{"id":44132,"date":"2024-11-05T10:12:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T10:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happinessplay.com\/blog\/?p=44132"},"modified":"2026-10-17T19:47:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T19:47:54","slug":"coaching-terms-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happinessplay.com\/blog\/coaching-terms-glossary","title":{"rendered":"Coaching Glossary: Key Coaching Terms and What They Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"

A plain-English glossary of the terms every coach uses, from coachee<\/em> to GROW<\/em>, plus the words we use in happiness management. Use it as a quick reference, and follow the links at the end for tools and exercises that put these ideas to work.<\/p>\n

The basics<\/h2>\n

What is coaching?<\/h3>\n

Coaching is a process (a method, a discipline, a technique) that helps people reach their dreams, goals and objectives. It helps a client, whether an individual or a company, get the results they set out to achieve.<\/p>\n

Is coaching a profession or a discipline?<\/h3>\n

In most countries coaching is not a regulated profession in the way medicine or law are, and a few universities offer it as a degree. In many places it is a vocational training. Whoever you work with, check what their training actually involved.<\/p>\n

What is a coach?<\/h3>\n

A coach is the person who runs the coaching process with a client. A coach does not need expert knowledge of the client’s problem. Rather than giving answers, a coach asks questions that help the client explore the present and design the future. The coach walks alongside the client, lets them feel their dreams and checks whether the person is aligned with their life project. The relationship rests on trust and, ideally, on a service agreement agreed beforehand. You will know quite soon whether it is producing results.<\/p>\n

What a coach is not<\/h3>\n

A good coach will not let you spend the session retelling your story. Session time is precious: it goes straight to what is blocking you and ends with a commitment, with tasks you take home. Save the long conversation for a coffee with friends. A good session flies by, and you leave with ideas to work on all week.<\/p>\n

What is a coachee?<\/h3>\n

Coachee<\/em> is a slang word for a coach’s client. The correct term is simply client<\/em>. We have a short guide on how to explain what coaching is<\/a> to people who have never tried it.<\/p>\n

Do I need a coach, and how do I choose a good one?<\/h3>\n

Everyone needs help at some point, and it matters to find the right person. You do not need a coach all the time, only when you need one. A good coach speaks a language close to yours and earns your trust quickly. They do not need an MBA or five accreditations, but they do need life experience (or crisis) that helps them understand your situation without judging it. Empathy and listening matter far more than a certificate.<\/p>\n

How much does a coach cost?<\/h3>\n

There is no official price list and rates vary by market, country and experience. A typical individual session often falls somewhere between 50 and 200 euros or dollars, roughly double for companies, and much more for senior executives. Many coaches sell a programme rather than single sessions.<\/p>\n

Types of coaching<\/h2>\n

Personal coaching (life coaching)<\/h3>\n

Personal coaching focuses on private life, work, health and relationships. Life coaching<\/em> is the English name for the same thing. People who work this way usually get:<\/p>\n