You might picture a hockey, soccer, or tennis coach.
Sports have had an important influence on the rise of coaching in organizations. The shift from sport to business started with a book called “The Inner Game of Tennis”. The book’s central idea is that the opponent in one’s own head is more intimidating than the one on the other side of the net. The coach helps the player deal with internal obstacles to their performance. With internal barriers gone, players can recognize their own potential and maximize their performance.