Coaching techniques of listening, questioning and giving and receiving feedback are generally seen as essential for improving the self-awareness of the person-being-coached (coachee).
The coachee retains responsibility and ownership of the outcomes and is in control of the coaching process, while the coach tailors the coaching around the coachee's needs. The relationship is commonly described as an equal one while maintaining a confidential and trusting exchange of information.
Depending upon how widely or narrowly coaching is actually understood by people, its relationships to other disciplines will differ accordingly. There is a clear distinction between coaching and therapy and for making transparent how coaching is linked to other services; such as consulting, mentoring and counseling.
Depending on each coaching approach and form, different coaching skills may be required. However, skills around listening, questioning and giving and receiving feedback are seen as basic and essential in all types of coaching.
Coaching is a professional service that preferably is external (from outside the workplace of the person-being-coached). Yet, companies are now increasingly starting to make use of coaching priniciples within the workplace to improve the performance of employees. One distinction that is highly useful to be aware of is between managers who coach their direct reports and managers who demonstrate a coaching leadership style. While the first category are acting like professional coaches and giving formal sessions, the latter maintain their role as leaders and integrate coaching elements, such as listening, skillful questioning and empowerment, into their everyday methods of leadership.
Coaching extends across various cultures at the global, regional, national, organizational and individual level and is a worldwide phenomenon today. Each person's and company's unique coaching experience shapes their individual understanding of coaching.
Source: Frank Bresser: The global business guide for the successful use of coaching in organizations