Interview with Elena Tecglen: what can a coach bring me?

Elena Tecglen talks to us about the objectives and tasks involved in a coaching process.

The concept of coaching is so broad that, in a certain sense, it escapes definition. That is why, although this word has become very popular in recent decades, it is common not to know very well what it means. And no wonder, because the variety of its functions can give way to a Wide range of ways to practice coaching.

If you are interested in getting a more accurate picture of what coaching is, read on. Here we interview coach Elena Tecglenwho explains the types of contributions that can come from coaching.

Interview with Elena Tecglen: how does a coaching process work?

Elena Tecglen is a coach, and both from her practice located in Palma de Mallorca and online, she works regularly with individuals seeking support to face projects and difficulties in their private lives, as well as with professionals and companies with needs associated with work and job performance. In this interview she explains in detail what are the typical functions of the coaching process.

What are the types of problems and needs that are commonly addressed by coaching?

Let me first give a brief introduction to the main work of a coach. The role of the coach in the lives of the people who ask for our help is to accompany and guide them to teach them to take control of their lives, to know themselves better internally, to know how to control their emotions and above all to create a plan to achieve objectives, goals... In short, we are like the genie with the marvelous lamp. We help to make wishes come true.

The problems and needs we address can be infinite, at least in my case, but some of the most common are, for example, those that have to do with finding oneself. It is very common to find people who are lost, disoriented, who are not clear about what they want. They have no goals, no incentive, they wake up without any motivation? The coach helps them to change the prism of this situation, to look for their potential, to find what they want to do, to create short-term objectives and incentives and to wake up every morning with motivation and energy.

Another very present need is the control of emotions; it is very normal not to control some emotions, and that is where we come in. Our job is to help the coachee understand their emotions, and give them the tools to know how to control them.

It is also very common to need to improve social and communication skills; social skills allow us to achieve greater self-confidence and value ourselves more, to be aware of all that we can contribute. It is an important part of building self-confidence and self-esteem.

On the other hand, it is necessary to learn to make decisions and resolve conflicts; to change limiting beliefs, for ones that help us to be assertive and know how to manage any situation.

It is also essential to find one's own potential; finding the coachee's vital purpose, what we excel in, will allow us to offer the best of ourselves, especially in the professional field. Coaches give great importance to self-realization in order to achieve everything one sets out to achieve.

We also address the issue of personal relationships. Many of the conflicts in personal relationships arise from a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence, either of the coachee or his or her partner, or with anyone in his or her environment. The coach focuses on social and communicative habits, thus generating a space of security. By creating assertiveness in the coachee, we make him/her capable of expressing him/herself sincerely, without harming the other, that is to say, empathizing and taking into account his/her emotions.

In terms of the workplace, how does coaching help people learn to manage their time better?

Time management consists of making an intelligent use of time. Time is the most valuable thing we have. Managing it in an organized way is essential to increase our productivity, thus reducing our stress levels and improving our well-being.

The coach creates guidelines with the coachee to manage his or her time, starting by making a list of daily, weekly or monthly items. Within the list, it is important to do them in order, as we have placed them by priority; if we start with the easiest ones, we will not meet the objectives of the list.

It is also very important to focus on a single task. We are used to multitasking, this makes that none of our tasks are completed correctly. We must avoid distractions, it is essential to focus on the activity to be performed, without distractions; therefore we must stay away from "time thieves", such as social networks, cell phones, etc. It is essential to take regular breaks, it helps to stay more concentrated, thus achieving a good quality time.

In addition, large projects have to be divided into small parts, resulting in a less heavy and more bearable burden. We must be aware that each small part that is completed will be one step closer to the goal.

And finally, to organize the week we must take into account the energy levels we have during this period; Monday we are still in the warm-up of the beginning of the week, it is a good day to get organized. Tuesday and Wednesday make up the time when we are in the "energy peak" and we have to make the most of it and attack the most difficult tasks. Thursday starts to lower the energy, and it is perfect to do the simpler and lighter tasks. Finally, Friday, tired from the whole week, is a good day to hold meetings and close objectives.

Are there forms of group coaching intervention in companies, or is coaching always an individualized process?

Coaching can be done in a group or individualized way. Group coaching in a company offers workers various tools to improve their work environment; leadership, interpersonal communication, motivation, creativity... ensuring that at the end of the process a beneficial learning process is obtained for the worker and for the company.

Normally, all the people who participate make changes in their work place. This learning will surely be applied to all the people around them, thus improving interprofessional relations and the work environment. These processes are very beneficial for companies, since they need their workers to be motivated and productive, flexible to changes and forming a solid team.

And on a more personal level, what emotional management skills are most important, among those that are fostered by the coaching process?

The emotional skills that we work on most in a coaching process are knowing how to identify and manage emotions, being aware of how they affect our actions and being able to model them.

Self-control is essential for a harmonious life, controlling your impulses, instant feelings... Assertiveness is fundamental in the workplace, because you learn to express your opinions or feelings correctly; it is a key characteristic for leading a team or making decisions.

Empathy, listening, taking into account the situation and emotions of other people, controlling the tone and the way in which you address others is essential to open channels of communication and improve personal relationships. And finally, positivity and motivation are the two skills that move everything.

The state of mind is necessary at all levels: in relationships, at work, in health ... and motivation is the element that makes you achieve the objectives and goals you set for yourself and achieve a successful life.

How are social and communication skills and coaching related?

The performance of any role in life requires knowing and mastering the social and communication skills that allow in a colloquial and professional way to create an effective and satisfactory relationship with others. The coach offers numerous strategies of social interaction that enable the assertive manifestation of behaviors and emotions within any family, work, social, academic context...

What phases does a coaching process usually go through?

The coaching process usually has 4 phases. The first phase is the one in which a first contact is established and a climate of trust is created. In this phase, you specify the objectives you want to achieve, the possible problems and obstacles, how you are managing your emotions and the degree of motivation and involvement of the coachee in this process, as many changes will take place.

The second phase consists of creating the action plan. This is the moment to organize the areas in which you can improve or change, and create an action plan for the objectives that have been set, in a clear, specific, measurable and time-bound manner.

In the third phase we start working on the ground. This is the most important phase of the whole process. The coach provides the knowledge and techniques to achieve the objectives. The coachee discovers tools that work; as he/she progresses, he/she becomes more and more motivated to achieve results. This process is composed of a series of sessions in which the coach and the coachee work side by side, and where progress, enthusiasm and attention levels are evaluated during the sessions. In each session it is essential to give feedback to the coachee, highlighting the aspects of positive evolution and those that can be further improved.

The fourth and final phase is that of evaluation and follow-up. In this last phase we see the evaluation of the coachee and obtain a summary of the results obtained in the coaching process; the achievements are measured and a new strategy is elaborated to ensure the continuation of the progress.