faq

FAQ

1. What is coaching?
2. Does it work?
3. What are the benefits of coaching?
4. How do I know that coaching will make a decent      investment?
5. Reasons for working with a coach?
6. Coaching seems too expensive.
7. Why does coaching work?
8. What does the coaching process look like?
9. What should some one look for when deciding on a      Coach?
10. How long does a coach work with an individual
11. What will coaching ask of me?
12. How does coaching differ from other service        professions?
13. Shouldn’t I be able to coach myself?

1. What Is Coaching?

Coaching is a professional partnership between a qualified coach and an individual that supports the achievement of extraordinary results. A coach would maintain unconditional positive regard for you, which means that the coach is at all times supportive and non-judgemental of you, your views, lifestyle and aspirations. A coach will assist you to develop personal competencies (empowerment) and not an unhealthy dependence on the coaching relationship. Through the process of coaching, you focus on the skills and actions needed to successfully achieve results. We use proven questioning techniques to facilitate your own thought processes in order to identify solutions and actions rather than take a wholly directive approach. We accelerate the individual's progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices. Coaching focuses on acceptance and observations of what is in your life and what you can do by your own actions and self-belief to change this. It encourages a positive commitment to action and the development of lasting personal growth & change. Finally, the coach maintains professional boundaries in the relationship, including confidentiality, and adheres to the coaching profession’s code of ethics. I am a member of the International Coaching Federation please review my code.

2. Does it work?

In 1998 a survey by the International Coaching Federation revealed that 98.5% of clients polled reported their investment in coaching to be highly valuable. General feedback received from clients is that by using a coach you become incredibly focused, which meant you produce results faster. Life Coaching is one of the fastest growing segments of the market today and I believe that this is because it has been proven to work.

3. What are the benefits of coaching?

Whilst in a coaching relationship you can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges & opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision making skills, enhanced interpersonal effectiveness and increased confidence to enable you to carry out your chosen work and personal life roles. You can expect to see great results in areas of productivity, personal satisfaction in life and work together with the achievement of your personal goals. To get the best value from coaching you need to possess a strong desire to achieve something, a willingness to learn new ways of going about it and an openness to include someone else in the process.

4. How do I know that coaching will make a decent investment for me?

To tell you the truth you won’t really know until you try coaching yourself. This is why I offer a free session to introduce you to the concept of coaching with a further reduction on a subsequent session - by this time it will be clear to you that it’s incredibly worthwhile or that it’s not. Alternatively, a suggestion would be to begin with summarizing what you would expect to accomplish with coaching. Then, ask yourself if you are ready to devote the time and the energy as well as the financial commitment to making real changes in your work or personal life? Coaching requires a strong commitment to time and energy. However, if Yes is the answer to the above, I can guarantee that coaching will be the way for you to grow and develop and will be an investment in your future you’ll never regret making. So “what is it cost you or your business to not have a coach right now?

5. What are some typical reasons someone might work with a coach?

There are many reasons that an individual might choose to work with a coach, the list below covers just a few:

There is something at stake - a challenge, stretch goal or opportunity
You have a desire to accelerate results
You have a need for a course correction in work or life due to a setback
An individual has a style of relating that is ineffective or is not supporting the achievement of their goals
You have a lack of clarity, and there are choices to be made, some direction needed
You are is extremely successful, and success has started to become problematic work and life are out of balance
You have not been able to identify your core strengths and how best to use them
You desires work and life to be simpler, less complicated
There is a need and a desire to better organized and more self-managing
And many many more reasons

6. Coaching seems too expensive.

I understand what you are thinking however, how much do you believe you are worth? How much are you prepared to pay to realise increased happiness and a fulfilled life. It may be because you don’t recognise your true worth. Do you currently think nothing of spending money on a night out, cloths you don’t necessarily need, etc.. Are you prepared to cut down for a few months? Once you experience Life Coaching you will realise the value. I have found that if someone really wants something enough they will find a way. Why, not give me a call and find out about our easy payment options.

7. Why does coaching work?

First, coaching works because you’ve got a collaborative partner in your coach. Some one who will help you focus on your strengths, not waste time trying to overcome your weaknesses. Someone you can share your dreams and ideas with, with the assurance that you will be heard and respected no matter what. And someone who comes to know you and helps you focus on what matters most to you. Second, coaching works because you’re connecting frequently. Most coaches speak with clients once a week. Having this structure provides a valuable support. Third, coaching works because you focus on you not just the goal. We say there are two parts to sustainable success - the who (you) and the What (the goal). To work exclusively on the goal can make you one-dimensional, and limit the opportunity you have to develop and evolve both of which are key to long term fulfillment.

8. What does the coaching process look like?

In brief, coaching generally begins with the first free session - either face-to-face or by a telephone call. Your subsequent coaching sessions may be conducted in person or over the telephone, with each session lasting generally 1 hour. The duration of the coaching relationship varies depending on the individual’s personal needs and preferences.

9. What should some look for when deciding on a coach?

The most important thing to look for in selecting a coach is someone with whom you feel you can easily relate to and be able to create and the most powerful partnership.

10. How long does a coach work with an individual?

This varies depending on the individual's needs and preferences. For certain types of focused coaching, 6 months of working with a coach may work. For other types of coaching, people may find it beneficial to work with a coach for a longer period. Factors that may impact on the length of time include: the types of goals, the way the individual like to work and the frequency of coaching meetings. Generally I find an initial period of 6 months works. This consists of 13 one to one sessions on a bi-weekly basis. During this time I make a point of telephoning on occasions to offer support and help you stay balanced, focused or just for a general chat.

11. What will coaching ask of me?

All that is asked of the client is that they approach the sessions:

With an open mind
Be willing to have a go at the exercises during the sessions,
Be aware of their thoughts, feelings, and insights that come up for them
Have self discipline - to challenge existing attitudes, beliefs and behaviour and to be prepared to work toward developing new ones which serve them and their goals.
Be prepared to take decisive action - however uncomfortable, and in spite of personal insecurities, in order to reach for the extraordinary
Have a sense of humour and not take them-self too seriously
Have courage - to reach for more than before, to shift out of being fear based in to being in abundance as a core strategy for success, to engage in continual self examination, to overcome internal and external obstacles.
Above all be honest with yourself and me this way you will achieve the most from your coaching sessions.

12. How does coaching differ from other service professions?

Professional coaching is a distinct service which focuses on an individual’s life. Where you are going not where you are coming from. It is not therapy, counseling, consulting or mentoring or even training.

Coaching is a profession that supports personal and professional growth and development based on what an individual can do by their own actions. Coaching is forward moving and future focused. As a client you will learn what causes you to feel a particular way then learn to deconstruct the experience and then change it by looking at how you can go forward
Counseling on the other hand, pays a lot of ttention to a perceived problem in a person’s life. It focuses on the effect of the past on the present - on what circumstance has caused you to feel the way you do about yourself and life in the present and about resolving your feelings with that issue.
Therapy sometimes combined with specific bodily treatments such as drugs, naturopathy, cupuncture and hypnosis aims to cure or alleviate medical symptoms of depression, pain and anxiety.
Consultants may be retained by individuals or organizations for the purpose of accessing specialized expertise. While consulting approaches vary widely, there is often an assumption that the consultant diagnoses problems and prescribes and sometimes implements solutions. In general, the assumption with coaching is that individuals are capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approaches and frameworks.
Mentoring can be thought of as guiding from one’s own experience or sharing of experience in a specific area of industry or career development, it is sometimes confused with coaching. Although some coaches provide mentoring as part of their coaching, such as in mentor coaching new coaches, coaches are not typically mentors to those they coach.
Training programs are based on the acquisition of certain learning objectives as set out by the trainer or instructor. Though objectives are clarified in the coaching process, they are set by the individual being coached with guidance provided by the coach. Training also assumes a linear learning path which coincides with an established curriculum. Coaching is less linear without a set curriculum plan.

13. Shouldn’t I be able to Coach myself?

Yes you can. It’s called self-talk and will power. It works, but only when you remember to do it, or when you’re in the mood - not good when your in the middle of a huge goal! On top of this it is difficult to get a truly objective response from yourself. Without the help of a Coach it is almost impossible to maximise your full potential. Many great performers whether elite athlete, business legend or performing star are surrounded by coaches and advisors. Tiger Woods, Margaret Thatcher, George Clooney, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela to name a few have all worked with a coach with staggering effect. These people are the best in the world and yet even they understand the measurable value of that extra something that comes from having someone working directly with you. Someone to point out things you cannot see, give encouragement and challenge you to go beyond your limits and perceived limitations. However, you don’t need to be at the top of your profession to benefit all you need is a desire to achieve something!