Insights: What is the Difference Between Training and Coaching?

Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast

CLI_7: What is the Difference Between Training and Coaching?
Is there a difference between training and coaching?
Quotes:
“If you don't know what you want to see, then you don't know how to see if it has worked or not.”
Episode Highlights:
Organizations can confuse training with coaching or misunderstand their purposes. When an organization approaches me for training or coaching, there's often confusion between the terms. People think that coaching is the same as training and vice versa, or they don't understand why you would need coaching because you don't have any “so-called” problems. They also don't know what to expect or how to determine if there's going to be progress in training and coaching.
In this episode, I share the differences between coaching and training. I also touch on the different types of training and coaching and what they entail.
Training:
Training typically targets organizational goals and is often done in groups. It involves predefined outcomes and measures success through behavior changes.
Types of training include:

• Knowledge-based training: Involves presentation of material with quizzes and discussions to assess understanding.
• Skills-based training: Focuses on observable behaviors towards a specific outcome, like presentation skills or carpentry skills.
• Behavior change-oriented training: Aims to make visible changes in knowledge, skill, and attitude.

Coaching:
Coaching is complex and relationship-based, focusing on sustained action and behavioral change. It involves a continuous learning process, like mastering a sport or instrument. Combining coaching with training yields exceptional results.
Types of coaching include:

• Life coaching: Covers life skills like budgeting, emotional regulation, and anger management.
• Business coaching: Focuses on strategy, finances, marketing, and business goals.
• Executive/leadership coaching: Involves strategic planning, team management, and change management.
• Performance coaching: Targets specific career goals and leadership milestones.
• Health coaching: Concerns improving habits of nutrition, exercise, weight loss, and addictions.
• Relationship coaching: Involves communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills.

Success in training depends on clear goals and effective engagement towards desired course outcomes, while success in coaching relies on the client's willingness to engage and the coach's ability to help the client build capacity and strength in achieving personal goals or overcoming professional obstacles.
If you're interested in discussing training or coaching with me, please email [e-mail] to find a time to chat and determine what best suits your circumstances.

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