What is coaching?
Coaching is one of the fastest growing professions. Having emerged from the area of sports in the 1960s, coaching transferred to business in the 1970s and 1980s, underwent a high degree of diversification and popularisation in the 1990s, and is today regarded as a respected and widely used resource for personal development. At the heart of coaching is self-directed learning, personal growth and improved performance. Coaching provides you with a systematic and structured approach to realising your full potential and getting the very best out of yourself. It involves a process of identifying and then eliminating destructive behavioural and thinking patterns in your life. Through a step-by-step approach, it enables you to become more empowered and confident in working towards achieving your goals.
Why is online coaching cheaper than one-to -one coaching?
Interactive Coaching has been designed to be an affordable way of providing coaching services for anybody, anywhere. We appreciate that teachers do not earn huge salaries or have lots of spare time, so the Plain Sailing in Schools programmes are ideal for delivering quality coaching in a cost-effective and convenient way. Remember, this truly is 24/7 coaching – no matter where you are or whatever time it is, the coaching is there for you (as long as you have an internet connection!). You also have the bonus of incorporating some telephone or face-to-face coaching sessions into your programme if you so wish.
How does it compare with counselling, psychotherapy and mentoring?
Coaching is very different. It draws its influences from and stands on the shoulders of a wide range of disciplines, including counselling, management consultancy, personal development and psychology. Rather than dwelling on the past, it focuses on the present and the future. It doesn’t pretend to have all the solutions, but it provides you with the tools and strategies to make changes and improvements. With coaching, the past is only relevant by helping us find out what has prevented you from moving forwards. It will help identify the obstacles and barriers you have been experiencing and find ways to overcome them.
The Association for Coaching uses the metaphor of driving a car to distinguish coaching from its related fields:
- A therapist will explore what is stopping you driving the car.
- A counsellor will listen to your anxieties about the car.
- A mentor will share tips from his or her own experience of driving cars.
- A consultant will advise you on how to drive the car.
- A coach will encourage and support you in driving the car.
How can I get the best results by being coached online?
In many ways, online coaching is more effective as you are able to commit your thoughts to writing, which helps clarify them and enables you to keep records that you can refer to at a later date in order to check your progress against your goals. You have much more time to reflect on what you want to say to your coach online, as opposed to face-to-face coaching where you can often feel under pressure. Your coach will respond to you, if requested, and tailor a programme to meet your individual needs and aspirations. You can work through a programme at your own pace, completing sessions at whatever time of day suits you. We do recommend that you set aside a regular slot of time each week in the same way you would if booked in for a telephone coaching session as this ensures your coaching stays on your list of priorities, but if you want to give yourself a week off, you can!
Do you still have questions?
Then call on +44 (0) 20 8292 5826, or 07867 533312
or email info@plainsailinginschools.com.
