What is Coaching?

WHAT is coaching and WHY has coaching grown so rapidly?

Why Coaching Works infographic by swrightcreative.

Frequently asked questions about coaching

What is coaching?

Coaching is an emerging and rapidly growing profession that serves real needs in today's world.

Coaches:

• Help people set actionable goals and reach them.
• Ask their clients to accomplish more than they would have on their own.
• Help their clients focus to produce results more quickly.
• Provide the tools, support and structure needed for the client to make desired changes.

A coach does just what an athletic coach or music teacher does, only in a more complete and bigger way. A coach challenges you and takes the time to find out what winning in life means to you. A coach is your partner in living the life you know you want and can have, personally and professionally. A coach is someone to hold you accountable for your life, to make sure you really do live up to your potential. No matter where you are in life, there is always a desire for more. More success, more money, closer relationships, a deeper feeling of meaning in life. It is the nature of people to want to attain more, become more, be more, and we all struggle with how to get what we're looking for.

Most people believe that "hard work and doing it on your own" are the keys to finding the life, success, money, or happiness that they seek. They believe that a price must be paid to attain what they want, and often that price is poor health, not having enough time to enjoy life, strained family relationships or lessened productivity. The saddest part is that, even though this effort may result in more of something, it is often not the something you had in mind, and you are back where you started, or worse, further from your real intentions. Athletes and performers know about this trap. They know they need someone else, a trained professional, to help them set goals, discover real needs, and work effectively to achieve excellence. So, they are willing to hire a coach or a teacher. No serious athlete or musician would expect to progress very far without one. Of course, even Tiger Woods has a coach!

The bottom line: Clients get focused, improve performance and produce better results because they have a coach.

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Who hires a coach and why?

People hire a coach because

• They want to be more effective.
• They want to hone their skills, develop their talents and maximize/optimize their personal and business success.
• They want support and guidance in the process.

It's as simple as that. Coaches help a client get all three.

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What happens when you hire a coach?

Many things, but the most important are:

• You become more clear and committed.
• You take more effective and focused actions towards goals immediately.
• You stop putting up with what is dragging you down.
• You create momentum so it's easier to get results.
• You set better, more effective, and fun goals.

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Does a coach work on personal goals or business/professional goals?

A coach may work with a client on both, if the coach has been trained to do so and if the situation requires it. In addition, many coaches specialize in particular areas of professional and personal development. Interviewing at least three coaches is important to ensure that you find one who will meet your needs.

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Why does coaching work?

Coaching works for several reasons:

• Synergy between the coach and client creates momentum.
• More compelling goals are set.
• The client develops new skills, new levels of awareness, and new skills. These capacities translate into greater success and effectiveness.

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Can I hire a coach just for a short-term, special project?

Yes. Some clients hire a coach to help them accomplish specific goals or projects. Usually, however, the client keeps working with the coach after that because there are even more interesting things to accomplish.

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How long must I commit if I start working with a coach?

Most coaches ask for a three- to six-month commitment but usually let you stop immediately if coaching is not working for you right now. The initial time period of three- to six-months is recommended to be able to see meaningful results toward your initial goals. Sometimes, clients achieve their goals before the end of the initial period. However it may also take longer to complete if the goals are particularly ambitious.

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What does it cost to hire a coach?

Most coaches working with individuals charge from $200 to $650 per month. Corporate Coaching and Executive Coaching programs often range from $1,000 to $10,000 per month, depending on the number of actual clients, and intensity and length of the work involved.

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