The 10 myths about Coaching

We clarify some common misconceptions about coaching.

Although today it is considered a fad or a popular tool, coaching is actually one of the oldest human empowerment tools in existence. is one of the oldest human empowerment tools in existence, as well as one of the mostWhy?

Simply because this tool follows the principles of human nature itself: listening, knowing yourself, seeing yourself, and through a mirror that asks you powerful questions (that is the coach), discover all the potential we have and develop it through action (in addition to reflection). However, today there are a thousand myths about Coaching and this makes it difficult for us to know what is the reality and the potential of this tool. Don't be fooled. Find out what it is with this article, but above all, don't forget to experience it.

Defining concepts

Coaching, in fact comes from the Socratic dialogue. Socrates, with his followers, employed a system of active listening and powerful questions so that they themselves could discover how they interpreted life, tried to solve problems, or what their blockages were (blockages that we create ourselves, through our values, beliefs, impressions, interpretations, judgments about others and ourselves, always biased and limited).

This tool was modernized in the 20th century with the practice of tennis, and later, with the development of a new type of business consulting in the USA (where these consultants, with the support of social psychologists, discovered that the most profound changes occurred in people who took responsibility for their decision making and were aware that they were the ones who could change their reality by changing something about themselves). Today, Coaching is a powerful tool for human empowerment, both for companies... and for any person, since Coaching works with people, it is a system for human beings.

The reasons for the controversies surrounding Coaching

Why are there so many myths if the tool is so simple? Mainly for three reasons. Firstly, coaching has become so popular (because of the powerful results it offers) that there is a lot of professional intrusion. In short, many people claim to be "coaches" when they are not, but offer talks, try to motivate, and sell you a theory of happiness, or advise you in some way (in nutrition, sports, public speaking, wellness, entrepreneurship, life as a couple, etc.).

• By the way, in this sense it is worth distinguishing clearly: I recommend the article "Differences between Psychology and Coaching".

Secondly, because there are nowadays too many Coaching labelsWhen in reality there is only Coaching and the labels are just marketing strategies. And thirdly, because many people, instead of informing themselves and experiencing what Coaching really is, prefer to be left with the wrong impression. We are going to explain 10 simple myths about Coaching... to help you to really know what it is ;)

1. Coaching is for companies

Coaching is a tool often used by intelligent and humane companies. Why? Because the results they obtain depend on the state in which people are... When a person awakens their potential and feels fulfilled, their professional results are greater. So Coaching is not for companies... but for people, and companies are made up of people.

Coaching is for anyone who wants to awaken their talent and experience a profound change.

2. Coaching is training

Although in English "coach" means to train, the profession of coaching owes its name to the Hungarian term "kocz", which means "car". It is so called because a coaching process is like a car journey, from where you are (how you think, believe, feel and act now) to where you can be (where you want to be if you develop that part of you that is a bit stuck).

3. Coaching is motivation for groups

Coaching does not motivate, it accompanies a person to learn how to motivate himself/herself.. This is effective and lasts forever, while a group motivation is just that... a talk whose effect fades with time. Remember that coaching is a tool that takes place privately and personally, between the person and the coach, not in groups. Coaching tools can be used in a group, but it will never be like a real coaching process.

4. Coaching is a system to make money

Nothing could be further from the truth. Coaching is a tool for human empowerment, where you choose your objectives and what you want to achieve in your life, what you want to change about yourself, what area of your personality you want to develop, what you want to learn.

5. Coaching is therapy

Coaching is not therapy, nor psychology. Coaching is a tool focused on the present, on what is happening, and above all on solutions and your learning, while therapy focuses on problems or dysfunctional behaviors.

6. Coaching is professional training

Coaching helps you to discover your talent and develop it, and this may or may not serve you professionally, again depending on your goals. A real coach accompanies you to achieve your goals, and it is you who learns from yourself. A coach does not train you, does not teach you, does not intrigue you, is not a teacher. A coach only accompanies you in an expert way so that you learn from yourself, as Socrates did with his students, as if he were a faithful mirror of yourself.

7. Coaching is a technique to stop smoking, to lose weight or to have better self-esteem.

The goals you choose in coaching are up to you. You will tell them to your coach and that professional will help you focus clearly on what you want. Coaching is never a system to achieve specific goals, but is freely chosen by the person.

8. Coaching is a fashionable tool

As we said, Coaching is as old as Socrates. Coaching has probably existed since one human being listened to another, understood his way of looking at life, and asked him a question that made him realize that everything can be different.

9. Coaching is magic

The results of Coaching do not happen by magic nor are they based on any "secret". It is you, the person, who achieves the results with your change, with your actions, with your commitment. The coach accompanies you on that path.

10. Coaching transforms your life

Coaching is just a tool, but the protagonist is you. The coach is an expert in accompanying you on a path where you will learn about yourself in an accelerated way and where you will be able to change your mental programming or the way you see life and feel it? in such a way that something will change in you and you will be more yourself than ever, more natural and fuller. It is you who transforms yourself.

And finally, another important myth, not about coaching... but about coaches:

11. Being a coach is easy, you just need to have charisma...

A coach is first and foremost a professional, a person trained in Coaching in an arduous way (at least, A coach is first and foremost a professional, a person trained in coaching in a hard way (at least a Master's degree and several years of learning and professional experience).and also sets an example with his or her own lifestyle, motivated by changes, challenges, responsibility and commitments). A coach is not the protagonist, you are the protagonist. The success of a coach is the success of the people he/she works with. A coach can be a great speaker or have charisma, but above all you need a lot of learning, humility and experience, as well as knowledge and training. Actually, the most beautiful thing about this tool that can make us see how valuable we are and the great power we have to change our reality... is to be a coachee (the person who hires the coach and wants to live the process).

• What should a good coach be like? Find out by reading this article.

Remember also that a coaching process takes place privately between coachee (client) and coach, in private sessions (between 6 and 12). Coaching is just a system to accelerate your learning and to discover yourself in time.. Dare to start a path towards yourself.