Frequently Asked Questions
What is coaching?
Coaching is a process of discovery where you and your coach work together to find new perspectives and solutions to your challenges. One of the key assumptions of coaching is: You are the expert. The coach's responsibility is to help you organize and clarify your thoughts so you can identify effective action steps toward a solution.
How is coaching different from consulting?
When you hire a consultant, you pay them to apply their expertise to your situation. A coach assumes you have the deepest understanding of yourself, your organization, and the challenges you face. Because of this, the coach’s responsibility is to help you formulate your solutions. We find that people are more likely to act on their ideas. Furthermore, when people are given a chance to clarify and explore their thought processes, they often produce better ideas for their specific context.
How is coaching different from counseling?
Counseling is often focused on healing or overcoming past emotional or psychological ailments. Coaching is future-oriented and designed to identify powerful action steps. Another key assumption of coaching is: The client is capable of pressing on toward their goals. If you suspect a past issue keeps you from moving forward, we suggest starting with a counselor before pursuing coaching.
What is the value of coaching?
Since the coach’s job is to help you identify and prioritize the best courses of action for your specific challenge, you end up with highly-customized action steps with great potential for impact. A coach will also help you connect your goals and values to make your efforts successful and fulfilling. Clients commonly experience at least six to eight times ROI when they invest in coaching and follow through on their action steps!
What is my part in the coaching process?
To experience the full potential of coaching, you need to be willing to explore multiple aspects of your issue, prioritize barriers you need to overcome, push yourself to search for new ideas, and commit yourself to taking strategic action. When clients are willing to dive into their challenges and follow through on their solutions, coaching is likely to be successful.
Is coaching a long-term process?
It depends on the client’s needs. Some challenges can be overcome in one or two good sessions, while others require more time. Many people are so impressed with coaching results that they make it a regular part of their schedule and use it to process and overcome the most significant challenges they face. Committing to six sessions or more allows the client to build momentum on their goals. Long-term coaching also provides more accountability and encouragement. Those who use coaching often find themselves developing better habits for problem-solving on a regular basis.
How do I know if I have found a good coach?
A good coach is, first and foremost, a great listener. They allow you to set the agenda and establish your measures of success. They also ask thought-provoking questions that challenge you to see issues from different perspectives. They carry out the conversation with the utmost respect for your needs and make you feel safe. Finally, they help you identify the most potent solutions to your problems and key action steps.
Is the coaching session confidential?
Coaches have extremely high confidentiality standards similar to a counselor. Before starting your session, you and your coach will review and sign a confidentiality agreement. A coach can lose their certification by violating your trust.