I was uncertain when I first delved into the training and encountered the reflection paper. Could I really do this? Was I capable enough? Could I still learn? However, as I progressed, I found my doubts transforming into confidence.
The last two days taught me that, yes, I do understand coaching. The word “enabler, “which I chose to describe my future self as a coach, is adapted to describe the work of a coach with a coachee.
The knowledge I’ve acquired resonates with me deeply, as it mirrors my own convictions: the solutions lie within each individual, the coachee is the expert, and the coach’s role is to facilitate the coachee’s self-discovery, articulate their desires, guide them through questioning, find the answers they seek, commit to action, and be responsible for their decisions.
It’s not just the lessons but also the principles and values of CTA that strike a chord with me. Each one resonates deeply with me. They exude positivity, openness, acceptance of our differences, recognition of our uniqueness, and the necessity to embrace and respect it.
The class’s content confirmed what coaching is not and what I have been trying to explain in my work environment: coaching needs must come from the coachee; you. You can’t just tell someone to get coached if they don’t desire it. It is not mentoring, therapy, or formal training. The latter can come to support the coaching if the coachee identifies the needs for them.
Coaching is about the now and the future; it is neither past-driven nor a skill enhancement process as mentoring can be. This speaks to me a lot as what is done is done. We can’t revisit it or change it. We can learn from it, but it will always be the same. While you can choose to do something about your now and your tomorrow, it is your choice to settle for things as they are or decide to take matters into your own hands and face them.
The approach of transformational coaching is exciting. It sees the person as a whole. Here again, it goes back to my personal belief that the answers are within us; we just need to find a way to express them. This is when the coach is needed. They come with their toolbox of frameworks and decide which one is the most relevant to use for the coachee and which will bring the best out of them.
Before getting into today’s practice, I was wondering how to build the session following the 4 As a model, especially how to go about the agreement; it turned out it was not as scary as it initially seemed that it is a flow, and it went rather naturally. We engage, establish what we want to discuss, and then start diving in. I am in a state of conscious incompetence and aware that the more I practice, the easier it will become for me to find my personal style of interaction with my clients.
It has only been 2 days, yet I came in with an open mind and allowed myself to open up to others in a way I would typically not. For the simple reason that I want to give others a safe space, we all need to express ourselves truly without fearing being judged. The impact of this journey is not about yesterday, today, or the next few days; it will stay with me as its impact goes further than the classroom; it means to me that I will now be able to have an honest conversation with my employer about my role in the company and what I wish to offer to our employees.
I like that I am gaining the structural knowledge I wanted. Knowing the different frameworks will allow me to be adaptable and flexible to whoever I am talking to—as long as there is no clash in personal beliefs. And beyond that formal learning, I get to practice and experiment immediately.
I need to have the proper foundation when engaging in this journey. Strong foundations will help me build efficient coaching relationships with my clients and ensure their self-discovery journey facilitates their personal growth.
