What’s the difference between coaching and mentoring
Coaching in its present form has been with us since the 1970s. Mentoring has been with us in one form or another since the time of the Greek empire. So why can many people still not explain the fundamental differences between these two skills? We’ll explore what are the obstacles to being clear on the […]
Why and how I blog!
We all know that there are many, many blogs out there, on almost every subject. We have to make choices which blogs to read, and which to ignore. So I thought it would be helpful to explain, before I start publishing blogs, what the focus of these blogs will be. You will see from my profile and from […]
The benefits of ILM coaching qualifications
What are the benefits of the ILM coaching qualifications? As you will have seen from our last blog on this topic, there are many ways to qualify as a coach. So why do we advocate the ILM coaching qualification as the best approach for both new and experienced coaches? Let’s explore this here… Other coaching qualifications have too […]
Online coach training courses – benefits and risks
Online training has caught on so much over the last 15 years. It has, apparently, many benefits that make it a viable alternative to classroom-based training. Let us consider, specifically for online coaching training courses, to see whether this is the best route for coaches in training to follow. To be clear, I am referring to self-study online learning, i.e. being […]
What is the difference between coaching and training?
Coaching vs training When people ask me what I do, I say that I train people to be executive coaches. The most common response is “oh, you do train the trainer”. I’ve often wondered about this, so I decided that it’s an issue worth addressing. I’ll address the question, and also explain similarities and differences. Plus, a look at the skills that are needed for each […]
How does coaching work and what is coaching?
How does coaching work? People often ask me what coaching is, or even more often what subject I coach on. The implication is that there needs to be a topic to work on. Like teachers who have their subject specialism, or employees who have their professional qualification. What will help to answer this question is to explore some definitions and explanations about the rudiments of coaching. […]
Is the ILM Level 5 the right qualification for me?
Working out the right qualification for any new activity is difficult. After we decide we want to learn the new “thing”, we then have to look at all the possibilities for learning it. Do we need a qualification? And if so, which is the best one? Do I have the time for it? How to […]
What is the purpose of coaching?
What is the purpose of coaching? It’s funny how things turn up in life, and quite quickly we take them for granted. New technologies, advanced ways of travel, new business practices. And often, after an initial bit of confusion, we act as if they were always there. Take marketing. Not around until the 60s, but now […]
Coaching skills for leaders
What coaching skills does every leader need? For the moment, let’s take it as a given that every leader needs to have good coaching skills. In this article, we’ll start by considering how and where these coaching skills can be learnt. Then we’ll look at the specific skills to learn Two great myths about coaching skills The […]
The power of pausing in coaching
When we ask new coaches to identify key coaching skills, it is rare that pausing gets a mention. And yet, the power of silence and provide reflection time can make a huge difference. Pausing is common in our view, along with questions, listening, and structuring sessions one of the four most important coaching skills. Let’s explore how to […]
