Frequently Asked Questions
What is coaching?
Professional coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations improve their performance and achieve extraordinary results. Professional coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships.
Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
What do Coaches do?
Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives.
Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has.
What Can I Expect?
Individuals and organizations who engage in a professional coaching relationship will experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced decision making skills, greater interpersonal effectiveness and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles. Consistent with a commitment to enhancing their personal effectiveness, they can also expect to see appreciable results in the areas of productivity, personal satisfaction with life and work and the achievements of personally relevant goals.
How long do I engage in a coaching relationship?
For as long or as little as you like, though it is generally recommended that the engagement be a minimum of 3 - 6 months to ensure learning is incorporated into long-term sustainable changes.
Is the coaching face to face or can I meet or the phone, skype or email?
That really depends upon you and your coach! Most coaching I do takes place over the telephone or skype and is supported via email in between our sessions. Coaching on the phone is highly effective for a trained coach who knows what to listen for. Often times, the first meeting to determine your goals, is conducted face to face, if the coach and client (that's you!) are located within a geographic region that meets this criteria. Again, skype as al alternative to face to face though it isn't my preferred method due to the inconsistency of the skype lines and delays in transmission which can impact the coaching.
How do I choose the right coach for me?
There are many people who call themselves coaches and may well do a great job for you. Before you select a coach, I encourage you to do some up-front research before you settle on a list of 3-5 coaches to interview prior to making your selection. You want to ensure that you find the right coach for you. What is their coach training? Did they attend an accredited coach training school as identified by the International Coach Federation? Is your coach a certified coach and at what level? How often are they currently coaching? How are they improving their coach competencies? What special interests do they have and how will this serve you? How are they different from other coaches? What is their unique offering for you?
It is also really important that you make a connection with your coach. After all, this is someone you will be spending a lot of time with over the coming weeks and months. You can use the Coach Referral Service at the International Coach Federation AND access some other information regarding Selecting a Coach at:
http://www.coachfederation.org/find-a-coach/
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