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The Essence of Coaching
I accompany people to set goals, find words to express their needs, alleviate friction points, contextualize circumstances within the bigger picture of their life, and clarify the client’s purpose, values, and ethics. I provide a space to slow down and to reflect out loud. Coaching is an invitation to externalize, both oral and written, one’s thinking process and problem-solving in order to gain new awareness. This provides a better understanding of how we reach the beliefs that we hold to be true. Coaching does not aim to analyze the specifics without bringing to light how the client relates to its struggle. Most often than not, people move on through life challenges without taking a moment to consolidate the learning. That’s where coaching centers.
My role as a coach is foremost to listen, acknowledge without judgment, and honor the client’s intrinsic ability to figure out what they need if given the proper space. The intention is not to provide advice or opinions. By contrast, a session is led with questions that could result in new insight into what’s bothering them and what is on the way to reach new potential.
Why Hiring a Coach?
It is easy to recognize the tremendous difficulty every one of us has to access our inner wisdom, and ability to judge objectively and act when it comes to our own lives. We care too much, doubt too much, and battle between our own sense of truth vs. the feedback that reality gives us. All the emotions, fears, desires, experiences in the past, and many other unconscious drivers create substantial distortions in one’s perception. That’s why we all can find it helpful to be coached at different moments in our lives.
Types of Coaching
I try to avoid the “life coaching” label for two reasons: first, it is implicit regardless of the topic of conversation that any improvements towards a goal (in the form of learning, growing, healing, etc.) can change the overall satisfaction with your life. Second, your personal life (background, personality traits, thinking approach, relational and emotional intelligence, and communication skills) influence directly or indirectly how you relate to your craft, business, health, relationships, and all other aspects of life.
Coaches have specializations, but the methodology and approach are the same at a foundational level regardless of the area. The choice of specialization is more of a marketing strategy. Having mentioned that, different personalities in coaching bring different value. Some are more rigid, tough, and direct; others are softer in touch, more curious, less demanding. It all comes down to finding the right person for you. Someone who truly understands you. In this context, feeling the right chemistry is vital.
Although there are similarities between coaches and consultants, teachers, therapists, etc… the main idea is that coaching focuses on uncovering what is needed most to move forward in the desired direction without being instructed. The client has the reins of the conversation from the beginning and ends up with a sense of self-accomplishment.
My Personal Style
My style is focused on existential coaching and wellness. It is easy for me to relate with people searching for meaning in their existence. Likewise, with people who care about improving their physical and psychological health, as well as those who are eager to learn practical skills such as strategic planning and effective communication. Occasionally I incorporate techniques derived from mindfulness, internal family systems, neurolinguistic programming, socio-emotional intelligence, non-violent communication, and music therapy into my coaching practice.
Who are the People I Serve?
Most of the people who have approached me are growth seekers. People who are hungry to learn about themselves. People with enormous intellectual, artistic, spiritual, or career ambitions. People who believe it matters the impact they make. People who find it helpful to be accountable for what they said they want. The fact that most of us have had to manage life on our own doesn’t mean that is the only way it has to be done. As a coach, I do not present myself as an expert but as a good old friend who doesn’t have an agenda on you. Most of us are a step from a different life if we’re given some support and encouragement.
If you feel inclined to know more about working with me, send me a message.
**All information is kept strictly confidential. Have confidence that my coaching practice adheres to the ethics of ICF.**
With all love,
Santiago Barragan Noguera
Coach & Educator — Artistic Polymath
Copyright © 2021 Santiago Barragan Noguera. All rights reserved.