A New Paradigm for Coaches with Interdisciplinary Skills
Good coaches are always learning and looking for ways to improve. In today's rapidly changing world, that means keeping up with the latest research and best practices in a variety of fields. This can be a daunting task, but luckily there is a new science that can help.
In this blog post, we'll explore how coaches can modernize their practice by drawing on interdisciplinary expertise. We'll look at the benefits of doing so and some key considerations for working with experts from other disciplines. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of how to incorporate interdisciplinary expertise into your coaching practice.
The importance of coaching in the modern world
Coaches have been helping individuals and teams reach their goals for decades. Today's coaches often face unique challenges, ranging from the need to help clients grow to how a team needs to develop to navigate the changing dynamics of today's rapidly-evolving workplaces. Studies have shown that coaching outperforms other human resource investments, but it is not even close to realizing its full potential.
Fear of mixing coaching, training, and consulting
There is often a fear among expert coaches that they should never ever give advice, teach or help beyond traditional coaching tasks. Even though each type of work has its' own standards, there are times when a company hiring a coach needs more than one set of tasks accomplished. If the capabilities to perform each bundle of tasks happen to reside within one individual, who typically performs coaching tasks, as long as consulting and training are done ethically, and they're all aligned with the client's goals, there is no reason for anxiety.
However, this doesn't have to be a reason for anxiety – mixing training, coaching, and consulting can be done with great success as long as there is a strong understanding of the unique distinctions and requirements between the three. Training involves teaching new skills or information so that participants can acquire the skills they need to do their job better. Coaching focuses on enhancing people's existing strengths and on helping individuals either as a sounding board, helping clients develop better coping mechanisms or helping a client apply skills on the job through guided techniques. Consulting involves giving advice and sometimes performing work tasks.
In the most complicated situations facing clients that require several different interventions, with coaches who are also proficient in domain-relevant teaching and/or consulting, these skills can be combined ethically with great results. But a trainer, consultant, or coach shouldn't try doing the other tasks unless they're both honest with clients about the different nature of those tasks, and sufficiently proficient that they can help the client realize their goals. By doing so, trainers, coaches, and consultants can explore new possibilities while honoring their ethical responsibilities.
