New to coaching? Not sure if coaching is right for you? This is the page for you! Following are some of the more frequently asked questions about coaching, along with information about the kind of coaching services that Roads Less Traveled offers. Click on the question to jump ahead to the answer. If, after reading, you still have questions or are wondering if coaching is right for you, feel free to contact me! I would be more than happy to answer any questions or schedule a complimentary session for you.
- What is success coaching? What can it do for me?
- How do I know if coaching will work for me?
- What is a typical coaching session like?
- Is coaching like counseling?
- Can I be coached online?
- What sets you apart from other coaches?
- Are you certified or licensed?
- How much does coaching cost? What are your prices?
- What about group coaching?
- I have other questions. Where can I find answers?
- “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu
What is success coaching? What can it do for me?
Coaches (whether life, business, success, or executive) are much like coaches found on sports teams. They are not responsible for playing the game–that’s up to you, but rather stand on the sidelines and provide guidance and support. They suggest specific techniques and tools to move clients beyond perceived limitations and challenges and into a winning game plan. They initiate honest conversations and create space for the client to gain an appreciation for his or her own insights and ideas. These ideas provide the foundation of a plan and are often broken into specific and measurable action steps. Each coach is unique, bringing his or her own unique blend of traits, experiences, tools, expertise, and preferences to the table. For this reason, it’s especially important to try several coaching sessions and find the best coach for you. You will know when you find your ideal coach because it will feel natural talking to him or her, and you’ll feel revived and motivated at the end of the session. Many organizations today hire coaches to improve the overall morale, training, and performance of employees (Mertel, 2010). If your organization offers free coaching, I encourage you to try a session to see what the coaching process is like. You may also contact me for a sample session or with any questions.
How do I know if coaching will work for me?
Try it! I recommend experiencing a session or two for yourself to see what coaching is all about and how it will benefit you. When the coach-client fit is right, clients report greater overall satisfaction, improved performance, quicker results, greater understanding of self and others, better communication, and greater insight and creativity (Waslyshyn, 2003). While this is the case for others, there’s really only one way to figure out if it will also be the case for you.
What is a typical coaching session like?
Coaching sessions vary by coach and by session. As the client, you determine the agenda (the subject matter) of the session, and you also determine what you would like to accomplish in each session. In early sessions, the coach may use assessments or simple interview questions to determine your preferences and learning styles. The activities, techniques, and interactions of future sessions will cater to your learning style and personality. Typically, the coach begins the session by asking what’s on the agenda and what you would like to accomplish in that session. Your answer, along with any other details you provide, will enable the coach to ask questions and provoke insights to lead you in the right direction. He or she may also suggest certain exercises or techniques, but you will decide whether or not to engage in these activities. A proper coaching session is co-creative, and you will feel a sense of being “in the zone” during one. The coach will facilitate what is known as a “shift”–a pivotal moment in which the client transitions into a different way of thinking (Oprah refers to these as “a-ha moments”) and guide the client to appropriate action steps to cement realizations in reality. Many clients allow coaches to serve as an accountability partner and may commit to specific actions before the next session. Although coaches primarily listen deeply and direct conversation intuitively, they also provide support, empathy, encouragement, challenge appropriately, make suggestions, and offer additional perspective as needed. No two coaching sessions are exactly alike, and much depends on the dynamic between coach and client. In this sense, there is no “typical” coaching session, although the above elements are usually present in some form.
Coaching and counseling differ in both their treatment of the client and their goals. Although similar techniques may occasionally be employed, you will find a coaching session feels very different from a counseling session. The first thing that you’ll notice is that a coach lets you lead the session on an equal footing, whereas a counselor directs the session and retains control of the session throughout. This gives the counselor a somewhat authoritative presence conducive to the client’s “treatment.” Coaches engage with clients who are well people already, although they may be experiencing various challenges or setbacks. Coaches trust you to lead the session and to lay out your own plan, just as you direct your own life. Although you may discuss emotionally charged topics in a coaching session and occasionally re-visit the past to examine the root of a specific issue, coaching is primarily present- and future-oriented and is designed to allow clients to move beyond sadness or anxiety into hope and positive action. If it becomes evident that deeper issues need to be addressed in a more therapeutic setting, the coach can provide resources that facilitate the transition into counseling.
This depends on the coach. Some coaches work only in person, some over the phone or in person only, and others may work primarily online (although this is rare). Ask the coach during the first sessions about his or her preferences. I work primarily over the phone or in person, but I do allow occasional sessions online after the client-coach relationship has been established and if the agenda is conducive to online communication. Subject matter that is recurrent or emotionally charged is discussed over the phone or in person, where active listening skills can more easily be employed.
Are you certified or licensed?
Currently, coaches do not require licensure nor can they receive it, although they do maintain strict standards of performance and ethics as professionals as a whole (International Coach Federation, 2008). Professional coaching associations such as the International Coach Federation protect clients and support coaches by recommending coaches who have met strict standards of education and experience. Coaches may be certified after extensive training, education, and practice through programs that fulfill requirements of professional associations. I am a certified coach who received my training through Coach Training Alliance in 2010 and am currently working toward becoming a credentialed member of International Coach Federation. I abide by their strict standards of professional and ethical conduct and am constantly advancing my practice with continued education. I also hold a BS in psychology and am working toward a MS in mental health counseling.
Because anyone can call themselves a coach, it is important for clients to protect themselves by inquiring into a coach’s education and experience. Coaches who cannot answer simple questions about the field or their personal practice, who seem less than honest, or cannot provide references are likely untrained and incapable of effective coaching. Since you will be working very closely with your coach, it is essential that you find one who is capable and who you feel comfortable and relaxed with. Please choose carefully!
What sets you apart from other coaches?
Coaches, like clients, are unique and have different strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and personality traits. The ideal coach-client relationship reflects a positive dynamic between coach and client that allows for great sessions! If you interview several (good) coaches, you’ll note that their personalities, preferences, and strengths shine through in their work. The key is to find the one that works for you. Never settle for a coach; you’ll wind up cheating yourself out of a great experience and cheating the coach out of the opportunity to work with a client that will really benefit from his or her strengths and approach.
My personal approach to coaching is a reflection of who I am as a person. I like to dig deep and am known for possessing an insatiable curiosity. I ask a lot of probing questions to provoke further insights during a session. However, I also have a well-honed sense of humor that often serves to lift the mood and sets clients at ease. By nature, I am a caretaker and am naturally very supportive and nurturing. You are likely to receive personal emails or greeting cards occasionally, with or without a specific reason. I am highly intuitive and naturally attract others who are as well, and I use my intuition to gently guide conversation or direct my approach. I love learning new things and appreciate the diversity of all people. My clients come from all walks of life and are treated with equal respect and appreciation. My ideal client is committed to growing through experiences, appreciates a warm and intuitive approach, possesses a sense of humor and an open mind, and is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd. I tend to attract creative types who turn the co-creative coaching process into a work of art! My specialties are intuitive and transformational coaching, and I use a lot of developmental theory in my work as a coach.
How much does coaching cost? What are your prices?
Coaching fees vary according to the niche, preferences, and experience of the coach. I offer a free “seeker’s session” that allows coach and client to get to know each other and work together for a single session. This initial session is my gift to you and an opportunity for you to experience the value of coaching for yourself. Please consider inviting friends and family to experience the value of coaching as well! Beyond the complimentary seeker’s session, my fees are as follows:
- Quarterly: $390
- Monthly: $150
- Bi-weekly: $75
- Seeker’s Session: FREE
Group sessions are group coaching experiences that allow clients to learn with and from each other’s experiences. Fees are determined by the number of people in the group and the type of group. Stay tuned for group coaching opportunities!
Group coaching sessions occur in person but may be available via teleconference in the near future. Less intensive than individual sessions, groups offer members the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations and learn from each other’s insights and experiences. Groups also create opportunities for certain techniques and group exercises that may not be available individually. I am in the process of developing several groups that will be announced in the near future. Please contact me with any questions about group coaching process or opportunities.
I have other questions. Where can I find answers?
The following resources contain a wealth of reliable information:
- The International Coach Federation is one of the most respected coaching associations in the field. The clients section will allow you to find answers to your questions and locate a reputable coach, and the remainder of the website will portray the educational and professional experiences of many coaches. The ICF website is my primary source for coaching information and networking and is the first resource I recommend to clients who ask for more information.
- Peer Resources offers a number of peer-reviewed articles about coaching, as well as book suggestions. For data about the benefits and outcome of coaching, as well as training and experience, please see the articles listed here.
- StevePavlina.com offers a personal account of two life coaching experiences. I present it here as an honest appraisal of what coaching is like from the perspective of a client.
You can also refer to the references below, or contact me with any questions or concerns. Happy journeys!
Image courtesy of Google images.
References:
International Coach Federation. (2008, May 20). International Coach Federation dispels common misconceptions about professional coaching. Science Letter, 3839.
Mertel, T. (2010.) Using meaningful coaching for maximum results. Industrial and Commercial Training, 42, 4.
Waslyshyn, K.M. (2003, Spring). Executive coaching: An outcome study. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 55(2), 94-106.
Christin
