FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
"Who
I am is what fulfills me and what fulfills the vision I have of a world."
--Audre Lorde, poet
Who
hires a coach?
People hire a coach because they want more, they want to grow, and they want to do things more easily. It's as simple as that. Coaches help a client get all three, quickly.
How is coaching different
from consulting? Therapy? Sports coaching? A best friend?
Consulting
Coaching is rather like consulting except that you hire a consultant to give
you the answers; you hire a coach to help you find the answers. Plus, the
coach stays with the client to help implement the new skills and behavioral
changes, to make sure that they really happen.
Therapy
Coaching is not therapy.
Coaches don't work
on "issues" or get
into the past or
deal much with understanding
human behavior. That
knowledge may come
as
clients move forward
toward personal and
professional goals
that will give them
the life they really
want, but it should
not be the focus
of a coaching
relationship.
Sports
Coaching includes several principles from sports coaching, like teamwork,
going for the goal, being your best. Unlike sports coaching, most professional
coaching is not competition or win/lose based. Coaches focus on strengthening
their clients' skills, not on helping them beat the other team. Coaches look
for win/win solutions.
Best friend
A best friend is wonderful to have. But is your best friend a professional
who you will trust to work with you on the most important aspects of your
life and/or business? Have both - a best friend and a coach.
What
are the benefits
of coaching?
The benefits of
coaching are that you
have someone who can
give you an impartial
perspective and brainstorm
with you on ways to
move ahead. Coaching
also provides quick,
convenient learning
of ideas and techniques
that might take weeks
in a management seminar
or series of classes.
This is because coaching
is customized to the
specific issues and
needs that you have.
You will also feel
a lot better about
life in general! As
we address some of
the nagging irritations
of everyday business
and personal life,
you will feel good
about being on the
road to a happier,
more productive life.
How
do I get started?
Call or email
me to set up an initial
30-minute session,
which is free and
without obligation.
During our first
session, we'll work
on the specific issue
you'd like to target.
Then we'll both decide
how, or if, to proceed
with further sessions.
My phone number is
603-529-2345 and
my email is helen@avisionofyourown.
How
long should I work
with a coach?
While some clients
stay a few months,
others prefer to
devote more time
to being coached.
Successful athletes
include personal
trainers/coaches
as a continual part
of their winning
strategy. You and
your coach will intuitively
know when it's time
to conclude or time
for a sabbatical.
Can
I hire a coach
for a specific
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.