88% of those who have participated in a coaching relationship are satisfied with the experience.
The top three coaching outcomes are:
- Improved communication skills
- Increased self esteem/self-confidence
- Increased productivity
PwC ICF Consumer Study 2017
What is coaching?
- Coaching is a personal and professional makeover
- It inspires you to maximise your potential
- It is a confidential safe space and a non-judgemental partnership
- As a client you bring your agenda to the sessions
- Coaching is a thought provoking and creative process
- It facilitates self-awareness, clarity, alignment, learning, growth and change
- It focuses on actions to achieve real progress and can speed up results
What does a coach do?
- A coach is a thinking companion to help you discover, clarify and align with what you want to achieve
- A coach provides structure upfront and works with you on your contract
- They establish a level-less relationship and care about your success
- They co-create a safe, trustworthy and courageous space to be bold, explore, learn, stretch and take inspired committed action
- They coach in the context of your ambitions and/or the organisation and your greater purpose
What does the coaching process look like?
- Before any coaching relationship begins, there is a chemistry meeting to agree that the partnership feels right and agree how we would like to work together
- If it does, then there is a foundation session to co-create the coaching partnership, understand the ethics, agree the process, baseline, goals and get to know you
- There may be a three-way meeting with your leader, sponsor or Learning and Development professional to understand your organisation’s goals for the coaching
- A typical coaching engagement is 6 to 12 sessions over 6 to 12 months post chemistry meeting though this varies and is tailored to each client
- Coaching can be face to face, by telephone or by face to face technology at intervals to suit you – 65% of coaching is now done virtually to save time and money (Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey March 2018)
- The focus of each session is your choice and progress between sessions is reviewed
- You may wish to use tools and tasks towards achieving your goals and actions
- Calls or emails between sessions are welcomed with questions, challenges or to share achievements
- Your coaching sessions are scheduled in advance and reviewed to track your achievements
- There can be a final three-way meeting to review progress against goals and a final coaching session to review the partnership, process, measure progress and move forward
How is coaching used?
- Coaching can be used to achieve progress for people, teams and organisations
- At a personal level, it can bring clarity on direction, change what is not working and enhance what is to thrive in all areas of work, life and play
- It can increase confidence and success at work to be top of your game or lead and empower others through change
- Coaching can focus on the strategic agenda and achieving alignment to drive business success either in an established organisation or for entrepreneurs
Am I ready for coaching?
- I want coaching and am doing it for myself rather than to please a sponsor/someone else (in the context of an organisation)
- I have identified what I want from the coaching and I am invested in my vision, purpose and/or desired outcome so I can describe this to my coach
- I am open to experiencing a different approach to achieve peak performance, including experimenting with different ways of being or doing things
- I am open to areas for growth, receiving feedback and being honest
- I am ready to take a different perspective on how I operate and to change any self-limiting behaviours that restrict my success
- I will commit the time to coaching sessions, be on time, be fully present and follow up on my actions
- I will communicate what I need throughout the process, how I want to be held accountable and supported
- I will engage in coaching as an active co-creator in my own success
- I have a supportive sponsor who will allow me the time and space and will give me feedback on how coaching has helped my performance
How do I know I have found the right coach?
- Chemistry and style are both key to establish trust and feel comfortable to do your best thinking
- Look for professional coaching qualifications, membership and accreditation of a coaching body like the International Coach Federation (ICF), European Mentoring and Coaching council (EMCC) or similar
- Ensure that your coach is active and current in their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sometimes referred to as Continuing Coach Education (CCE) and has regular supervision
- Be convinced that there are no conflicts of interest or potential ethical issues for either yourself or your coach
- Familiarise yourself with their business terms and insurance and make sure you are happy with the whole coaching package before you begin your coaching journey
- Your coach is experienced at coaching in a business setting and is credible. A coach does not need to have worked in your sector, function or role to be a great coach – they bring questions rather than answers
- Your coach makes you the star of the show!
“Alignment is about matching what you say and do with what you think and feel. It takes courage but is worth it”
Jan Elfline
