Six powerful coaching styles that you can apply

In its simplest form, coaching is aimed at enhancing existing capabilities (Griffiths & Campbell, 2008). It is a solution-focused approach in which clients are guided towards achieving outcomes.

Coaching is a broad profession; it encompasses an array of techniques and styles. Coaching 'techniques' are the practices used by coaches during sessions which include NLP, linguistic models, writing exercises, and more. 

But then, what are coaching styles?

The term 'coaching styles', however, refers to the overall direction of each session. A coach can specialize in a certain style, or they can specialize in a few different ones that they can adapt to their clients’ preferences. 

WHY ARE COACHING STYLES IMPORTANT?

Coaching styles are important for managing different aspects of a client’s life. It guides them in making life choices or mentoring employees in the workplace. 

Understanding when to use a certain type of coaching can improve efficiency in meeting goals. Individuals may complete their goals better and faster when they have a coach because it can help to give them structure and hold them accountable. 

It can also help individuals learn or sharpen their skills, such as confidence in their self-image and decision-making.

THE IMPACT OF NEGATIVE COACHING STYLES

It is vital to choose the right coaching style for your clients because negative coaching styles can severely impact your clients’ lives. 

Negative coaching styles consist of any behavior, mental, physical, or verbal negligence. It can lead to your clients’ wellbeing being diminished, in terms of:

• Autonomy – the need to feel ownership of one’s behavior.
• Competence – the need to produce desired outcomes and experience mastery.
• Relatedness – the need to feel connected to others.

Once you have understood the importance of choosing the right coaching styles and the negative impacts of coaching negligence, let’s explore the different types of coaching styles for application. 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COACHING STYLES?

Before we dive into the different types of coaching styles, ask these questions to your clients: 

Which parts of their life do they want to improve?

What’s their learning style or pace?

What do they want to achieve at the end of the session?

Here are 6 powerful coaching styles that you can apply:

1. Holistic coaching

In life coaching, holistic coaching leads the way. 

This is because life coaches specializing in the holistic coaching style often look at their clients' whole lives - from their physical fitness to the state of their social lives in order to help them achieve a peaceful balance.

This coaching style is especially beneficial when addressing work-life balance, health and stress.

2. Mindset coaching

Mindset coaching helps clients uncover any limiting beliefs, blocks, behaviors or habits of thinking that may be holding them back. 

Once they are identified, a mindset coach can use different techniques to remove blocks and replace beliefs with something that will better serve them and their goals.

3. Mindfulness coaching

An increasing number of businesses are hiring mindfulness coaches to help employees develop calmer, more enlightened approaches within their working environment. 

Here are some benefits for this type of coaching:

• It encourages better work relations
• Improves reaction in dealing with stress at work
• Increases focus and attention span

4. Positive psychology coaching

According to lifecoachdirectory.org.uk, the founder of positive psychology, Professor Martin Seligman, said his aim was “to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.”

Positive psychology coaching styles help enhance well-being, support happiness goals and improve resilience using science-based approaches.

5. Democratic coaching

For democratic coaching, the coach only steps in when needed to keep the process going. 

A democratic coach encourages clients to give their input, which increases their sense of self-importance. 

This style is especially suitable for younger members of a team as it makes them feel in control of the training, positively affecting their attitude.

6. Autocratic coaching

According to Indeed.com, autocratic coaching is the coach telling their clients what it is they're supposed to be doing, rather than asking them to do something. 

This style of coaching can teach individuals how to stay committed and disciplined to a task. Coaches set a specific structure for achieving and accomplishing a definitive goal. 

Often, the coaches may want to see their clients repeat the process after they've succeeded at it the first time. This can lead to the feeling of staying committed to processes and tasks if they know that it's been successful before. The coaches strive to see excellence in this style.

CONCLUSION

Once you’re familiar with the different coaching styles, follow these three steps:

• Identify your client’s ideal learning style
• Design a program that will work best for these different styles
• Check in regularly and adjust as needed

Coaching styles are heavily influenced by personal experience, philosophy, and sticking with a single style may not be a viable option for many coaches.

Ultimately, a coach at all levels of coaching should observe their clients and how they are responding to coaching. Communication, even if it is one-sided, is also vital in achieving success.

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