What is coaching?

Last week I went on a hill navigation course led by Martin McCallum , an experienced Mountain Leader and Training Officer with Scottish Mountain Rescue. We began the day navigating between chalk marks in the car park before moving into the hills. As the day progressed, I noticed the similarities between navigation and coaching. I’m often asked what coaching is, so I thought this would make a good topic for my first blog post!

Here are the 5 main similarities I noticed:

1.   Navigation

The first is the most obvious. Navigation. In coaching, you are navigating from point A (where you are), to point B (where you want to be). Sometimes you know exactly where you want to be and have a clear destination in mind, for example, finding a new job, gaining confidence, starting a new project etc. However, your point B can be less clear. For example, you know you want to make a change but you’re not sure how. Or you feel stuck and need support in moving forward.

We can take this analogy further. When navigating in the hills, some of us will head straight for the highest peak, getting there as quickly as possible. Others will take the scenic route, taking time to explore on the way. They might even decide to change direction along the way. And so it is with coaching too. Some of us are goal focused and want to head straight to our point B without distraction or exploration. Whilst others are less certain of their final destination or want to take time to explore on their way towards the goal. Perhaps the destination is less significant and you simply want to learn how to explore. Navigation skills are valuable in helping to get you where you want to be. And so is working with a coach.

2.   Where’s everyone else going?

Martin explained when Mountain Rescue are trying to locate someone, one of the things they look for are man-made features such as walls, fences and buildings. We are subconsciously drawn towards places where we know other humans have been before as a way to keep us safe. Much of what we do (or don’t do!) is driven by the subconscious desire to keep ourselves safe.

As a coach, my role is to support my client to notice where fear might be holding them back and working together towards removing these barriers. We can be easily distracted by where others are headed, feeling drawn to take the same path, without questioning whether it is the right path for us. Not straying too far and being accepted by the group are important survival mechanisms too. Coaching can support you to understand more clearly what YOU want and the direction in which YOU would like to go, as opposed to following the well-worn path of others without question or consideration.

3.   Same tools, different environment.

The first tool Martin introduced us to was ‘setting the map’. This involves orientating yourself using the identifiable features around you and finding north on the compass. From here you are able to understand where you are in relation to where you want to be, checking back as you make progress.  

When working with a new client I always start with orientation. Like in navigation, this creates a point of reference to understand where we are in relation to where we want to be. Getting clear on this at the outset allows us to check in regularly to see if you’re still on track, or even if you want to change direction. Like navigation, orientating ourselves enables us to look forward, planning the route and anticipating what barriers you might come up against.

Regardless of the destination or the environment in which they are used, the basic tools of coaching remain the same; holding space, active listening and asking open questions that create discovery. These tools support the client to gain clarity around where they are, understanding what’s holding them back and exploring how they can move forward. We spend a lot of time in thought, thinking over the same thoughts in circles. Often things don’t become clear until you start talking it through. Coaching provides you the time and space to do this.

4.   How do we know we’ve reached our destination?

Before we set off from the car park, we consulted the map and looked for identifiable features to help us know when we’d found the location. So, when we proudly announced we’d reached our destination, we were surprised when Martin told us we were about 200m off target. We had stopped reading the map, and simply followed the well-trodden path we could see ahead of us. We had made the assumption we were there, without taking time to check in with the map, our surroundings or the tools we had learnt.

As a coach, I use questions as a tool to support you to know where you are. How will you know you’ve reached your goal? What will it look like there? What will it feel like? What will you notice around you? What will you notice is different? What will others notice is different about you? What will you do when you get there?

It’s important to note here, coaching is client led. I don’t tell you where to go. You choose. I’m not giving you advice; I’m not telling you which direction to go in. It’s a collaborative relationship which creates an environment that leads to you uncovering the best route for you.

Taking the time to consider these questions is all part of understanding ourselves better and also gaining clarity about where we are and where we want to be. And from personal and professional experience this can be hugely empowering.

5.      Getting support from an expert

I could have chosen to turn up in the hills and walk to the top, hoping for the best. I could have bought myself a map and a compass and tried my best to use them. And, of course, let’s not forget, sometimes you just want to go for a walk and navigation is the last thing on your mind!

As an expert in mountain rescue, Martin knew the tools and techniques that would make our journey easier. Before we knew it, we were navigating ourselves without his assistance. And so it is with a Coach. Of course, you can get to point B without a Coach. However, working with a coach can make your journey easier and smoother, and can also get you to a situation where you’re able to navigate yourself.

My area of expertise is coaching. I have an ICF accredited Diploma and am guided by their code of ethics. If you’d like to find out more about coaching with me, get in touch!