Coaching

From ArticleWorld

While coaching has had many definitions over time, one of the most common definitons of the term coaching is the practice of instruction that includes specialized motivational techniques as well as inspirational guidence.

Types of coaching

There are different types of coaching to be considered in the 21st century. These include:

• Organizational coaching - In most instances, organizational coaching is deemed to be somewhat of an interventational branch of coaching. This type of coaching is designed to bring a professional into an organizational setting to assess and ultimately improve the performance of the organization and its constitutent elements over time.

• Individual coaching - In the 21st century, individual coaching has often been called "lifestyle coaching" or "life coaching." Ultimately, the primary goal of individual coaching is to assist the participating client in prioritizing needs, goals and objectives. Once this prioritization has occurred, methodologies are created through which a participating client, with the assistance and guidence of the coach, can reach, accomplish and satisfy these needs, goals and objectives.

• Team coaching - In this instances when a person is called upon to provide team coaching assistance, that person must first observe the current manner in which a given team is functioning and operating. Through this observational phase, the coach is then able to assess and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a particular team. In the end, the coach will be able to develop a plan of action for change in the manner in which the team functions and operates.

• Systemic coaching - Generally speaking, systemic coaching involves the process of improving the survivability and effectiveness of particular human systems. For example, systemic coaching can be utilized in the familial relationship, with teams, with community organizations and with business enterprises. The task of the systemic coach is to evaluate and assess the functioning and the objectives of a particular system. Through interaction between the coach and the members of the subject system (for example, a family) the coach develops sets of individualized as well as systemic goals. In many cases, a systemic coach must first resolve problematic situations that exist within a systemic structure, resolve conflicts between the individuals who make up a particular system. Oftentimes individual coaching is a component of systemic coaching.

• Business coaching - Business coaching is becoming one of the most common types of coaching in the 21st century. At its essence, business coaching assists the owner, operator or manager of a business in creating a viable and effective business plan. Business coaching in the 21st century is commonplace in all segments of the commercial world -- from more traditonal businesses in the brick and mortar world to e-business enterprises on the Internet and World Wide Web.

• Dissertation coaching - Dissertation coaching is a specialized branch of coaching that involves the assistance of graduate students, generally students who are working on obtaining their Ph.D diplomas. These coaches assist students in coordinating the significant task of preparing an effective dissertation -- everything from research to writing the dissertation. Traditionally, many graduate students have struggled with the preparation of their dissertations for a whole host of personal and academic reasons. A dissertation coach assists a student in maintaining focus and true progress while involved in the tremendous task of preparing a viable dissertation.