FAQs

What is coaching?
What is the difference in Personal/Life, Executive & Corporate/Business coaching?
How will my coach work with me?
How can coaching benefit me?
In what areas is coaching most successful?
How can I tell if the coaching is working?
How long does coaching take?
How is coaching conducted?

Q. What is coaching? A. Coaching is a one-to-one process, where your coach supports you, to move forward by taking action, in an area of your choice. It is designed to enhance performance and develop potential. Following a formal but flexible process, it is specifically tailored to meet your personal or organisation needs. It uses well-developed structures and techniques as a change catalysts and stimulating individual growth, supported by regular practice sessions to reinforce and embed the process of development along the desired path to achieving your goals

Q. What us the difference in Personal/Life, Executive & Corporate/Business coaching?
A. Personal/Life Coaching
"A collaborative solution-focused, results-orientated and systematic process in which the coach facilitates the enhancement of work performance, life experience, self-directed learning and personal growth of the client." (Anthony Grant, University of Sydney, 2000)
Executive Coaching
As for personal coaching, but it is specifically focused at senior management level where there is an expectation for the coach to feel as comfortable exploring business related topics, as personal development topics with the client in order to improve their personal performance.
Corporate/Business Coaching
As for personal coaching, but the specific remit of a corporate coach is to focus on supporting an employee, either as an individual, as part of a team and/or organisation to achieve improved business performance and operational effectiveness

Q. How will my coach work with me?
A. The role of your coach is to act as an expert listener, challenge you with powerful questions and raise your awareness through insight. Your coach creates a dedicated space in which you, the client can safely explore, focusing on your key issues or goals and identifying current limitations that maybe stopping you taking action. Working closely with and led by you, your coach will support you to identify effective methods to achieve your desired outcomes and help you to test out, modify and practice new approaches. Your coach acts as an objective and independent third party, dedicated to your success by guiding you through a desired process of change, challenging you to move outside your ‘comfort-zone’ whenever necessary and gently encouraging you forwards.

Q. How can coaching benefit me?
A. Coaching is about effecting positive change for you by breaking down your problems and supporting you in resolving them. Your coach can help you to create, clarify and identify with a personal or organizational. It provides you not only with the tools for self-development but also a safe dedicated space in which to experiment with new patterns of behaviour. The coaching process takes your background, strengths, fears, aspirations and other complexities into account to generate options that are personally relevant and congruent for you. You will become comfortable and confident with the process of change, working together with your coach to achieve your success.

Q. In what areas is coaching most successful?
A. Wherever people have personal or working relationships, coaching can support and facilitate. Developing your personal or organisational vision and values, executive coaching, leadership development, team building, conflict resolution, time management, creating a high performance working environment, career transition or personal development are among the most fruitful areas for coaching.

Q. How can I tell if the coaching is working?
A. Your coach will encourage you to notice changes and evaluate their success in achieving the goals you set. Evidence of greater team working and closer harmony in the workplace, or surpassing corporate, career or personal goals may bear testimony to coaching success.

You coach will go beyond pure anecdotal evidence, offering regular feedback and progress reports containing quantifiable results.

Q. How long does coaching take?
A. A minimum period of regular coaching is required to effect significant and lasting change, typically six months, but there is no hard and fast rule as it will depends on the needs identified. A successful coaching programme will provide the individual or organisation with the tools for self-reliance, so a phased withdrawal of the coach is built in.

Q. How is coaching conducted?
A. Coaching is based on a programme with regular face-to-face or telephone sessions, and can be supplemented by use of materials designed to support your exploration and reflection, with additional communications and resources provided in ways that meet your individual needs.