Some Things To Know About Coaching

Over the past 20 years, coaching has burst onto the scene for non-profits, universities, churches, corporate leadership, the military, government and more. Millions of people are now benefiting from professionals trained to come alongside and help them reach higher levels of performance than they knew they could achieve. Personal coaching has transformed the landscape of achievement around the world.

It’s not therapy, mentoring or consulting. Rather, coaching connects the deep desires we all share for excellence with the action steps that can get us there. Coaching is not about fixing or telling people what to do. Rather, it is based on the idea that human beings are “creative, resourceful and whole” (as the International Coaching Federation says). By integrating the why of various endeavors with practical step-by-step approaches and accountability, men and women in all walks of life find themselves more effective and happier with their outcomes than they thought was possible. It really works.

Our creativity coaching focuses on the “creative” part of the ICF definition. Following on the groundbreaking work of Richard Florida on “The Creative Class,” Harvard’s Ronald Heifetz’ thinking on technical and adaptive work, and many others, we collaborate with clients to construct an emotional, intellectual, and spiritual “container” that supports maximal creativity. “If the space for work is too tight or too loose, creativity suffers,” Rob says. “We must come together in the middle ground. Research tells us that that is where the best work is done. And it’s right.”

Skilled and experienced coaches, like artists of all kinds, balance and integrate the rational and the emotional, the intuitive and the intellectual parts of who we all are. Over the years, successful coaches hone the ability to listen to what’s really going on with the person being coached while they listen to what’s going on in their own hearts. “Learning to trust that process takes time,” Rob says. “But it’s amazing to watch what can happen. The outcomes are often very, very surprising in such good ways.” 

If you’re a creative person, the best coaching will be as much about why your work matters to you as it is about practical steps to get there. This is true for art projects, new innovations in your field – even entirely new enterprises. “This approach works precisely because coaches don’t come up with the answers for clients,” Rob says. “The person being coached has the satisfaction of coming up with and executing the ideas. That’s where real confidence and satisfaction are found.”