What is Coaching? It is a process of supporting individuals to make more conscious decisions about their professional or personal lives. Coaches assist the individual in learning about themselves, their interpersonal relationships, styles of learning, leading, managing people, making decisions and managing conflict. Coaching is an effective process for individuals to identify what’s important –in their personal values– and to be more successful in acting on what’s important. Coaching is a developmental process based on identifying and building upon the individual’s strengths and internal resources.
How does coaching work? Through a series of sessions with a professional coach, individuals identify goals, barriers to success and action strategies to help them achieve their goals. The coach supports the individual in staying committed to priorities they say are important. Coaches ask good questions that support learning and provide supportive reinforcement to put new insights into practice.
The number of sessions can vary, but typically there is a minimum of 4 sessions over a 1-4 month period. Regularity of the sessions is important. Clients can be coached in person or over the phone. The coaching arrangement and financial compensation are negotiated between the individual and the coach.
How does coaching benefit individuals and business leaders? While coaching has been a professional development resource in the business world, individuals and staff have only recently come to realize the benefits of coaching for learning to cope with the multiple challenges and stresses of every day life. A contrasting outcome for some coaching clients have been reaching clarity that it was time for them to move on. In this case, the individual felt more empowered and in control of their life.
How is coaching different from counseling or therapy? The intent of coaching is to help the client identify personal and professional strengths and build methods based on these strengths to accomplish their goals. Coaching does not delve into the personal history or psychological development of the client.
Is it the same as consulting? Not really. Inherent in consulting is the premise there is some expert background that the consultant can impart to the client. It is believed with coaching, the solutions can be found within the individual. The coach’s job is to help surface these solutions.
What happens if I want to stop the coaching process? If you are not happy, we will work with you until you are successful in achieving your goals or the process you desire. If you wish to stop the coaching altogether, then please let us know and you will be reimbursed for the balance of unused coaching time.
Find out if Coaching is right for you. Take the coachability assessment today!
