FAQ

If you are experiencing a transition or are ready to make a significant shift in how you live your life, then coaching can be a rewarding experience. In truth, the greatest value from coaching happens between sessions, when you are putting new perspectives into practice and trying new things. Realizing the desired outcomes will only happen if there is committed action. 

Coaching is future-oriented – it is focused on helping you identify dreams and set goals, clarify choices, and proactively manage change. Most importantly, it’s about transforming who you are not just what you do. In a rapidly changing world, our ability to productively work with change is increasingly critical.  Coaching will empower you to do just that.

I consider myself to be a “whole life” coach.  Life in the 21st century is often a kaleidoscope of activities – professional pursuits, personal relationships, home base, financial needs, recreational passions, among others. Decisions we make in one area will impact one or more of the others.  That said, the majority of individuals and teams that I work with are focused on a career matter or professional goal. Coaching enables an exploration of how a career is part of a larger whole.  

Typically a mentor or advisor will draw upon their own personal experience to make recommendations for addressing a need or a challenge presented by the client. A coach, on the other hand, will guide the client to generate their own solutions – a far more sustainable outcome given that they are the experts of their life, not the coach! And because no topic exists in isolation, Co-Active coaching is focused on the whole person as opposed to specializing in a particular issue such as career or relationships. 

Client and Coach are partners in the coaching relationship; unlike a teacher-student or manager-employee relationship, we will co-design our alliance to ensure the coaching relationship is both safe enough to take risks and courageous enough to enable creativity and motivation. I meet with clients twice a month, typically bi-weekly, and each session runs for 45 minutes. There is an initial commitment of six months, and our work together can continue beyond that for as long as it is useful to you.  I most often conduct sessions over the phone, which accommodates different time zones; however, I am also happy to meet in person if that can be arranged. 

The same principles for coaching individuals also apply to teams.  At the heart of good coaching is the revelation of values and purpose.  What motivates each of us?  What do we wish to achieve in our lives?  Understanding the answer to these questions for both the individuals involved and the “third entity” that is the team they populate, is a critical foundation for team growth and the starting point for team coaching. 

Assessment instruments are not necessary for coaching, but they can be a useful method for revealing how the Client is perceived by others relative to how they perceive themselves. In a corporate setting this information is effective for establishing a baseline that informs the focus for the coaching, and a way to measure change over time.   

For individuals, I am certified in The Leadership Circle profile, as well as the DISC profile. I am also trained in the CliftonStrengths assessment and will often incorporate that tool into the coaching. For leadership teams, I am certified in the Collective Leadership Assessment and have training in the Team Coaching International suite of assessments.

A thirty-minute sample session is complimentary.  This is a great way for both of us to determine if we’re a good fit.  We’ll start by chatting a little bit about you and your interest in coaching, and you can ask me questions.  We’ll mix in a little bit of coaching and leave time in the end to discuss any action items.