Selected Coaching Articles

Frequently Asked Questions About Coaching...
by Karyn Greenstreet

From the International Coach Federation

What is coaching?

Coaches:

"My clients get focused and producing faster because they have a coach."

How is coaching different from consulting? Therapy? Sports coaching? A best friend?

cConsulting. 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.

Therapy. Coaching is not therapy. We don't work on "issues" or get into the past. We leave that up to the client to know and figure out while we help them move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want. Therapy is about helping people become functional; coaching is about helping functional people move to the next step in life.

Sports. Coaching includes several principles from sports coaching, like teamwork, going for the goal, being your best. But unlike sports coaching, most professional coaching is not competition or win/lose based. We strengthen the client's skills vs. help them beat the other team (or person). It's win/win.

Best friend. A best friend is wonderful to have. But is your best friend a professional who you will trust to advise you on the most important aspects of your life and/or business? Have a best friend and a coach.

What is the basic philosophy of coaching?

Simply put, that we humans are great and that we're all discovering what we really want. We can get what we want faster and easier by having a coach who's been there and who can help us.

Who hires a coach and why?

People hire a coach because:

Does the coach work on personal goals or business/professional goals?

Both, actually. And, with the line between personal and business life blurring in the this new millennium, the coach is the only professional trained to work with all aspects of you. Coaches work with you on a holistic basis, though you may at first want to focus on only one area of your life.

Where does the coach focus with an average client?

• TGetting the client's Personal Foundation strengthened.
• Helping the client beef up their Reserve.
• Helping the client set goals based on their Personal Values.

By including these with what the client wants from us, we help the client have fewer problems and focus on what's going to make them the most successful. We've found that clients really enjoy the approach.

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:

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.

No matter where you are in life, there is always a desire for more. More success, more money, closer relationships, a deeper feeling of meaning in life, etc. It is the nature of people to want to attain more, become more, be more, and we all struggle with how to get what we're looking for.

Most people believe that "hard work and doing it on your own" are the keys to finding the life, success, money, or happiness that they seek. They believe that a price must be paid to attain what they want, and often that price is poor health, not having enough time to enjoy life, strained family relationships or lessened productivity. The saddest part is that, even though this effort may result in more of something, it is often not the something you had in mind, and you are back where you started … or worse, further from your real intentions.

Athletes and performers know about this trap. They know they need someone else, a trained person 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 psychological issues here (that’s what a psychotherapist does). 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 month commitment but usually let you stop immediately if coaching is not working for you right now. Some coaches ask for a written agreement or contract. For the corporate client, a signed agreement is simply good business.

What does it cost to hire a coach?

Most coaches working with individuals charge about $250 to $500 per month. Executive coaches and coaches for managers in large corporations charge more.

copyright © 2004, by Karyn Greenstreet. All rights reserved.

Karyn Greenstreet is a Self Employment expert and small business coach. She shares tips, techniques, and strategies with self-employed people to boost clarity and focus, create sustainable motivation, and increase sales and profits.
Visit her website at www.PassionForBusiness.com.