Coaching FAQ…
What is coaching?
Coaching is a partnership between a client and coach. The coach assists the client in identifying specific goals, developing a roadmap to reach them, and devising a plan to reach them. Coaching is a thought-provoking, creative process that inspires clients to maximize their potential. My job as a coach is to help my clients define and focus on their goals and help them develop a roadmap for achieving them. As a coach, I lead my clients in a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build their level of awareness and responsibility. I provide my clients with structure, support and feedback and hold them accountable to stay on track toward reaching their goals.
Why did you decide to get into coaching?
My empathic nature combined with an innate desire to help people is what has drawn me to coaching. As a coach, my focus is to help my clients develop a plan to reach their goals, dreams and desires, whatever they might be. The coaching process clears away the mental clutter and helps you make changes that will allow you to approach life with a fresh perspective, a revitalized sense of direction, and a renewed enthusiasm. As your coach, I will help you move from where you are today to where you want to be.
What happens during a coaching session?
For individual coaching, we talk by telephone at an agreed 45 to 60 minutes. You bring a situation, problem or opportunity. I ask you a series of probing questions to establish perspective and encourage reflection and shifts in thinking. I listen carefully and help you to identify and remove obstacles. This interaction helps to bring clarity to the situation. The necessary actions or behaviors often become evident. During each session, we establish one or more actions (referred to as focus goals) that you agree to complete before our next session. Each subsequent session begins with a review of the previous week’s successes and challenges and how well you did with your focus goals, celebrating, encouraging, and supporting you.
How is coaching different from therapy or counseling?
In a nutshell, coaches work with people looking to make changes or accomplish goals, focusing on the present (where you are now), the future (where you want to be), and how to get there. Counselors and therapists, on the other hand, work with people who have painful, unresolved issues, focusing on past behaviors and their underlying causes. Counselors and therapists work with clients who require professional help to work towards resolution. Coaches work with clients who want a detached partner who helps them define their goals and provide support and encouragement in achieving them. Therapists and counselors are experts in medical and behavioral sciences trained in diagnosis. Coaches recognize that every client comes into coaching whole and complete, able to generate his or her own perfect answers from their own innate, God-given wisdom within. Coaching is a partnership where the client is the expert on his or her life and the role of the coach is co-creative.
There is no doubt that some individuals would be better served working with a therapist. If it becomes apparent that there are important, unfinished issues from your past that are providing an obstacle to coaching, I will suggest that you seek therapy.
How long will coaching take?
Coaching is an ongoing, co-creative process where the coach and client work together to effect positive change for the client. There are a number of factors that determine how long the process will take. What do you want to accomplish? Where are you now .vs. where you want to be? How you (the client) work toward your goals? Quite frankly, a single coaching session isn’t likely to do much good. Change is hard. It takes time to crystalize goals and formulate an action plan to effect change. It takes ongoing focus, motivation, action, and encouragement to achieve change. I recommend a three-month commitment to coaching and then re-assess. I’m not talking about a three-month obligation. I’m talking about time to give coaching a chance. Three months is plenty of time to experience the coaching process, achieve some successes, and make an intelligent assessment as to whether you’re benefitting from coaching. As your coach, I have your best interests at heart. If I feel that coaching is not working for you, I will let you know.
Who benefits from coaching?
Coaching is not for people who are self sufficient and prefer to solve their own problems. It’s not for people who are perfectly satisfied with the way things are and see no need for change. And coaching is not for people who just want to have a pity party or want sympathy but don’t really want to change anything.
Coaching is beneficial for people who are open to partnering with a coach and are willing to be coached. It’s for folks who are ready to take action and consider doing things differently from what they have done in the past. Coaching is for people who are willing to commit time, energy, and resources to make changes that make a difference in their lives.
What’s involved in finding the right coach?
Finding the right coach is mainly an exercise in finding someone who has a genuine, heart-felt desire to help you reach your goals, dreams and desires. The best coach is one with whom you have a good rapport (a good coach will be working on establishing rapport from your very first conversation and work to establish a connection) and who understands that coaching is not about giving advice but rather listening to you, the client, to determine what you’re looking for and helps you to achieve it. Before making your decision to pay for coaching, request a complimentary session. Many coaches offer a complimentary session as a matter of course. This is a great way to assess whether the coach is a good fit. It’s a good sign if your coach offers a money-back guarantee after the first month. This shows that they are confident in what they have to offer and stand behind their coaching.
There are lots of coaches out there. Why should I work with you?
I am a certified motivational coach with a lifetime of experience listening to others and offering assistance when I can. I am invigorated by the potential that exists within each of us and revel in my part as a coach to help my client reach down and achieve that potential.
How much does coaching cost?
See Coaching Packages page for my coaching programs and costs.