High-performance coaches work with individuals in personal and professional contexts to enable them to reach their full potential. While these sorts of coaches are commonly associated with sports, it should be noted that the act of coaching is a specific type of behavior that is also useful in business and leadership.
Understanding high-performance coaching
High-performance coaching involves helping people reach their full potential in any aspect of their personal or professional lives.
In a 2017 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Wagstaff, Arthur, and Hardy defined high-performance coaching as:
“a systematic application of collaborative, individualized, solution-focused psychological practices by leaders to enhance individual, group, or organizational performance.”
At the individual level, high-performance coaches help clients better regulate and direct their resources toward achieving goals.
They also help them to maximize their unique strengths via self-directed learning.
High-performance coaches also possess the following characteristics:
- Observation and performance analysis.
- The ability to ask effective questions, and
- The ability to provide both developmental and motivational feedback.
More characteristics of high-performance coaches
High-performance coaches help them determine what they want to do in life, set goals, and then achieve them regardless of whether the client is an athlete, entrepreneur, or executive.
In fact, many turn to these professionals because they were never taught how to do so themselves.
Here are a few more characteristics of high-performance coaches:
They provide crucial support
High-performance coaches support clients to give them the confidence to take risks and pursue dreams they once thought impossible.
Coaches can also see through excuses and will push the client to succeed.
They provide important advice
High-performance coaches realize that we can sometimes make poor decisions when under duress.
With this in mind, they become beacons of wisdom and objectivity when challenges arise.
They answer existential questions
Many of us ponder the meaning of life and how we can make the most of it.
High-performance coaches help people of all ages and persuasions find purpose and direction.
They provide balance
High-performance coaches recognize that there is more to life than money, work, achievement, or a sports car.
For the maximum chance of success, they help clients ensure there is a balance between their professions, spirituality, finances, hobbies, and relationships.
They are forward-looking
While therapists deal with the past to improve performance, high-performance coaches show their clients how to build a successful future.
They are certified
In many jurisdictions, effective coaches are certified by organizations such as the High Performance Institute (HPI).
Others take comprehensive online or in-person courses to hone their skills.
Key takeaways:
- High-performance coaching involves helping people reach their full potential in any aspect of their personal or professional lives.
- High-performance coaches help clients better regulate and direct their resources toward achieving goals. There is also a focus on self-directed learning that maximizes an individual’s unique strengths.
- High-performance coaches provide crucial support and advice when situations become difficult. They also answer existential questions and encourage the individual to strive for balance at all times.
Read Next: High-Performance Management
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