Often people are nervous when making their first call to their coach. They’re worried about what the call will be like. Will they feel exposed? Comfortable? Sad? Uplifted? They may also be worried that hiring a coach means they really do want to achieve their goals. And that can be scary.
Some people worry that talking with a coach will be like talking with their therapist–they’ll have to delve into their history and tell it all. I reassure them this won’t be the case. Counselors are trained to do this work, coaches are usually not. The FAQs below will answer most of your questions. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or wish to discuss hiring me as your coach.
What is coaching?
Coaching is a professional service. Clients retain a coach in order to reach a goal or solve a problem.
Why is coaching becoming so popular, so quickly?
Coaching has become so popular because people are far less willing to wait for what they want than their parents were. And they’ve seen it work well with their friends and colleagues.
Why does coaching work?
Coaching works because the client gets the support they need to make the changes they want.
Why do people hire a coach?
People hire a coach to make a change, reach a goal, solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity.
How long has coaching been in existence?
The first modern coaches in a business setting were the industrial psychologists in the 50’s and 60’s who were often "pulled to the side" by the CEO’s who needed someone to talk to confidentially about problems they were having related to the organization.
How can you coach effectively over the phone instead of in person?
Coaching is often more effective over the phone than in person because there are fewer distractions for either party and the client is more likely to be more honest sooner because of the anonymity factor. And, coaching over the phone is the most convenient method of meeting. And the client can have their pick of 30,000 coaches worldwide.
But how can the coach pick up on the visual clues such as body language?
There are many more auditory clues than visual ones. A professional coach is trained to hear over 200 nuances.
What credentials do coaches have?
Some coaches have been certified. But in my view the best credentials we have is our track record with clients. Their success is the most credible evidence of the value of coaching and the ability of the coach.
Where do the coach and client first focus their efforts?
Most coaches provide assessment tools to better understand the client’s life or business situation and their current needs. Usually, however, the client already knows what they want to accomplish or resolve and the coaching begins there.
How soon can the client expect to see results?
Usually within a day or two. Their attitude will improve, or they’ll get working on something they’ve been stuck with, or they’ll make an important change and start feeling the benefits of coaching fairly quickly. And, over time, the cumulative benefits can be life changing.
How is coaching different from therapy?
Most coaches have a working referral relationship with several therapists so that clients who need therapy can be easily placed. A therapist is trained and licensed to work with diagnosable psychological conditions. A coach is not. A coach and client typically focus on what the client wants to accomplish personally or business-wise over the next 6-12 months. Typically, an individual works with a therapist to resolve something that is causing pain. It is not unusual for a client to be working concurrently with a coach and a therapist, each on different topics.
How is coaching different from consulting?
There is some crossover between what a coach and a consultant provide, but the basic difference is that most consultants are experts at information, systems and business analysis. A well-trained coach is an expert in people and life/success dynamics. Consultants are brought in to analyze a situation, make recommendations, install something and/or to solve a problem A coach is brought in to help reach business targets and/or provide support and advice on a 1-1 basis with individuals in a company.
How much do coaches charge?
Most clients pay a fee ranging between $200 and $500 per month for 3-4 sessions, usually once a week. Coaching fees can range from $100 a month to $2,500 a month per person depending on the expertise of the coach, the needs of the client and the market niche which is being served.
Is coaching a fad?
The practice of coaching is no more a fad than the practice of medicine. As long as people have personal and business goals, coaching will thrive.
How do I find the right coach for me?
Interview a few potential coaches. Share with them your goal, dilemma, opportunity or problem and ask each of them to describe the approach they would use in coaching you. This method can provide you with the real-time/real-life information you need about the coach in order to match well.
How do I know coaching is working?
If you are seeing measurable quality-of-life improvements, achieving your outcomes more quickly and/or having significant internal growth, coaching is working. If not, you may need to work with a different coach.
Do coaches give advice?
Yes, most coaches give advice — or at least the coach can help you expand your options in a situation — but some coaches do not believe in giving advice. It depends on the coach’s background, areas of expertise, their natural coaching style and where they received their training. The preferences of the client, which are paramount, affect how much, if any, advice is provided.
How has coaching evolved?
In the early days of modern coaching (early 1980s) the focus was on "take actions to get results." By the early 90’s the approach expanded to include the strategy of "increase your range of competencies and you’ll get better results." By the early 2000’s the coaching approach expanded to include the notion of "crafting environments in order to accelerate the outcomes." All three approaches can be effective. Well-trained coaches use all three approaches.
source: Thomas Leonard, pioneer in the coaching field
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