- What is a personal coach?
- I am already successful
why do I need a coach?
- How does coaching work?
- If I choose to have a
complimentary coaching call how does that work?
- What would I hire a coach
to do for me?
- How is this different from
counseling or therapy?
A personal coach is someone who works
with individuals to help them get where they want to go more quickly and easily.
The focus may be on personal growth, professional growth, career path, on
reaching a specific goal, or giving honest and objective feedback... there are
many aspects to personal coaching and all of them, in essence, relate to the
individual. Most coaches work by phone or in person, with each client having
several coaching sessions per month.
[You
may be surprised to know that coaches are most frequently hired by people who
are already successful. These are people who know the importance of seizing any
and every opportunity for improvement. Think of the winners of an Olympic
event. Sometimes the performance of gold and silver medalists are separated by
hundredths of a second, but the difference they make to the athletes' reputation
is huge. On the other hand, if you are "at the back of the pack" it does not
usually make much difference if you are three-hundredths of a second or a whole
three seconds in front of the next person. People who are successful know that
having "the edge" is important, and they know that a good coach can help them to
have that edge.
Arrangements may differ according to the
needs of the clients, and the practice of the coach. Most frequently a coach
and client have three or four sessions a month, usually by phone, sometimes
face-to-face, occasionally over the internet by e-mail or by one of the
real-time message systems.
I will provide you with time
slots that are available for the 30 minute complimentary coaching session. Once
we set up the date/time I will also ask you what issue in your life you would
like to focus on during our session. We will focus on an issue that you want
to work on and you will experience the coaching process first hand and have a
chance to decide whether it may be useful to you. You will be able to ask
questions about coaching procedures, fees, etc. I will explain my procedures in
more detail if you wish. And you may then make a decision, or simply say that
you'll get back to me.
The range
of life areas on which coaches work with clients is huge. Most frequent needs
that bring clients to a coach are for better organization and/or time
management, focus, accountability, life transitions, relationships, professional
development, career path, communication skills, self-presentation and a general
need for direction or for objective and honest feedback.
In
psychotherapy it is assumed that there is a problem so that the client needs
healing from some emotional problem or wound. The psychotherapist is seen as a
source of healing and the goal is to make the client well and healthy. In
coaching, on the other hand, the client is seen as being a healthy and whole
person who can actively partner with the coach in seeking ways to grow and move
forward with his/her life. The International Coach Federation has a page on
this, also, which you can find at
http://www.coachfederation.org/natureofcoaching.htm.
Donna Drury-Heine
Copyright © 2001-2007 LifeQuest Coaching & Seminar. All rights reserved.
Revised: 01/07/07.