People are often confused by the term ‘coach’. People often think of a person who coaches a team or someone who is a trained counselor. What I heard today from two coaches, Marty and Jake of Conference Call University, really took what was in my own head and gave it a voice. I’ve been asked over and over throughout my years of coaching what the difference is between what I do and what a counselor does. Lets clarify what a coach is NOT and see if we can clear this up.

A coach is NOT a counselor. They’re not there to ‘gently’ walk you through your ’stuff’. Their role is to show you how you can stare straight at your strong holds and blind spots and teach you how to move beyond them with determination and persistence. If a coach is sensitive to your issues, but doesn’t buy into them as you talk about them, you will see that you’re either going to respectfully accept or reject what that person is saying.

For someone only looking for sympathy, but is not ready to take responsibility for their situation, a coach may sound harsh and uncaring. If a coach speaks truth but the listener isn’t ready to hear it then the wise coach knows when to end the sessions and return any and all pre-paid monies, if money was exchanged, ahead of the appointment. Not everyone is at the same place, and not every coach will be able to help every person.

If a person wants to see beyond self, accept responsibility for their situation and is determined to get to success then the person who initially felt hurt will find that the coaches words were meant to help, not harm, and the discomfort will either melt away or become irrelevant.

A coach is NOT a person’s end all be all. While a coach might be able and willing to help you with your emotional blocks, coaches are focused on getting results because we want you to succeed. In sports the coaches job is not to pick up the ball and throw it for you. They are there to show you what plays you can’t see on your own and tell you how to do it better the next time.

A coach is NOT a crutch. “Poor me” is not the role the coach will play either. No matter what you face in your life, whether it’s emotional or physical, your coach is someone who you can lead you into where you want to be but only when you are willing to let go of self-serving ways.

A coach is NOT perfect. They might make errors in judgment just like you can, but their wisdom in a specialized field will bring them understanding in ways you may not know about.

So now that you know what a coach is NOT, be sure to consider using one for personal or business if you want to move ahead in life. A coach can be your best motivator. They can be objective, fair, and lead you toward your goals much faster than if you were to go it alone. I know…because I’ve tried both.