How does coaching work?
Most coaching begins with an initial intake appointment of two to three hours in which the coach and client design an alliance. Momentum and focus are maintained with weekly half-hour appointments. The client determines the agenda for the weekly session. Most coaching is conducted over the telephone, so it is well suited to professionals’ busy lives. Some coaches also use e-mail or FAX, and some work in person. Often the coach doesn’t live in the same community or even the same part of the country as the client. To many, this is seen as an advantage. It puts the coach well outside the system within which the client lives and works, and provides a sense of distance, objectivity and perspective.
The adage “if you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got” captures the transformational opportunity of coaching. In order to change results, we need to change something about how we currently operate. Conscious change requires that we recognize current patterns and how well (or poorly) they serve us. In that sense, coaching is a 24/7 process for the client. The higher the level of awareness, the greater the opportunity for powerful transformation. From the coach’s point of view, coaching looks like an extended conversation that occurs over a period of time. There are scheduled sessions—anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes— and usually “as needed” interim communication to deal with “hot” issues and opportunities. Coaching can be done in person or by phone. The 5 key principles of the “extended conversation” are: • Always know the baseline—your starting point, the status quo (assessment); • Identify an outcome that’s worth pursuing and clarify what’s most importan
The process of coaching is highly customized to the individual client. In general coaching is a four phase process: • Assessment: A comprehensive evaluation of your or your business’s current strengths and areas for growth is conducted using a combination of interview questions and questionnaires. We have dozens of proprietary assessments to help target the areas to focus on in coaching. We are also qualified to give measures such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Emotional Competency Inventory (ECI) 360-degree feedback assessment. • Goal Planning: The next step is to create a specific goal plan along with action steps to help you reach your goals. Goals help you figure out where you are going and how you will get there. A quote to describe this process is: If you dont know where youre going, youll wind up somewhere else (Yogi Berra). • Action Phase: Once you know your goals, it is time to take action. You achieve change during and between sessions. Together, you and your coac
Coaches aren’t miracle workers. Coaching works because clients who work with a professional coach are already successful, have decided that they’re ready to go to the next level, and they place high value on having a partner for the journey. Very often, the coach has already taken the same journey the client is about to embark on and the coach can offer a great deal of insight, support and synergy. Coaching works, because coaches are totally committed to their client’s success! At Fresh Leadership we use a variety of world class tools to gather all the data necessary to coach an individual such as 360 multi-rater assessments, interpersonal assessment tools like the BIRKMAN, interviews, and LifePlansTM. With these tools Fresh Leadership is able to help individuals see their blind-spot and work on real goals for our coaching.
Coaching usually occurs through a variety of processes, such as: brainstorming and envisioning, information sharing, goal achievement, assignment completion, structure, critical thinking, honest communication, clear direction, accountability, directive questioning, and unconditional support. In a typical session, the client generally shares their current goals and accompanying challenges, and how they would like to use coaching to help them address these topics. The coach then partners with the client to clarify their goals, brainstorm possible ideas, develop creative strategies, overcome personal obstacles and determine appropriate action steps for achievement or success. Clients appreciate the support and structure provided in the coaching relationship and 98.5% of all coaching clients say they were satisfied with their coach and coaching relationship!
