One Apple A Day #114
“Coaching does not rely on past issues for achieving growth, but rather focuses on goals towards the future. Coaching is action oriented. The focus is on where the client is right now, where they want to be next, and how to get them there.”
Extract from “What is coaching?” part of the ICA course.
So, coaching is about helping a client moving forward. But, to take a step towards the future, the client needs some free space to place her foot. I have been thinking a lot about space lately. There are plenty of books promoting a more simple life, with fewer things and more space. But they are mostly focused on material things, on the stuff that clutters our physical spaces. But what about our minds and our hearts? We are under siege with our senses bombarded with information and messages, knowledge and emotions. We are so worried to miss out something that we are overflowing our inner self with external inputs. More and more people are running out of the free space they need to put their next step forward. How can someone move forward if all the space around her is already filled?
I see the coach as someone who can create and hold a free space for the client to take the next step forward. Through active listening and powerful questions, a coach sweeps the space in front of the client and help her find a spot for the next action.