Coaching FAQ

What Is Coaching?

Coaching is a one to one (or more with group coaching) formal interactive partnership that assists you in identifying and accomplishing your personal and professional goals much faster and more efficiently than you can do on your own.   Sessions are semi-structured and goals are specific and measurable.  A good coach asks you thought-provoking questions that help you change at the level of thinking and translate that into action to develop good leadership skills and good leadership traits.  While you are the expert in your business or industry,  I have a keen eye for business and organizational processes and a combination of consulting and coaching is an excellent balance.

 

How Is Coaching Different From Counseling, Consulting Or Mentoring?

There are two main differences between coaching and counseling or psychotherapy.  First, the client in counseling has medically diagnosable symptoms (emotional, relationship or behavioral problems) requiring treatment in order to return to a more normal level of functioning at work or at home.  There is a “problem” that needs to be “fixed.”  Second, a counselor or therapist must “diagnose” the problem and advise and treat the problem until the symptoms disappear.

 

In coaching, emotionally healthy and often already successful people desire to perform at an exceptionally higher level.

 

In consulting, an expert (the consultant) offers direct answers to specific problems and results in a report to the client which includes recommendations for action.

 

Mentoring is an informal relationship which is usually free, may include advice or introductions to other resources and do not include measurable results.

 

Who Do Your Work With And What Do Your Clients Learn To Do?

I work best with business owners, managers and executives who are ready to:

  • learn a scientifically-based approach to working smarter (not harder)
  • change behavior by changing thinking
  • discover why it’s critical to align their personal and professional values with their goals and are ready to learn how
  • effectively manage the four generations at work and how to get them to collaborate
  • make successful upwards or downwards transitions in their career
  • go from being a high potential manager into an exceptional leader
  • discover and utilize the strengths within themselves and others
  • adopt a coaching as management style and use it to drive positive change throughout their organization

Contact Christina or call today (970) 871-4567 for your no obligation consultation.

 

Where And How Do You Work With Your Clients?

 

Busy professionals need flexibility, so coaching sessions are typically done over the telephone or internet video conferencing using programs such as Skype.  When working with a team of managers or executives, on-site sessions are combined with phone sessions for the level of intensity they need to get the job done.

 

Team building and off-site retreats are held at various locations and I am on-site during the entire retreat. This gives everyone a value-filled experience of informal coaching as well as the ability to ask questions about how to apply what is learned in the structured educational breakout sessions during their retreat back at work.

 

For teams who value an intensive learning environment and to learn practical tools they can use immediately and remember long after they return to work, Equine Assisted Learning where horses teach humans the skills of effective leaders.  Convenient locations include Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the Greater Denver Metro (from Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs) area and various locations in the US.  For more information about this powerful experience-based learning tool go to visit Experience HORSEsense.com.

 

How Long Can I/We Expect To Be Working With You And How Are Coaching Programs Structured?

 

Lasting change requires commitment, focused attention and consistent application of new thinking and behavior.  Period.

 

Individual clients can choose from a 3, 6 or 9 month coaching engagement with 3 to 4 sessions a month initially, and 2 to 3 sessions a month about half-way through the process to apply what is learned and maintain change.  Sessions last 30 to 60 minutes, although longer sessions can be arranged.

 

Corporate coaching with management or executive teams can vary and are customized according to the project outcomes.  Six, 12 or 18 month engagements are common.

 

Contact Christina or call today (970) 871-4567 for your no obligation consultation.

 

What Happens During An Individual Coaching Session?

 

First, an initial assessment is completed and client strengths and potential areas of improvement are determined.

 

Second, goals, objectives, benchmarks, time lines are established.  These are not “set and forget” but are reviewed throughout the process to evaluate progress.  Changes of course are made as necessary.

 

I believe change happens between sessions, not in the session, so homework or experiments (for those of you who hate the word homework) are assigned between each session.

 

It’s hard work and yet people tell me how much they really enjoy the process!

 

How Do You Believe People Change?

 

I believe the three ingredients necessary for lasting change to occur are the following:

 

    1. Goals are in alignment with the clients’ values and purpose.
    2. Focused intention and attention on opportunities to take action.
    3. The strong desire to learn and understand:
      • how people interpret their world and process information,
      • the power of language, experience and memories in creating our (and their) reality in the present
      • the art and science of communication;
      • what truly motivates us (and others), and
      • how to best use the strengths and limitations of the human brain in changing behavior and collaborating with others
      • to be able to have fun and really enjoy the process!

What Results Have Your Clients Experienced?

 

Please see the “Testimonials” page for specifics, but in general clients have experienced:

 

  • rapid, lasting change in the ability to respond rather than react to challenges
  • significant improvement in the ability to solve problems and make decisions
  • increased levels of trust and confidence in themselves
  • their team, colleagues and boss notice they are easy to work with and enjoyable to be around
  • more cooperation from others in getting the job done
  • they feel and are able to immediately use the skills they learn right away and see visible results in their levels of productivity and satisfaction.

 

Client evaluations 60 days and 6 months to 1 year after finishing the program showed a consistent and lasting rating of significant improvement and an average of 4.7 out of 5 on client satisfaction surveys.

 

Contact Christina or call today (970) 871-4567 for your no obligation consultation.