What is Coaching?

Coaching is not telling you what to do. Coaching is helping you clarify and control your work or your job.
It is helping you evaluate what you are doing now in your work or job in the light of your goals, passions, values and intentions. It gives you new choices and leads to change.

How is coaching different from training or mentoring?

Training and mentoring involve the transfer of skills and knowledge to the learner or mentee. The trainer or mentor is the expert.

In coaching, the coach is not the subject matter expert. For example, if you have a chemical engineering background, your coach doesn’t necessarily have the same background. Coaching does not give answers, but instead asks questions. Coaching explores the present and designs the future for you. You learn in the process, but the coach does not teach or mentor directly.

How is coaching different from consulting?

A consultant is usually an expert in a specific area of expertise. They diagnoses problems and recommends and implements solutions, and may even implement strategies and programs for you. A consultant’s recommendation affect individuals indirectly.

Coaching affects individuals directly. Coaching will very often be part of a consultant’s recommendations for a business. The assumption with coaching is that individuals or teams are capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approach and frameworks.

A coach will ask probing questions to bring out your unique abilities, help you create a vision and plan for the future, and will stay with you while you implement changes. A coach holds you accountable for what you say you will do. Coaching gives you a push to do more than you would do on your own, and helps you overcome limiting beliefs that are holding you back from success.

Who hires a coach?

Everyone and anyone. Organizations hire coaches to improve teamwork, to coach executives, help managers, and help professionals.

What are the benefits of coaching services?

You will avoid many of the mistakes your peers make.
And, you will accomplish more than you would on your own.
Furthermore, you will achieve your (career) goals more quickly.
You will have a collaboration partner. And one who brings clarity. Is unbiased. And only wants the best for you.
And finally, you will significantly improve your results though gains in efficiencies and effectiveness.

I am considering hiring a coach. Where do I start?

The process begins with a telephone or online meeting consultation. This is where we determine if you and our coach are a good fit. Just contact us and we’ll schedule an introductory call or online meeting, whichever you prefer.

What does the coaching process look like?

The coaching process begins with a personal interview, or assessment, or  to assess your current opportunities and challenges. To define the scope of the relationship. And to identify priorities for action, and establish specific desired outcomes. This first meeting is a discovery session that lasts approximately 1-2 hours.

After this initial session, you and coach agree on a regular schedule for 2-3 sessions per month. These subsequent coaching sessions last an agreed upon length of time. The length of a session depends on the program chosen. Coaching commitments generally range from 3-12 months.

Between scheduled coaching sessions, you may be asked to complete specific actions that support the achievement of the prioritized goals. Prior to each session, you are asked to prepare and submit a feedback form to your coach. This form lists what you did during the past period, what you want to work on during the current session, and how you are feeling at that time. You come to your session with an agenda of not only what you want to discuss, but also what you would like from your coach during the session. The shape of each coaching session is determined by that day’s agenda. Towards the end of the session, you and your coach insert accountability by deciding, together, what actions you will take during the coming period on that day’s topic.

If you have questions, triumphs, or disappointments during the period in between meetings you can contact your coach by email (anytime), or by phone (by appointment). You may undertake as much homework as you choose. Most of the learning, growth, action, or result happen between the sessions.

Your coach may provide or recommend additional resources in the form articles, literature, checklists, assessments, or models, to support your thinking and actions.

Who does the work? You or your coach?

This is your business and your career. The responsibility for success rests with you. Your coach will guide you, nudge you, provide resources, encourage action, and be your accountability partner. You do the work.

How long does a coaching arrangement usually last?

The typical client/coach relationship lasts 3 to 6 months. While coaching can be very effective for short-term change, our clients stay with coaching an average of 12 to 18 months, some longer. The learning that takes place creates results that continue for one to three years. Business and executive coaching is not meant to be a “quick fix” or a short-term relationship.

Can coaching create dependency?

No. Your coach wants you to be autonomous and achieve what you want. They make it clear from the start that you are responsible for, and own the results of the coaching. Coaching works to make you more self reliant, not less so.

How much does coaching cost?

Please visit our website for the latest rates. When committing to more hours, or a higher or lower frequency than listed in the online starters packages, this rate becomes varies, depending on the number of committed hours and frequency. Note that coaching is not an expense. It is an investment in your personal or your team’s business success.

Where are coaching sessions held?

Coaching sessions may be held in-person, over the phone, or via an online meeting. Schedule, cost, and convenience usually dictates your choice. Most preferred is to have a combination of these formats.
It is important to secure a private room that is not subject to disruption for sessions held outside of the coaching office.

How can I be sure my confidential information is safe with you?

We do not talk about our clients. Ever! We maintain strict confidentiality for all your business and personal information. And, we follow the ICC Standards and Code of Ethics. If putting your mind at ease by agreeing on a non-disclosure agreement, just let us know and we’ll start the process to have one in place.

What are the different types of coaching services?

Executive Coaching (e.g. CxO Coaching)
Coaching for top-level management to improve strategic decision-making and leadership.

Business Coaching (e.g. Business Relationship Management Coaching, Change Management Coaching, Business Resilience Coaching, Program Manager Coaching, Design Thinking Coaching, STAR® Manager Coaching, ISO Compliance Coaching, IT Service Management Coaching, and IT Strategist Coaching) >> Note: Coaching types in BLUE font color have links to sister websites.
Business coaches coach management-level people in their work on professional issues. They often work with managers inside an organization and may also coach teams.

Professionals Coaching (e.g. Business Relationship Manager Coaching, Change Manager Coaching, Risk Owner & Control Owner Coaching and Service Owner and Process Owner Coaching) >> Note: Coaching types in BLUE font color have links to sister websites.
Professional coaches coach expert-level people in their work on professional issues. They often work with experts inside an organization and may also coach teams.

Team Coaching
Many of our coaches specialize in coaching business teams. These coaches help teams to give their best, helping them to work smoothly and effectively.