International Coach Federation describes coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional capacity. A coaching partnership supports the achievement of extraordinary results, based on goals set by the client. Through the process of coaching, individuals focus on the skills and actions needed to successfully produce their personally relevant results.

The client chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions, as well as concepts and principles, which can assist in generating possibilities and identifying actions. Through the coaching process the clarity that is needed to support the most effective actions is achieved. Coaching accelerates the client's progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices. Coaching concentrates on where individuals are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future. Coaches recognize that results are a matter of the client's intentions, choices and actions, supported by the coach's efforts and application of coaching skills, approaches and methods.