What Makes A Good Coach? - SACAP
Management & Leadership

What Makes a Good Coach?

Mar 13, 2024
Reading time: 4 min
SACAP Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Business Management 
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Some coaches are better than others. But what makes a good coach? Is there an X-factor that sets them apart? Do you need to start off with innate character traits or is training more important? Is coaching knowledge more important than having a natural talent for helping people? Here are 6 great questions to know the answers to if you’re aiming to be a good coach.

6 Things Good Coaches Know

1. What Personal Qualities Do Top Coaches Possess?

There are three personal qualities that top coaches possess that set them apart from others. Firstly, they are able to be fully present with a client. Secondly, they can discern what’s essential by listening with their whole body. And thirdly, they see a person wholistically and are thereby able to guide the integration of all aspects of their life.

Mindfulness teaches you to be present in the moment you find yourself in. Regularly practising this presencing practice will enable you to stay in the present moment more easily. Thereby, improving your ability to be fully present with a client. Learning about body language can assist you to be better at interpreting a client’s verbal and non-verbal cues. Brushing up on listening techniques can also assist you when you’re trying to discern what’s essential.

2. Which is More Important Coach Training or Inner Qualities?

Good coaches are well-trained and have inner qualities that make them good at what they do. This, in part, is because coaching tends to appeal to those who already have the right set of inner qualities. For example, is enthusiastic and respectful, likes people, is able to communicate well and is goal orientated. However, those who are good at coaching are also lifelong students of their practice. They are perpetually integrating new material and input for improvement. Executive Coach George Vincent Eadie puts forward that there is one prized inner quality that one should have. This is a deeply held belief that anybody, no matter their position or situation, can make a most spectacular self-liberation.

Accordingly, what is important is that practising coaches see their vocation as a lifelong learning opportunity for themselves. This means that they are continuously reading, researching, and willing to learn to expand and improve their coaching skillset.

3. Is Coaching Technique More Important than Coaching Artistry?

Artistry is part of the technique of coaching and technique is part of the artistry of coaching. These two aspects work hand-in-hand. This is especially true when it comes to “pathway” type or niched coaching.

4. What’s More Important Coaching Knowledge or Knowledge Application?

The learning process that a coach goes through is essential to developing them to be a good coach. Coaching requires you to understand various techniques and processes. However, while having a baseline knowledge is ideal, direct experience is what hones coaching skills. Thus, the more coaching experience you have the better you’ll be.

John Kim LMFT, author, speaker, life coach and co-founder of JRNI Life Coaching Certification and the Catalyst Life Coaching Intensive, offers this insight: “Life coaching is a craft and takes practice and education, like any other profession. You need a foundational know-how before you can coach.”

5. Should You aim to Know Your Clients or Know How to Help Clients feel Comfortable?

It’s important that a coach establishes a good connection with their client. They need to understand the essential self of their client. However, this should be in an uninvolved and objective manner. All other aspects, such as getting to know a client, insightful analysis and fostering an environment of growth, flow from this starting point.

6. Is Coaching a Talent or a Cultivated Ability?

No matter how good you could be at something, you still need to cultivate and build upon your existing abilities. Most coaches have an inner drive that leads them into the profession. At their essence, they enjoy and want to assist people to attain their goals and flourish in life. However, what makes a good coach is that they leverage their talents and then constantly upskill and practice.

The Starting Point to Becoming a Good Coach

To be a good coach you need to have a great foundation to build from. This is gained by studying through a reputable institution that has a successful coaching track record. SACAP has more than 15 years of running successful coaching courses that are internationally recognised. Courses are accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and aligned with COMENSA.

If you want to help people to achieve their full potential then apply online now to study coaching at SACAP.

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