What is coaching?
Choatic, beautiful... Does how we think about coaching affect how we coach?
Coaching is a dynamic and social practice. It is made up of many moving parts.
The image is a new version of a mind map that thinks about coaching. I did the first draft a few years ago. After I posted the first draft on social media, I got some responses that I’ve added onto this image (see any words with *).
The drawing is not complete. It may never be finished. I have undoubtably omitted things. Each version represents how I view coaching at this moment in time. It is a snapshot. A different coach might write down other words or make alternative connections between the terms.
Over the next few months, I will pick out sections and words of the image to explore on this site. (If you’re on the chat function let me know which words excite you). Session design is an area that I often think about.
There is alot in the image. A large propotion of the terms are considered the “softer skills” of coaching. Pink and fluffy skills.
Relationships and knowing players; these social skills are the main aspects of coaching. How we view a coach’s practice can depend on how we view gender. Often the caring side of coaching has been seen as the domain of female coaches.
Gender bias can prevent all coaches, regardless of gender from finding and feeling comfortable in their authentic practice.
It’s impossible to be present and consider all these terms at the same time. I will try and be mindful of a handful of words/ways of coaching each session.
I’m excited for the next few weeks when we’ll unpack more of these terms together.
Further reading:
Raising awareness and dismantling biases of women in coaching