Coaching is a response to a request for support to make something happen that isn’t currently happening and that you are committed to. Requesting support is a powerful request.  (People who “know it all” rarely request it.)  Coaching takes place inside a unique relationship designed to open up new possibilities and produce the desired results for the person (that would be you) being coached. (It may be obvious, but an “organization” cannot be coached – only people can be.)

Coaching explores your perspective and your view of yourself and of the world.

Why? Because your perspective (perception) determines the results you produce. Coaching is a developmental process — it’s concerned with goals (the “what” you want to achieve) and the process of pursuing those goals (the “how”. The confidential relationship is based on open and honest communication, accountability and responsibility. The coach does not give you “the answer”, she supports you to discover your own.

The process is simply: learn, apply the learning, use feedback and course correct …  repeat. The most powerful learning comes through personal experience. Because you’ll be trying new out new behaviors, both mistakes and successes are to be expected and embraced.  Coaching conversations are held at mutually agreed upon times and frequency. Your process may include assessments, readings and exercises.

Typically, the minimal time is three to four months within which 10-12 hours of coaching take place. This gives both the coach and the person being coached time to build their relationship and put new thinking and acting into practice.  After the initial set of sessions, people often choose to extend the coaching relationship or periodically have a tune-up conversation to deepen the mastery of the new skills and ways of being.

Being coached can make the difference between wishing something would happen and having it happen.   All of us have times when we just can’t seem to break through to achieve what we desire or be who we want to be. We feel frozen, unable, and even unsure of our commitment. The coach is 100% on your side, through thick and thin, sometimes holding on to your commitments when your grip is slipping.

While each person’s experience of being coached is unique, in general, the benefits can be described as being able to …

• Accomplish more and feel satisfied by your efforts
• Step beyond automatic habits that used to restrict success
• Be less scattered, more focused
• Speak up, stand up for yourself
• Feel more confident
• Understand those around you better, have more compassion
• Go for opportunities you may be previously passed up
• Build relationships of trust and honesty
• Communicate better with all types of people, especially in difficult situations
• Be a better leader, a better manager
• Feel more integrated, more whole … more yourself.

You will look at your results and say whether it’s working or not. We’ll look at quantifiable, “hard” results (for example, getting your product to market 20 days before plan, reducing department expenses without laying people off, getting the “go” for a project) and qualitative, “soft” results (for example, less grumbling, being happier what you are doing, focus on a future of possibilities, rather than feeling doomed by circumstances).