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- You are in Texas and my company is not! Wouldn't
distance be a barrier?
Definitely not! We have clients all around
the globe. Yes, coaching can be done in person if that is convenient.
However, most coaching is done by telephone or in a combination of on-site
and telephone sessions. Often we meet with a person or team initially in
person-and perhaps monthly or quarterly thereafter -- but the remainder of
the coaching takes place on the phone. No driving, no traffic, no parking
hassles!
- We already have so much going on in our
organization, how would we make time for coaching?
Let's face reality: We make time for the
things that are important to us. And is there ever, really, a "right
time" for an individual or organization to begin coaching? Whether
you're in the midst of a merger, a downsizing, a lawsuit, a new project,
an expansion the truth is that in business today, change is the norm. In
fact, coaching can really help both morale, communication and productivity
during turbulent times.
- We have a tight budget this year. How could we
afford coaching?
Once we have assessed your challenges, there
are "simpler" and "more comprehensive" ways to
proceed. Variables include number of hours and number of people; we work
with individuals and with groups/teams/departments. Projects can be broken
down into steps. You tell us what your budget is and we will do our best
to find a way to work within it.
- I've heard that coaching requires confidentiality,
but as an employer/manager, how can I get any feedback about what is
happening in the coaching process?
Confidentiality is essential to the coaching
process; at the same time, the "boss" or "company"
naturally has the right to know how the coaching is progressing. We ask
each person being coached to have a joint meeting (in person or by
teleconference) with his or her direct manager AND with the Coach every
six weeks. These meetings provide an opportunity for the person being
coached to discuss how coaching is proceeding and his or her objectives
and also provides an opportunity for the "boss" to give feedback
and/or to suggest additional objectives. Additionally, the individual
being coached is asked to fill out a Coaching Plan listing developmental
objectives which can be shared with his or her "boss."
- How do you begin the coaching process with an
individual?
The initial coaching session is basically a
get-acquainted process in which the individual's background, current
situation, challenges and goals are explored. The Coach answers any
questions or concerns and explains the coaching structure (time, how
often, where, confidentiality, etc.). When it is clear that the individual
chooses to work with the Coach, discussion about the objectives of
coaching is begun. The Coach may give the client a number of assessments
to complete between sessions (or spread out over the first few weeks) or
ask to review assessments that have already been done. The process of
developing a Coaching Plan is initiated, including agreement on how the
desired outcomes will be measured.
- What are the common reasons companies hire
Executive/Corporate coaches?
Coaches typically are hired 1) to perform
executive assessments for leadership development and/or succession
planning, 2) to work with the company's top players for leadership
development, 3) to work with a valued executive who may have a "blind
spot" (low productivity, disorganization, weak people skills,
inability to delegate, poor presentation skills, etc.) which weakens his
or her performance, 4) to coach teams on vision/mission development, best
practices or other issues identified by the team.
- How can you Coach me if you have not had direct
experience in my industry?
Coaching is the technology of human
interaction; people issues are the same in every industry-morale,
accountability, communication, interpersonal relationships, conflict,
management skills, etc. Our clients are from a wide variety of industries
(financial services, construction, transportation, hotel management, real
estate, information technology, off-shore oil & gas, retail grocery,
engineering, broadcast, entertainment, medical management and more). We
also work in the non-profit sector.
- I'm a professional/business owner who is not part of
a large corporation. How would you work with me?
The process essentially is the same for
coaching individuals in corporations or in their own businesses. The
client sets the agenda for each coaching session, no matter where the
client is employed.
- Is coaching the same as counseling?
No. Counseling and psychotherapy are about
healing something and typically focus on past issues and/or current
emotional problems. Coaching focuses on perfecting the present in order to
create desired future outcomes and is very action-oriented. Coaching
clients who surface therapy issues are referred to therapists/counselors.
- How does coaching differ from consulting?
Our view is that coaching and consulting are
on a continuum; that is, good consultants probably do some coaching and
good Coaches probably do some consulting! However, consultants typically
are called in to study a particular problem and to make recommendations
from their position of expertise. A Coach works with individuals and
groups to discover what they want to accomplish, seeking to bring
the clients' wisdom forth to create the outcome or solution.
Coaches also work on who the client is being as well as on what
the client is doing. A Coach will often work with a client a minimum of
six months to a year, serving as an objective advocate as the client
actually implements the desired outcomes.
11.
What
if our organization requires more than four Coaches?
COACH
SQUARED, INC. has strategic
alliances with other Certified Coaches across the United States for larger projects.
12.
Would I be able to talk to some individuals whom you have Coached?
Absolutely. We will be happy to provide you
with specific references.
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