ABSTRACT
When I first met my partner and told him I was a professional coach, I was initially impressed by his apparent understanding and enthusiasm. He earnestly told me: “You know, lots of people have suggested to me that I should be a coach . . .” Then he smiled and added: “Because I’m very good at telling people what they should do.” We’ve been together for over five years now, and he has reluctantly begun to accept that this particular talent of his is not necessarily a true reflection of what good coaching is all about! Yet it continues to be an accurate impression of what many people expect from coaching. However, look in any good coaching book and the description of coaching is quite different. Coaching is focused on helping people to find their own answers, and asking them to explore their own thoughts rather than telling them whatever the coach happens to believe is the way forward.
