Why do people decide to hire a personal or professional coach?

They want more. They want to grow. They want it easier.

What happens when you hire a coach?

The moment you hire a professional or personal coach you begin to take yourself more seriously. Your actions immediately become more effective and focused. You stop putting up with nagging things that have been dragging you down. You begin to create momentum. You set goals well beyond those you would have set. Results come more easily. And you receive and relish the acknowledgements you earn and deserve.

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. Most coaches ask for a written agreement or contract. For the corporate client, however, a signed agreement is simply good business.

What does it cost to hire a coach?

Most coaches work by phone with clients and charge about $250 to $1,000 per month for their services. The fee typically includes one to four coaching conversations per month from 30-60 minutes per call.

Does a coach work on personal or professional goals?

Both. A certified professional coach is trained to work with all aspects of your life: your job, business and finances; friends, family and relationships; health and vitality; your various environments, and your spiritual side.

Why does coaching work?

Synergy between the coach and client creates momentum. Better goals are set - ones that naturally pull the client toward the goal rather than goals that require the client to push themselves to the goal. The client develops new skills, and these skills translate into more success.

What areas do coaches focus on?

- Work with clients to set and reach powerful, effective, meaningful, relevant goals.
- Ask their clients to go beyond the comfort level where they would have gone on their own.
- Help clients sharpen and maintain focus to more quickly produce results.
- Provide the tools, encouragement, support and structure to accomplish more than ever.

What is the basic philosophy of coaching?

You'll be more powerful and effective in any or all areas of your life when you have a trained, experienced coach who brings fresh perspective, stimulus, ideas, and structures for accountability..

How is coaching different from consulting, therapy, sports coaching, or your best friend?

Consulting. Coaching is a form of consulting, but the coach stays with you to help you implement the new skills, changes and goals to make sure they really happen.

Therapy. Coaching is not therapy. Coaches don't work on "issues" or get into the past or deal much with understanding human behavior. Rather, they help move you forward with focus on setting and achieving personal and professional goals that will provide the life you really want.

Sports. Personal coaching includes several principles from sports coaching, such as teamwork, going for goals, 'being your best'. But unlike sports coaching, most professional coaching is not competition or win/lose based. Coaches strengthen your skills rather than focus on beating the other team. It's a 'win/win' focus.

Best friend. A best friend is wonderful to have. But is your best friend a professional whom you can trust to advise you on the most important aspects of your life and/or business? Does a best friend know the right questions to ask? Can a best friend provide meaningful distinctions, and point you in the direction of valuable resources? Will a best friend push you beyond your limits? Have a best friend o and a coach.

How do I know if I need a coach?

Explore these key questions:
- Are you doing what you most enjoy?
- Are you putting up with things you'd rather not?
- Is your life as easy as it might be?
- Is your life well balanced?
- Are you going to be financially independent within the next 15 years, or when you need to be?
- Do you have what you most want?

In closing, there is much more people can get out of their lives than they realize. Coaches are trained in the process of exploration. They guide the potential client through an examination of the balance in various areas of his/her life. They provide invaluable perspective. They help you see the things about yourself you cannot see. And most coaches will help guide you through these basic questions in a free, introductory coaching conversation. But the rule of thumb is that the more you want from life, the more a qualified and competent coach can help you get there.