Coach as ...

I have been thinking about the notion of "Coach as ..." and what clients seek alongside of what I, as a Certified Coach offer. In beginning this formal coaching journey over 2 years ago, I was focused on "Coach as thought-partner". To me, during my learning, it made sense that a coach would partner with a client on equal ground to think through issues, challenges, opportunities. This moved on to developing and expanding the client's key growth areas, expanding into their strengths, drawing awareness out about their internal challenges and perceived weaknesses and shifting perspective on what they may have thought were absolutes in their lives. But what else can a Coach offer? What else have I experienced and been able to offer? Moreover, what's next?

What about "Coach as process partner"?

What about "Coach as action-partner"?

What about "Coach as cheerleader"?

What about "Coach as combat-partner"? So far, not too many of my clients have solicited this kind of approach. I envision it sounding like this: "I want you to challenge me. Whatever I say, I want you to interrogate, disbelieve, outright oppose." For some reason, that appeals to my sense of challenge. I love it when the energy in the room goes up and the topic becomes tense, almost too hot to touch. The caveat here, for me as Coach, is that the energy must still be playful. In other words, we can get intense, debate, raise our voices, so long as the desired outcome is honourable. We debate and challenge the process, thinking, assumptions, perceptions in the spirit of creating something greater rather than debating the essence of the person being right / wrong, good/bad. Dichotomies of this/that with no flexibility in between have limited place in coaching, I find. There is always a third, fourth, fifth option. But sometimes, we need an aggressive approach that forces us to look at those.