Article by Tamara · 3 min read · Originally shared 2019-06-02

Coaching in Cyprus: what, who and why

What coaching is, how to choose the right coach and why it works. An article by Tamara Georgiadou.

Coaching in Cyprus

Over the last few years coaching has been flourishing in Cyprus. That is good news: more people and organisations benefit from coaching. As the coaching community grows, it is worth choosing a coach carefully. This article helps individuals and organisations make an informed decision.

What is coaching?

There are many definitions. The most widely used comes from the Professional Charter for Coaching and Mentoring, developed by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) together with the International Coach Federation (ICF), the two largest internationally recognised coaching organisations. In 2011 the Charter was accepted by the European Union for its website on self-regulated sectors, and the leading coaching organisations have adopted it.

According to the Charter, coaching is “facilitating the client's learning process by using professional methods and techniques to help the client to improve what is obstructive and nurture what is effective, in order to reach the client's goals” and “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential”.

Coaching is a relationship of trust, a method and a process in which coach and client co-create. It gives the client, an individual or an organisation, time and space to reflect, gain insight, grow personally and professionally, set and achieve goals, change and transform.

Coaching is not consulting, counselling or psychotherapy.

Who is a coach, and how do you find the right one?

Coaching is an unregulated profession, so anyone can call themselves a coach, sometimes without the necessary qualifications. That gives the coaching community even greater responsibility.

Ideally, choose a coach accredited by an internationally recognised body such as EMCC or ICF. Accreditation means that the coach meets the required criteria: adequate training, experience in coaching and mentoring, supervision, the required competences and continuous professional development. All members are bound by the Global Code of Ethics.

When you choose a coach, look at:

• Credentials: training, a diploma or certification in coaching, membership or, even better, accreditation with a body such as EMCC or ICF
• Background: studies, work and achievements
• Specialisation: from life coaching to executive coaching, from career to spiritual coaching, choose according to your needs
• Approach: take time to understand how the coach works and whether it suits you
• Chemistry: the effectiveness of coaching depends to a large extent on the relationship of trust between coach and client

Why coaching?

Coaching works, and its benefits reach both personal and professional life. Unlike many other professions, coaching focuses on the present and the future. It helps you move on without dwelling on the past and gives a fresh, positive perspective.

The top 10 benefits of coaching:

• Self-awareness and a deep understanding of yourself
• Empowerment and support at every level
• Ownership of setting and achieving goals, solving problems and making decisions
• Clarity
• Insight
• A new perspective
• Learning and development
• Setting and achieving goals
• Better performance
• Change and transformation

Coaching is not a magic wand and cannot produce miracles overnight. But in the process of co-creating with a client, “magic” things happen.

Source: Philenews · Το Coaching στην Κύπρο και τα οφέλη του