What is coaching?

 

The International Coach Foundation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. A coaching partnership supports the achievement of extraordinary results, based on goals set by the individual or team.  Through the process of coaching, individuals focus on the skills and actions needed to successfully produce their personally relevant results.

 

The individual or team chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions as well as concepts and principals which can assist in generating possibilities and identifying actions.  Through the coaching process the clarity that is needed to support the most effective actions is achieved.  Coaching accelerates the individual’s or team’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices.  Coaching concentrates on where individuals are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future.  ICF member coaches recognize that results are a matter of the individual’s or team’s intentions, choices and actions, supported by the coach’s efforts and application of coaching skills, approaches and methods.   

 

How can I determine if coaching is right for me?

 

Whether you are facing a challenging situation, you want to accomplish a goal or you want to move to the next level in your life, recognizing that you need help is an indication that coaching is right you. To determine if you could benefit from coaching, start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish. When someone has a clear idea of what they want to achieve, coaching can be a useful tool for developing a strategy on moving them in the right direction with ease.

 

Since coaching is a partnership, also ask yourself if you find it valuable to collaborate, to have another viewpoint and to be asked to consider new perspectives.  Also ask yourself if you are ready to devote the time and energy to make the changes in your work or life.  If the answer to these questions is yes   then coaching may be a beneficial way for you to grow and develop.

Take the Quiz

 

 

What are benefits of coaching?

 

Individuals who engage in a coaching relationship can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision making skills, enhanced personal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles.  Consistent with a commitment to enhancing their personal effectiveness, they can also expect to see appreciable results in areas of productivity, personal satisfaction with life and work and the achievement of personally relevant goals. 

 

 

What are some typical reasons someone might work with a coach?

 

People work with coaches for many reasons.  For the most part, they want to gain clarity about their goals and successfully reach them. Please select the link below for the Top 10 Reasons to Invest in a Coach.

Top 10 Reasons

 

 

What has caused the tremendous growth in the coaching industry?

 

The world has changed a lot, and coaching is an effective tool to deal with some of these changes.  There are greater challenges in business, the job market, and in life.  There is more job transition, more self-employment and small business. Some real life factors include:

 

•  Rapid changes in the external business environment

• Downsizing, restructuring, mergers and other organizational changes have radically altered what has been termed the “traditional employment contract”—companies can no longer achieve results using traditional management approaches

• There is a growing shortage of talented employees in certain industries—to attract and retain top talent, companies must commit to investing in individuals’ development

• There is a widening disparity between what managers were trained to do and what their jobs now require them to do in order to meet increasing demands for competitive results

• There is unrest on the part of many employees and leaders in many companies—people are wrestling with fears around job insecurity and increased workplace pressures to perform at higher levels than ever before.

 

Additionally, people who have experienced the excellent results of coaching are talking to more people about it.  In short, coaching helps people focus on what matters to them in life-- business and personal.  People today are more open to the idea of being in charge of their own lives.  Coaching helps people do just that; so the industry continues to grow.

 

 

 

How is coaching delivered?  What does the process look like?

 

At JCS, coaching sessions are delivered by phone, skype or face to face, with each meeting lasting for an established length of time.  During the introductory session, the scope of the relationship is discussed.  Additionally, the coach will interview the client and assess the specific need, opportunity or challenge.  Between scheduled meetings, there may be specific action items you will take that support the achievement of the prioritized goals.  Additional resources may be provided in the form of relevant articles, checklists, assessments or models, to support the work being done.  The duration of the coaching relationship varies depending on your needs and preferences.   

The JCS Process

 

 

How do you ensure a compatible partnership?

 

The most important thing to look for in selecting a coach is someone with whom you feel can easily relate.  At JCS, we look or a variety of factors that give us a sense that this is a workable partnership.  Overall, we custom design our partnership with each client.  Think of a strong partnership that you currently have in your work or life.  Look at how you built that relationship and what is important to you about it.  We strive to build those same thinks in our relationship with you.

 

 

How long does a coach work with an individual?

 

The length of a coaching partnership varies depending on the individual’s or team’s needs and preferences.  For certain types of focused coaching, 3 to 6 months of working may work.  For other types of coaching, people may find it beneficial to work with a coach for a longer period.  Factors that may impact the length of time include: the types of goals, the ways individual or teams prefer to work, the frequency of coaching meetings and financial resources available to support coaching.

 

 

How is success measured?

 

During the introductory session, an attainable goal is discussed and an actionable plan is implemented.  An action plan typically consists of a major goal accompanied by a number of sub goals and a reasonable timeline.  These sub goals serve as a road map to the overall success plan.  Generally, success is measured by the achievement of goals outlined during the introductory session.  This will be the basis of subsequent coaching sessions.  Clients love to acknowledge wins and successes.  Any adjustments that need to be made to their success plan are also discussed.  As clients navigate through their road map, they begin to visualize the big picture.  They become empowered as they move closer to the completion of their goal.

 

 

How is coaching distinct from other service professions?

 

Professional coaching focuses on setting goals, creating outcomes and managing personal change. Sometimes it’s helpful to understand coaching by distinguishing it from other personal or organizational support professions.

 

• Therapy: Therapy deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or in relationships. The focus is often on resolving difficulties arising from the past that hamper an individual's emotional functioning in the present, improving overall psychological functioning, and dealing with the present in more emotionally healthy ways. Coaching, on the other hand, supports personal and professional growth based on self-initiated change in pursuit of specific actionable outcomes. These outcomes are linked to personal or professional success. Coaching is future focused. While positive feelings/emotions may be a natural outcome of coaching, the primary focus is on creating actionable strategies for achieving specific goals in one's work or personal life. The emphases in a coaching relationship are on action, accountability, and follow through.   With the support of a counselor or therapist, some individuals engage in coaching and therapy simultaneously, but with a focus on different areas of life for each service.

 

• Consulting: Individuals or organizations retain consultants for their expertise. While consulting approaches vary widely, the assumption is the consultant will diagnose problems and prescribe and, sometimes, implement solutions. With coaching, the assumption is that individuals or teams are capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approaches and frameworks. With the support of a counselor or therapist, some individuals engage in coaching and therapy simultaneously, but with a focus on different areas of life for each service.

 

• Mentoring: A mentor is an expert who provides wisdom and guidance based on his or her own experience. Mentoring may include advising, counseling and coaching. The coaching process does not include advising or counseling, and focuses instead on individuals or groups setting and reaching their own objectives.  Some individuals engage in coaching and mentoring  simultaneously.

 

 

How can I find out more?

 

If you’d like more information about JCS, you can:

• Contact us online.  You will receive a response promptly.

• Call 1-302-287-5500 and speak with a Certified Personal & Executive Coach.