How Coaching Differs from Training

Trainers develop expertise, coaches facilitate experts to reach their potential. 

The skilled coach selects their interventions based upon the needs of their clients.  

Looking at the Learning Spectrum; it is impossible to facilitate a fact out of thin air, therefore at the start of training an expert trainer has to give the trainee information or tell them what to do.

As the trainee gains experience, the trainer can demonstrate techniques and then allow the trainee to explore what works for them. 

Eventually the trainee has developed the knowledge, skills and finesse to become an expert in their own right.   At that point, the trainer takes off their training hat and dons the coach’s. They then provide feedback to improve their now-expert client’s performance. 

The coach must accept the way the client achieves the outcome may differ from their preferred technique and the true skill of a coach is to non-judgmentally provide the necessary feedback to enhance the performance further.   

In reality we all have areas of great strength coupled to blind spots and weakness so a skilled trainer/coach use an intervention appropriate for their clients level of knowledge and stage of progress.  

Wordplay coaches use the entire learning spectrum when appropriate but with expert clients prefer to help them build the resourcefulness to develop their own coaching environment so they can positively influence their colleagues.