The first week of February each year is International Coaching Week. Said to be one of the fastest growing professions in the world today, coaching is still quite new to many people. As businesses cut budgets and staff, many employees find themselves without the mentoring and guidance they would like to receive from their supervisors and managers. Those already out of work are looking for something to give them an edge in their job search.

A personal coach can provide the guidance and the edge you might be seeking. Let’s define what a coach is and is not, so that you know what you a coach can offer you.

A Coach is NOT a...

therapist working with mentally ill, who need healing

mentor, who has experience in your field and helps you along

counselor

healer

buddy who tells you what you want to hear

consultant, do-er, solution provider

“Yes Man” who agrees with you always

A Coach IS...

a guide working with mentally healthy people on their goals

a resource and networker, connecting you to people and information

an objective mirror, giving feedback and observations for your consideration

an advocate for your potential, who encourages you to empower and affirm yourself a truth teller, with respectful confrontation telling you
what you need to hear

a thought-provoker, asking questions you have to answer, a catalyst for your self-insight

the occasional “devil’s advocate” who offers another perspective for your consideration

a visionary who is not in your business, home, or occupation, yet can help you see your potential and dreams and hold you accountable to staying on track

A Coach is a Process Expert - guiding your journey, not guaranteeing what results you will accomplish because that is up to you. A coach is also a Student ->/b> coaches get coached, always learning, growing, using the tools that they share with others. Remember, the coach is only the coach, you are the player, you take the action, you make things
happen for you!!

Coaching is the feedback process that functions as a mirror, allowing self-examination and self-correction, resulting in greater accountability, achievement and fulfillment. If you are thinking you want to work with a coach, here are some guidelines for establishing the coaching relationship.

INTERVIEW
Arrange for an initial interview. Be prepared to tell the coach why you want a coach and your goals for the coaching process. Make a list of questions in advance and then ask them in the interview.

You will want to know...

How long have you been a coach?

Do you have clients who are willing to give testimonials, recommendations of your work?

Does the coach specialize in a particular type of coaching, i.e. business, personal, career, relationships, financial?

You will be looking and listening for...

A resonance with your personal values, philosophy and experiences

Does the coach “hear” you, listening carefully to what you say?

A sense of trust and safety

Respectful confrontation, challenging and supportive

CONTRACT - AGREEMENT
Once you decide on your coach, put your agreements in writing, including cost, frequency and length of meetings, accountability, method of meeting (phone, face-to-face, e-mail) and terms of completion of the agreement(grounds for termination of the agreement and/or time frame). Many coaches include “go-no go” points to review the contracts and the effectiveness of the process. Be sure these are also in your agreements. Most coaches have a set form for their agreements and the coach should provide the contract.

GOALS
Your coach will guide you to writing your life purpose, business purpose, goals and expectations for the coaching process. It is very important that you are clear and specific on what you want from this process so you can measure it’s effectiveness and value to you.

BE PREPARED FOR EVERY SESSION
An outline of topics to be covered in each session is helpful so that you can be prepared before the session, in order to maximize the time you have with your coach.

PROGRESS
Assess your progress regularly, using your goals and other criteria set in your agreements. Evaluate the effectiveness of the process and your accomplishments to determine if you want to negotiate to continue your coaching contract, renegotiate the terms or terminate the contract.

To locate a coach that fits your needs, you can contact one of the following organizations:
www.coachville.com - Coachville has an extensive directory of coaches
www.coachfederation.org - The International Coach Federation - member listings
www.mynabc.org - National Association of Business Coaches

Or write to me at patricia@lightly.com and I will be happy to assist you by recommending a local coach that works with the kinds of goals you have set for yourself.