coaching part 1 : what is coaching

Definition : Coaching is a process of achieving set goals. The coach through dialogue helps the
coachee (client) to correctly set a goal, to find the best way to achieve the goal and reveal hidden
inner potential in a person.
The coach does not say how to achieve success, but asks questions through which the client
himself finds the solution to his own tasks.

**The coach is not a subject expert, but rather is focused on helping the individual to unlock their
own potential.
**The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a
thought-
provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional
potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination,
productivity and leadership.
ICF Core Values
-Professionalism : We commit to a coaching mindset and professional quality that encompasses
responsibility, respect, integrity, competence and excellence.
-Collaboration : We commit to develop social connection and community building.
-Humanity : We commit to being humane, kind, compassionate and respectful toward others.
-Equity : We commit to use a coaching mindset to explore and understand the needs of others so we
can practice equitable processes at all times that create equality for all.

Coaching is :
A learning process actionable and applicable to one’s situation. It is based on the continued
relationship with the coach, which will help you obtain results in your life, profession or business.
Through this process, you will be able to deepen your own knowledge, increase performance and
improve your quality of life.

A dynamic growth process that addresses technical and psychological issues.

Its objective is that you progress quickly and efficiently and achieve autonomy (hence, a coach’s goal
is not to create dependence) in solving important and everyday problems and to support you through
a creative and stimulating process that inspires you to maximize your personal and professional
potential.
The role of the coach is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources and creativity that you
already possess.

Coaching isn’t : Coaching is not therapy. If a client has a deeper issue, such as depression or trauma,
therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist is required. Coaches are not equipped to handle
pathologies. Coaching is also different from training, as it involves co-creation with the client, not
imposing a fixed agenda. It is not mentoring, which is more directive and based on the mentor’s
experience. While mentoring provides guidance from lived experience, coaching helps clients find
their own answers, empowering them to take ownership of their journey.

coaching part 2 : identifying coaching objectives

Definition : The purpose of coaching is to unlock people’s potential to maximize their own
performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching or telling them . It is a way of leading, a
way of treating people, a way of thinking, a way of being.

SMART objective : specific / measurable / attainable / relevant / time-based

Set objective SMART --plan ( realistically) ---evaluate--rectify --achieve

**if we don’t define a SMART objective in coaching session , It becomes a dicusion between friends
with no action plan .

Coaching to undrestand the situtation :

-Emphasize the key word / undrestand the situation

-Scale the situation ( example ask “ where do you want to be in the end of the session ? “ )
-Zoom-in ( example ask “ What is the thing that we can work on during the 60 minutes that are
available to us today to be able to achieve this objective?)

coaching part 3 : ethics in coaching

Meeting Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards :

-Understanding, following and exhibiting in own behaviors the ICF Code of Ethics
- Clearly communicating the distinctions between coaching, consulting, psychotherapy and other
support professions.
-Referring client to another support professional as needed, knowing when this is needed and the
available resources.

Key definitions :
 Client: The individual or team being coached, mentored, supervised, or trained.
 Coaching: A partnership with clients to inspire them to maximize their personal and professional
potential through a creative and thought-provoking process.
 Coaching Relationship: The relationship established between the ICF Professional and the
client(s)/sponsor(s) through an agreement that defines responsibilities and expectations.
 Confidentiality: Protection of information obtained during coaching unless consent is given for
release.
 Conflict of Interest: A situation where serving one interest may conflict with another, including
financial, personal, or other interests.
 Equality: A condition where all individuals have equal access to resources and opportunities,
regardless of differences like race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, and other
factors.

1/ Responsibility to coachees

 Clarifying the Coaching Process: Ensure that, before or at the initial meeting, clients and sponsors
understand the nature and potential value of coaching, confidentiality limits, financial arrangements,
and other terms of the agreement.
 Agreement/Contract: Create an agreement outlining roles, responsibilities, and rights of all
involved parties before beginning coaching services.
 Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality as agreed, in compliance with laws regarding personal
data and communications.
 Information Exchange: Clearly understand how information will be exchanged among all parties
during coaching interactions.
 Exceptions to Confidentiality: Ensure clarity with clients and sponsors on situations where
confidentiality might not apply (e.g., illegal activity, court order, or risk of harm). In such cases, inform
appropriate authorities if necessary.
 Managing Conflicts of Interest: When acting as an internal coach, address conflicts of interest
through agreements and ongoing dialogue, considering organizational roles, responsibilities,
relationships, and reporting requirements.
 Record Management: Properly maintain, store, and dispose of records, including electronic files,
in a secure and confidential manner, adhering to applicable laws.
 Technology Use: Stay informed about the ethical implications of emerging technologies in
coaching services.
 Shift in Coaching Value: Remain alert to any signs of a diminishing value in the coaching
relationship and, if necessary, suggest changes or refer clients to another coach or professional.
 Termination of Coaching: Respect clients' and sponsors' right to terminate the relationship at any
point, according to the terms of the agreement.
 Multiple Contracts/Relationships: Be mindful of potential conflicts when having multiple
contracts or relationships with the same client or sponsor.
 Compensation Disclosure: Disclose to clients any compensation or benefits received for referring
them to third parties.

2/ Responsibility to practice and performance:

*Require adherence to the ICF Code of Ethics by all Support Personnel.
*Commit to excellence through continued personal, professional and ethical development.
*Recognize my personal limitations or circumstances that may impair, conflict with or interfere with
professional coaching relationships. I will reach out for support to determine the action to be taken
and, if necessary, promptly seek relevant professional guidance.
*Resolve any conflict of interest by working through the issue with relevant parties,
*seeking professional assistance, or suspending temporarily or ending the professional relationship.
*Maintain the privacy of ICF Members and use the ICF Member contact information only as
authorized by ICF or the ICF Member.

3/ Responsibility to Society :
 Avoiding Discrimination: Ensure fairness and equality in all activities, while respecting local rules
and cultural practices. This includes avoiding discrimination based on age, race, gender expression,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or military status.
 Honoring Intellectual Property: Acknowledge and respect the contributions and intellectual
property of others, and only claim ownership of my own material. Breaching this standard could lead
to legal action by a third party.
 Honesty in Research: Conduct and report research honestly, following recognized scientific
standards, applicable subject guidelines, and operating within my competence.
 Social Impact Awareness: Be aware of the societal impact of my actions and those of my clients.
Adhere to the philosophy of "doing good" rather than simply "avoiding bad."

4/ Responsibility to professionalism :
 Coaching Qualifications: Clearly identify my coaching qualifications, competency level, expertise,
experience, training, certifications, and ICF credentials.
 Honesty in Representation: Make truthful and accurate verbal and written statements about my
offerings as an ICF Professional, what ICF offers, the coaching profession, and the potential value of
coaching.
 Ethical Responsibility Awareness: Communicate and raise awareness of the ethical
responsibilities defined by the ICF Code of Ethics to those who need to be informed.
 Boundaries in Interactions: Be responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive
boundaries for all interactions, both physical and otherwise.
 No Romantic or Sexual Engagement: Be mindful of the appropriate level of intimacy for the
coaching relationship and take necessary actions if boundaries are violated, including canceling the
engagement if needed.
 coaching part 4 : coaching presence

What’s presence : As a coach, the most precious gift we can offer our clients is the gift of Our
authentic presence.
Presence is : One of the Coaching competencies and is crucial to successful coaching.

Definition: Ability to be fully aware and create a trustworthy, spontaneous relationship with the
client, using an open and flexible style.
The coaching relationship between a client and a coach is a process of co-creation. Both the
client and the coach must be fully present for a coaching session in order to produce satisfactory
results for both parties. ( level of intimcy / trust and connectedness : the term dancing with the client )

**Ability to be fully conscious and create spontaneous relationship with the client, employing a style
that is open,flexible and confident.

1-Dancing with the client : Is present and flexible during the coaching process, dancing in the
moment.
-The coach does not have any intention, agenda or personal gain.
-The coach is simply there with the client in a meaningful and deep exchange.
-Practice listening more fully : listen with eyes, ears, whole body and focus on nuances.

2- Goes with the gut : Accesses own intuition and trusts one’s inner knowing . By being present, one
can access their own consciousness and be led by their heart.

-There is an aspect of ease here where the coach trusts the process and uses his/her instincts and
sense of connectedness.
-In this case, a coach can be really authentic and present with the client.

3 - Be Open : A coach trusts the process, letting go of ego and agenda. By staying open, they allow
the right questions, words, and silences to emerge naturally, without trying to control the flow. This
approach requires focus on the client, free from distractions and fears.

4 - Choosing the Way in the Moment A coach stays present and adapts to what is most effective in
the moment. They avoid being preoccupied with their own thoughts and focus on the client, knowing
when to ask, comment, or remain silent. This leads to clarity and calmness.

5 - Uses Humor Effectively Humor helps create energy and lightness, enabling the client to release
resistance and move forward. It also allows for a more relaxed, impartial view of situations, helping
both the coach and client gain clarity through laughter.

6 - Confidently Shifts Perspectives A coach confidently shifts perspectives and experiments with new
approaches, trusting the process. This openness allows for a flexible exchange, encouraging the coach
to explore different tools and techniques.

7 - Demonstrates Confidence in Working with Strong Emotions A coach can manage strong emotions
without being overwhelmed or enmeshed by them. Their confidence in self-regulation helps them
support the client while staying emotionally grounded.

Presence impact :

Spontaneity : Experienced coaches "dance" with the client by staying present, without forcing
responses or actions. They trust the process and believe in the client's potential, allowing the
interaction to unfold naturally.
Ease and Fluidity : When present, the coaching exchange feels easy and fluid. Time seems to pass
quickly, and the coach doesn't feel drained, demonstrating that the process flows with minimal effort.

Respect : Coaching presence shows the client that the coach is fully engaged, focusing on them 100%
and supporting them wholeheartedly. Trust is built through the authenticity and deep focus of the
coach.

Optimal Experience : Coaching presence leads to optimal experiences for both the coach and the
client. Being fully aware and engaged helps the coach guide the client to deeper insights and growth,
reinforcing the idea that the client is naturally resourceful and creative.

What can influence presence :

Distractions of the Mind : Stress, time pressures, personal worries, and other distractions can prevent
a coach from staying focused. An unsettled mind makes it difficult to be truly present and mindful
during coaching sessions.

Fear and Self-Doubt: Lack of confidence can lead coaches to overthink, try to control the session, or
worry about not adding value. This fear of uncertainty can cause them to formulate responses instead
of being authentically present with the client.

Ego : Coaches who feel the need to control or direct the conversation due to their own ego may
struggle with presence. Coaches should recognize that clients are the experts in their own lives and
allow space for them to find their own answers. The ability to remain silent and deeply listen is often
more valuable than speaking.

The Coach’s Own Values and Beliefs : A coach’s personal experiences, biases, and values can
inadvertently affect the coaching session. A skilled coach is aware of these influences and manages
their emotions and responses to avoid imposing their own views on the client.

Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Awareness : A coach’s ability to regulate their emotions and moods
is essential for maintaining presence. Self-awareness allows coaches to recognize when they are less
focused and take steps to refocus and reconnect with the client.