According to Fortune Magazine, "Coaching is unlocking a person's potential to maximize their own performance.  Clients say coaches bring out their best by helping them focus, break down tasks and clarify their values."

The basic "road map" of coaching is actually quite simple:

1. Clarify your values and vision.
2. Align choices with that vision.
3. Integrate those choices into the real world.
   

Coaching is a powerful partnership for personal and professional development that improves performance and overall well-being. Professional coaching helps individuals and groups clarify their vision, establish a course of action and sustain momentum toward goals. The coaching relationship provides a structure for discovery, reflection, progress and assessment, producing outcomes that align with values and priorities.

Coaching goes beyond the books. Like trying to learn Karate from a book, it would be very difficult without guidance from a skilled practitioner providing customized feedback to make significant and lasting improvement.

Coaching is not a quick fix. It embodies a deep, personal learning process that steadily empowers you to succeed—on your own—beyond habitual limitations. Though the coach provides objective reflection, inquiry, insight and assignments for integration, the client is fully responsible for taking action.

Professional coaches are professionally trained to listen, observe, inquire, question, challenge, motivate and customize their approach in a manner that best serves the client's needs and objectives. Coaching provides the tools, structure and support to enhance awareness and achievement, while offering the client accountability for their commitments.

If you're looking for further and more detailed information about coaching and the coaching profession, please visit the International Coach Federation website at www.coachfederation.org.