Professional Coaching is First and Foremost a Development Model!
The most fundamental outcome of the coaching process is the client's establishment of short-term and long-term vision and goals. In order for the person to accomplish this vision, the coach aids the person in setting efficient and meaningful goals. Another important outcome of the coaching process is the person's increased commitment to the setting and attainment of their goals. With the help of the coach, the person can better focus on accomplishing their vision and achieving the goals they have set out for themselves.
The basic elements of the FLOW Coaching process:
- Vision:
The coach encourages their client to discover and express what they want at the end of the coaching process. Sometimes, the time period of accomplishing the vision may inherently be longer than the coaching process and it is especially important to clarify this when setting the success criteria. - Goals
In each coaching session, on path to the vision, the coach encourages the client to define his/her goals of the meeting. This could be done with a very simple question (What might be the best outcome of this meeting?), if the person is not sufficiently clear, a sequence of questions may also be used to specify the outcome or goal. - Planning
In accordance with the established vision and goals, the coach supports the person in planning the most efficient way to achieve their goal and get the outcome they want, as well as creating alternatives and solutions should the goals be unrealistic or unachievable. - Action Steps
In order to ensure development, you need to make a move. Like the Zen master says: "Take a step while praying”. In order for our intentions to be reciprocated in our lives, we must define action steps at the end of each meeting. - Results and Sustainable Performance
Since coaching is a development model, it is important that development is spread throughout the process in order for it to be realized. The coach should bring up this topic and ensure that the client thinks about their commitment and sustainability to the goals of the process that they have defined.