Frequently Asked Questions
Coaching vs. Other Professions
Therapy: Coaching is not therapy. We don't work on "issues", get into the past or deal much with understanding human behavior. It is working with the functional person, and based on what is wanted and possible.
Consulting: Coaching is a form of consulting. But the coach stays with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals to make sure they really happen. In business the coach focuses on the whole company and works from a relationship-based position vs. information only basis. The coach has numerous "tools" to help businesses develop.
Athletic coach or teacher: A personal coach does just what an athletic coach or teacher does, only in a more complete and bigger way.
Why does coaching Work?
Coaching works for several reasons:
- Synergy between the coach and client creates momentum.
- Better goals are set -- ones that naturally pull the client toward the goal
rather than goals that require the client to push themselves to the goal.
- The client develops new skills, and these skills translate into more success.
Why is coaching becoming so popular?
Coaching is becoming popular for several reasons:
- Many people are tired of doing what they "should" do and are
ready to do something special and meaningful for the rest of their lives.
Problem is, many can't see it, or if they can, they can't see a way to
reorient their life around it. A coach can help them do both.
- People are realizing how simple it can be to accomplish something that several
years ago might have felt out of reach or like a pipe dream. A coach is not
a miracle worker (well, they are, sometimes) but a coach does have a large
tool kit to help the Big Idea become a Reality. Fortunately, people now have
time and resources to invest in themselves in this kind of growth.
- Spirituality. If you've tracked the phenomenal success of James Redfield's
Celestine Prophecy on the NY Times best-seller list during 1994, you get
a sense of just how many people are willing to look at, and consider, the
notion of spirituality. Wow. Many coaches are spiritually based -- even
the ones who coach IBM and AT&T. America is getting spiritual quickly. (Our
working definition of spirituality? How connected you are with yourself and
others.") The coach helps the clients to tune in better to themselves
and others.
Please, give me some context about coaching.
A personal coach does just what an athletic coach or music teacher does, only in a more complete and bigger way. A coach challenges you and takes the time to find out what winning in life means to you. A coach is your partner in living the life you know you can accomplish, personally and professionally. A coach is someone to hold you accountable for your life, to make sure you really do live up to your potential.
Athletes and performers know about this trap. They know they need someone
else, a trained someone else to help them set goals, discover real needs,
and work effectively toward ultimate goals of excellence. So, they are willing
to hire a coach or a teacher. No serious athlete or musician would expect
to progress very far without one.
What about people who are already doing great in their lives. Why would they need a coach?
They might not need a coach. But it is helpful to find
out: Are they doing what they most enjoy? Are they tolerating anything? Is life easy? Are they
going to be financially independent within the next 15 years? Do they have
what they most want? We've discovered that, often, people need to expect
more out of their lives. A coach can help in this process.
Can a dependency be created between coach and client?
Not really. The client may "need" the coach in order to maximize
an opportunity or accelerate their growth, yet not be "dependent" on
the coach. Anyone who's up to something "needs" structure, advice,
support and a place to brag, so in that sense, the coach is necessary. But
an emotional, psychological dependency is not created. The coach works with
people who are just fine and strong enough on their own. Remember, we're
not resolving issues here. The coach is helping the client to create a better
future: More success, more money, and a higher quality of life.
Can coaching hurt someone?
No. How? We aren't doing psychological work. We're not trying to control
the client's thinking. We're not cattle prods; we're partners.
Can I hire a coach just for a short-term, special project?
Yes. Some clients hire a coach to help them accomplish
specific goals or projects. Usually, however, the client keeps working with the coach after
that because there are even more interesting things to accomplish.
How long must I commit if I start working with a coach?
Most coaches ask for a three to six month commitment but usually let you
stop immediately if coaching is not working for you right now.
Call or e-mail for a complimentary sample session.