nothing is happening, or the client is feeling stuck. Often, especially in a corporate setting, coaches work with clients to resolve performance issues or meet the expectations of others.
While there are all sorts of coaches who specialize in all sorts of coaching. We find there are two distinctly different approaches to coaching. We refer to them as transactional and transformational.
Coaches who provide transactional coaching focus on helping the client take action. For example: athletic coaches, weight loss coaches, language coaches, wellness coaches, career and purpose coaches, to name a few. Transactional coaches help clients identify issues, set goals to address them, and ultimately produce desired results.
The transformational coach’s focus is on the client; who the client is and who the client wants to become. This approach requires an examination of values, desire, and motivation as well as the ability to recognize subtle sparks that could ignite profound changes in client attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. The client who begins work with a transformational coach is not the same person who finishes working with a transformational coach. They are changed for the better and poised for a future they may not have anticipated.
While this type of change is also “possible” in transactional coaching, the main difference is that the transformational coach knows that every client is capable of personal transformation and not only anticipates opportunities for change but creates the space for client transformation to occur. They attentively observe their clients as ah-ha moment begin to surface, expertly utilize the skills required to expand the moment into a transformational event, and co-manage the process with their client.
It’s important to remember that one style or method of coaching is not necessarily better than the other. Based on the client’s needs and their reason for enlisting the aid of a coach, coaches must be able to adjust their style and approach.
This month we will explore the nuances of transformational coaching so readers can reflect on the skills and methods of transformational coaches and decide if this approach motivates you to learn more.
Watch for a deeper dive into transformational coaching next week. Enjoy, and don’t forget we love feedback. It is one of the most important ways we learn and grow.
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Living A Purpose-FULL Life If you’re still wondering what your life’s purpose is and want to help your clients find theirs, purchase this e-book and workbook now. As your journey unfolds revealing new opportunities and learnings, incorporate them into your transformational coaching practice and help your clients find the same.