Performance vs Transformative Coaching: Uncovering the difference

Have you ever wondered what type of coaching might be best for you? Following on from my recent post on the differences between coaching and mentoring, I thought it would be helpful to dive into the different styles of coaching. This question comes up quite often when I'm speaking with clients, and with so many options out there, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Today, let's break down the differences between two popular coaching styles: performance coaching and transformative coaching. By the end of our time together, you'll have a clearer idea of which one might be the perfect fit for you.

What is Performance Coaching?

Let's start with performance coaching. This type of coaching is all about setting and achieving specific goals. Whether you're looking to climb the career ladder, boost your productivity, or manage your time better, performance coaching is designed to help you get there.

Key Characteristics of Performance Coaching:

• Goal-Oriented: The main focus is on achieving specific outcomes.

• Structured Process: Coaches help you set clear objectives and create step-by-step plans.

• Directive Methods: You'll get practical strategies, tools, and frameworks to guide you.

Common Frameworks in Performance Coaching:

• GROW Model: Helps you define your goals, assess your current situation, explore options, and commit to actions.

• SMART Goals: Ensures your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound.

• OSCAR Model: Focuses on defining outcomes, understanding the situation, identifying choices, planning actions, and reviewing progress.

Benefits of Performance Coaching:

• Achieving your goals efficiently.

• Improving productivity and time management.

• Enhancing career advancement opportunities.

Real-Life Example: Performance Coaching in Action

Meet “Sarah”, a category manager with her sights set on a promotion to "Head of Category." Feeling ready to take the next step in her career, Sarah turned to performance coaching to help her achieve her goal. Together with her coach, she set clear career objectives and developed a targeted plan to enhance her leadership, strategic planning, and influencing skills.

Over the course of 12 months, Sarah diligently worked on these areas. Her coach provided practical strategies, regular feedback, and accountability, helping her stay focused and motivated. Sarah's leadership skills improved significantly, allowing her to lead her team more effectively. She also became more adept at strategic planning and influencing key stakeholders.

Thanks to her focused efforts and the structured support of performance coaching, Sarah successfully secured the promotion she had been aiming for. Her journey is a testament to the power of setting clear goals and working systematically towards them with the guidance of a skilled coach.

What is Transformative Coaching?

Now, let's talk about transformative coaching. This approach is all about deep, lasting change. It helps you explore your beliefs, values, and emotions to understand why you think and act the way you do. It's a journey of self-discovery that leads to meaningful personal growth.

Key Characteristics of Transformative Coaching:

• Deep Self-Reflection: Focuses on understanding the reasons behind your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

• Holistic Approach: Considers your whole self, including your values, beliefs, and emotions.

• Exploratory Methods: Coaches use techniques from psychology and philosophy, in the form of open and hypothetical questions and reframing exercises (to name a few) to help you shift your internal worldview.

Common Frameworks in Transformative Coaching:

• Co-Active Coaching: Emphasises fulfilment, balance, and process to support personal growth.

• CLEAR Model: Involves contracting, listening, exploring, planning actions, and reviewing progress.

• Wheel of Change: Focuses on shifting beliefs and attitudes, changing behaviours, and modifying external environments.

Benefits of Transformative Coaching:

• Personal growth and self-awareness.

• Lasting change in behaviour and mindset.

• Improved emotional well-being and resilience.

Real-Life Example: Transformative Coaching in Action

Meet “John”, an experienced interim procurement specialist with over 10 years of experience in IT transformation projects across various industries. Recently, he started a new project and felt overwhelmed by its size and complexity. John began comparing himself to his peers, which led to feelings of imposter syndrome. This mindset negatively impacted his performance, causing him to fear he would be removed from the project without any real evidence.

Through transformative coaching, John explored his core values, beliefs, and the experiences that had shaped his career. This process led to a profound shift in how he viewed his contributions and the value he brought to the project. As a result, John experienced greater fulfilment and balance in his professional life.

Key Differences Between Performance and Transformative Coaching

While both types of coaching aim to help you improve your life, they take different paths to get there.

Approach:

• Performance coaching is goal-oriented (problem centric) and focuses on achieving specific outcomes.

• Transformative coaching is holistic (person centric) and focuses on deep self-reflection and personal growth.

Methods:

• Performance coaching involves a structured process with clear objectives and action plans.

• Transformative coaching uses exploratory methods to understand and shift underlying beliefs and values.

Outcomes:

• Performance coaching leads to specific achievements, like career advancement or increased productivity.

• Transformative coaching results in profound personal change and lasting improvements in emotional well-being.

It's important to note that this is a simplified view. In my coaching practice, even when working on performance-related assignments, I always strive to raise my clients' self-awareness. This is especially true when “limiting beliefs” that may be holding the client back surface during our sessions. By addressing these underlying issues, we can achieve not only the desired outcomes but also foster deeper personal growth.

Summing Up

So, there you have it! Performance coaching and transformative coaching offer different paths to personal and professional development. If you're looking to achieve specific goals efficiently, performance coaching might be your best bet. But if you're seeking deep, lasting change, transformative coaching could be the way to go. Take some time to reflect on your own needs and goals to determine which type of coaching might be right for you.

Final Thoughts

Both performance and transformative coaching have their unique benefits and can be incredibly valuable depending on your personal and professional aspirations. If you're unsure which approach to take, using the link here schedule a 30-minute no obligation meeting with me to explore your options further.