I Would like to "Share" with you an article written by : Don H. Morris
Thankyou Don...
Sometimes potential clients say to a coach, "It seems like if I began coaching with you that I would be hiring you to be my friend. How is a coach different from a friend?"
Although both are characterized by a close and caring bond, there are at least four crucial differences between an ideal coach-client relationship and a friendship.
1. Friends Are Essential, Coaches Are Optional
First of all, friends are essential elements of a satisfied life.
Coaches are strictly optional. Professional coaches are consultants you hire to help you accomplish particular tasks (e.g., to establish goals, to develop action plans, to learn skills, to launch a new venture). You might even choose to hire a coach to assist you with developing more, or richer and more intimate, friendships.
2. Friends Are Long-Term, Coaches Are Short-Term
Friends remain in our lives for long periods, perhaps until one or the other person dies. Coaching is a time-limited, contracted activity. When the client's goals are met, the relationship ends.
3. Friends Share Broadly, Coaches Have a Narrow Focus
Friends share a broad range of interests and activities with each other. The best of friends share on a deep emotional level. While coaches do form warm, supportive relationships with their clients, they are focused on the specific tasks and behaviors the client requests assistance with.
4. Friends Are Personally Involved, Coaches Are Neutral
Many people are fortunate enough to have friends who are both caring and supportive, and who are assertive enough to "tell it like they see it." But friends cannot be counted upon to be uninvolved listeners; they are involved! At other times friends may remain silent out of fear of hurting your feelings. A coach can be a sounding board, and is able to give impartial feedback on your progress toward your goals.
A good friend is a treasure! Cherish your friends. Nurture your relationships with your friends, and enjoy the give and take of these relationships. If, as is true for many people, your friendships are effective in providing the support and encouragement you need to achieve your dreams, count yourself blessed.
There are times when a coach could make a big impact in your life. Consider hiring a coach, though, if any of these are true for you:
1. You feel a need to get more out of your life, and the resources you have on hand are not enough to help you get what you want out of life.
Coaches can help when friends are not enough.
2. You have identified specific skills that will help you enhance your personal and professional life, and you need someone else's help in order to fully develop them.
Coaches can offer expertise friends may not possess.
3. You need the structure a coach can provide in order to work consistently and efficiently at achieving your dreams.
Coaches can help you develop effective action plans and keep you on track in following them.
4. You know from previous efforts to grow in your personal and professional life that you need a person to remind you and ask you about commitments.
Coaches can, when you request it, help you "keep your hand to the plow." Accountability is the chief reason many people hire a coach.
5. You would appreciate and benefit from an impartial person acting as a sounding board.
Coaches have trained their listening skills to a high degree. You can openly discuss new ideas and "think out loud" to a coach without fear of criticism or rejection.
Why not have both friends and a coach?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hi! I'm Don H. Morris. I help my clients at Encouraging Plus Coaching create a compelling vision for what they want to achieve in the next five years by helping them craft a personal creed, a personal development plan, a passion statement, a dependable strengths profile, and more. Do you need help identifying your passions, abilities and values? Set up a complimentary coaching session to see how well we can work together to reach your dreams by filling out the convenient contact form on my home page: http://www.encouragementplus.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_H._Morris
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