coaching concepts library

Coaching and Training are Very Different

The major conceptual difference between coaching and training can be seen in the definition of "train":

1.  To trail or drag (Ooff! That's not comfortable!  And that's coming from the Latin root word.  Let's skip down to a better definition)

4.  To guide the mental, moral, etc. development of; bring up (We're getting closer, but it still has connotations of control!)

5.  To instruct as to make proficient or qualified (Now that's better, but how is one made proficient or qualified?)

Well, you get the idea about training - and the last four definitions available in the dictionary go down hill again. 

If you've read What Is Coaching, then you know that your coach isn't going to drag you toward anything, nor will she guide your mental or moral development.  In fact, your coach believes you are a healthy person who is seeking to reach your goals.  You will accelerate your progress with some coaching support along the way.

As coaches, we believe training has its place, but it is overused, especially within organizations.  Gary was a member of the corporate world for 30 years, and he saw that trying to force his employees to learn something (other than a skill that they could put on their resumes) could be a pretty futile activity. 

Your coach has no syllabus of learning that you must absorb.  Instead, your coach believes that you can determine what you need to learn - and will tell your coach what you want to focus on.  Sure, your coach may ask you some clarifying questions along the way, but you decide what the agenda is going to be in coaching. 

There is another aspect to training:  it usually is provided in a single, concentrated dose to a large group.  There are several disadvantages to training like this:

• Rarely are all students at the same level of skill or understanding at the start of the training.  Depending on your level, you may be bored - or overwhelmed by the training.

• Rarely do all students have the same level of motivation to be trained.  Some listen intently while others are pre-occupied with other priorities or even resent being in the room.

• Can you absorb all that is presented in a day-long or multi-day training and apply it skillfully the next day?

• When you get back to your job, how much of the material that you have absorbed will you get to apply before you forget it? 

Coaching focuses on what is relevant to you now, today.  Rather than receiving a brain-dump of information, coaching allows you to address what you want to work on currently, thus making the entire experience much more relevant, easy to remember and in tune with your level of experience.

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The materials presented in this site are the opinions of the authors and do not fully cover any aspect of coaching.  These materials are presented to help you understand the basic nature of coaching. Should you hire a coach, your experience is likely to differ in at least some respects from what is presented here.