chapter 3 The core principles of FACTS Truth can appear as lie, straightness can appear as twisted. (Tao Te Ching, Verse 45) I n Chapter 2 we saw that coaching has the potential to have a greater impact on individuals and organizations through chal- lenge. But something is holding back coaching and preventing it from embracing the change that is needed. Coaching is rooted in the past, with links to the sister professions that have strongly influenced its development. In this chapter we explore this further and look at the evolu- tion of coaching relative to other "support" professions such as therapy, mentoring, and consulting. We consider the validity of the underlying principles of traditional coaching and describe the