Did you know that there are five different types of coaching styles out there? From directive to non-directive, you can use them to unlock your potential and maximize your success. This guide will cover the essentials of the different types of coaching styles and show you the benefits of investing in a coach.
We’ll look at why each style exists and how they fit together, plus time will be spent uncovering the skillset of an optimized coach so that you can find the right one for your needs. By the end of this post, you’ll know the power of coaching and be able to determine which style works best for you. So let’s get started by busting the myths and exploring the five types of coaching styles!
Understanding the Different Coaching Styles
Different coaching styles are becoming increasingly popular and widespread, with the different approaches meeting different needs of individuals in the professional world. Understanding the different styles available can help to connect those in need of a coach to those that specialize in certain techniques.
The various styles of coaching range from directive, focusing more on providing advice from an expert perspective; to non-directive, which involves open-ended questions and listening as opposed to providing advice. Directive coaching is more focused on giving people guidance for their specific goals and objectives, while non-directive focuses more on the individual’s own interests and strengthening the person’s inner power. Dialogue workshops make up another major style of coaching, providing a group atmosphere for individuals to come together and discuss shared goals.
The debate between non-directive and directive coaching often comes down to personal preference, with many people preferring one over the other based on their own experiences. Those who have had success with directive coaching will likely find it more helpful, while some find that non-directive coaching is better suited for providing a greater sense of personal development. Though, understanding the differences between these two approaches can help individuals decide which kind of coaching best fits their lifestyle and set expectations.
It is important to note the differences between these styles of coaching before making any decision so that you are well equipped with knowledge going into a session or program. With this knowledge, we can now look further into the specifics of directive coaching and its implications for unlocking potential.
Directive Coaching Style
When it comes to the different types of coaching styles, understanding the directive coaching style is essential. Directive coaching provides individuals with clear and specific instructions, guidance and advice on how they should go about achieving their goals. Proponents of the directive style assert that this strategy can be very effective for those who want direction and structure in their lives and are motivated by being given tasks to complete. Supporters of directive coaching feel that it can provide individuals with a sense of clarity and confidence, as well as an orientation towards taking consistent action to reach their goals.
However, the effectiveness of this type of coaching may vary significantly based on the individual’s needs and preferences. Those who prefer autonomy or like to explore solutions on their own may frown upon one-size-fits-all solutions and directives from a coach. People who prefer to take their own path and want to make mistakes but learn from them might be put off by being told exactly what they should do.
Nevertheless, directive coaching still has its place in helping certain individuals reach their potential. This is why it’s important to have a working knowledge of what this type of coaching entails and when it is most applicable. With that in mind, let’s dive a bit deeper into the specifics of directive coaching in order to better understand its strengths and weaknesses.
What is a Directive Coaching Style?
Directive coaching is a type of coaching that emphasizes the importance of the coach’s guidance in connecting a client to their desired outcomes. In this style, the coach plays an active role in helping the client to identify areas of strength and weakness while providing guidance on how to develop positive habits and overcome roadblocks. This style often has the coach leading conversations with open-ended questions and providing direction on next steps for goal achievement. Directive coaches are typically highly structured in their approach and may provide advice about what works or does not work based on their own experience.
A key feature of this directive style is the use of specific techniques that focus on two-way dialogue between the coach and client. Such techniques include motivational questioning, active listening, Socratic questioning, holism, affirmations, and reframing. While some critics believe that this style holds clients back from developing their own skills and abilities since they become too reliant on the guidance from the coach, proponents argue that it allows clients to gain insight into their personal development journeys which leads to increased confidence and greater success in achieving their goals. Furthermore, research has found that directive coaching can be especially effective when used with children as it allows them to explore different pathways for growth under the visual supervision of their instructor.
Directive coaching is a popular way for coaches to assist clients in their personal development journey since it provides a structured environment for reflection and actionable steps towards goal attainment. By leveraging specific techniques such as motivational questioning, active listening, and reframing, coaches are better able to connect with their clients and help them stay motivated during challenging times.
Pros and Cons of a Directive Coaching Style
Directive coaching styles can be very beneficial in certain scenarios due to their structured nature which leads to a more definitive plan of action and goal setting. Their structure encourages accountability, as the client is held accountable by the coach. At times, this may be an effective way to evoke positive change.
However, there are some potential drawbacks with this type of coaching style. This style may not be well-suited for those seeking a more open dialogue about topics relating to their life journey or those who lack confidence and need guidance in building self-esteem and guidance in decision making. The lack of flexibility from a directive style could cause clients to become overwhelmed and unmotivated due to their lack of a sense of control over the material and direction being discussed.
It is important for coaches to assess their clients’ needs carefully before selecting a particular coaching style as that will have a major impact on the progress made by their clients. The ultimate success of any approach depends greatly upon how well it suits the individual client needs and situation. With this in mind, coaches should properly evaluate the available options before engaging in any type of coaching relationship with their clients.
Interpersonal Coaching Style
Moving on from a Directive Coaching Style, we look at its opposite type of style – Interpersonal coaching. Some argue that interpersonal coaching is less effective as it does not provide clear direction or define limits for the client. On the other hand, supporters claim it can create a more comfortable and collaborative environment, making it easier for the client to identify obstacles and find solutions.
This method focuses on building relationships and promotes open communication between the coach and client. It encourages self-discovery by exploring themes such as motivation, personal values, emotional intelligence and more. This allows the client to explore their feelings without judgement and develop deeper insights into their own beliefs.
Furthermore, an interpersonal coach serves as impartial sounding board and source of feedback – allowing the client to objectively assess their decisions while being heard. Lastly, many interpersonal coaches use methods such as role playing and decision making simulations which can help strengthen communication between the two parties.
What is an Interpersonal Coaching Style?
Interpersonal Coaching, also known as ‘Behavioral Coaching’, is a style of coaching that focuses on behavioral shifts. This type of coaching tends to be more collaborative and requires a lot of two-way communication, allowing clients to process their thoughts and feelings more openly. Interpersonal coaching helps an individual identify and overcome any deep-rooted issues inhibiting them from reaching their goals.
When working with an interpersonal coach, the client will be encouraged to evaluate how they are responding to different situations as well as uncovering any motivations behind their actions. This style of coaching may help individuals better understand why they do the things they do, enabling them to make informed decisions about how to move forward. It can also be incredibly helpful in lowering stress levels and improving overall wellbeing.
Some have expressed criticism toward this type of coaching due to its tendency to focus too heavily on the emotional aspects, rather than physical growth or tangible goals. The argument often made is that although it may be useful in rationalizing one’s feelings and emotions, it does little when it comes to getting meaningful results.
Interpersonal coaching is still a valuable tool for understanding oneself and overcoming any obstacles standing in the way of success. With clear guidance from a compassionate coach, individuals can transform behaviours which may ultimately unlock their true potential. As conversations progress during this style of coaching, so does personal growth, making it possible for people to reach heights they never thought was possible for them before.
Structured Coaching Style
The structured coaching style is a method that shifts focus away from achieving a single outcome, and instead encourages the exploration of various approaches to reach an objective. This coaching style sets goals, typically in less than two dozen areas, with each goal having its own timeline. The purpose of this is to create benchmarks that allow for achievable successes along the way. With structured coaching, there is more structure overall compared to interpersonal coaching because it encourages the individual to focus on break down tasks into smaller sections to achieve larger outcomes – offering a greater sense of accomplishment each step of the way.
From one perspective, structured coaching can be seen as beneficial because it offers clear-cut steps and tangible results over a period of time which demonstrates marked improvement. Also, this style can be used strategically when exploring options and making decisions as it’s easier to break down processes and ponder options within a framework. Whereas on the other hand, structured coaching can be viewed as rigid or overly time consuming for those who might need immediate support or seek guidance but may not have the capacity or resources for long-term objectives or continuous progressions.
Ultimately, when it comes to different types of coaching styles, structured coaching does have its merits. It allows individuals to chart out their goals which gives them greater control over the pace and steps needed for success. And with that control over their own destiny comes increased confidence that can give people a better chance at reaching their desired outcomes. Nevertheless, with any approach, the most important factor at play is the coach’s personal strengths in terms of how they are able to foster relationships and facilitate personal development through communication and actionable tasks.
Supportive Coaching Style
The Supportive Coaching Style is the opposite to the Structured Coaching Style in many ways and provides a dramatically different way of coaching. With this style of coaching, there’s a strong emphasis on listening, feedback, and encouragement rather than direct instructions and advice. Instead of building an action plan around goals, the focus is largely on questioning and discussing various aspects of thoughts, feelings motivations and attitudes.
This empathetic and non-directive style can benefit those who aren’t sure yet what they want to achieve. It provides space for individuals to think seriously and deeply about whatever problem they are facing – deepening their understanding of what they want to work on towards a solution. It allows people to approach the issue from different viewpoints, or develop new ways of thinking that weren’t considered before. One key advantage of this kind of coach is that it is highly individualised; questions posed by the coach may differ for each person depending on what their needs are.
Some might argue that supportive coaching does not explicitly help individuals move closer towards their goals since it does not provide any clear direction or guiding principles. They suggest that if you don’t feel like you have enough guidance or answers to your questions from your coach, then supportive coaching might not be the best fit for you.
It’s important to note, however that supportive coaches are highly trained professionals who can identify when supporting versus providing tips may yield better results in terms of progress towards goals set by the client at hand. Furthermore, research has found that support was strongly related with positive outcomes when considering sports performance as well as psychological wellbeing – more so than its more directive counterpart (Gourdine & Wienecke 2009). Whether it’s achieving success in business or an individual looking for a life path – personal or professional – supportive coaching can help unlock potential and reach new heights that no one ever thought possible.
