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Getting you on the right track
Please find, below, a number of answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we recevice about Coaching and Clarity Coaching.
If we were unable to help you in this FAQ section, please contact us and we shall be glad to assist you get what you need!
Question What is coaching?
Question How does coaching work?
Question Why has coaching become so popular?
Question What about the benefits?
Question Is coaching like Counselling or Therapy?
Question How is coaching different from mentoring?
Question Who hires a coach and why?
Question How do I get the most out of coaching?
Question What are the results from coaching?
Question How long would someone work with a coach?
Question Why would successful people need a coach?
Question How can you know if coaching is right for you?
Question What does the coaching process look like?
Question How flexible is the coaching program?
Question How do Executive Coaching and Personal Coaching differ?
Question What is coaching?
Coaching is a structured way to support people to improve their performance by unlocking their potential. It encourages excellence and helps people who aspire to better things in their professional, business and personal lives.
Coaching is all about helping people identify what they want to achieve through a process of discovery, goal setting and strategic planning in order to realise extraordinary results.
"Coaching is the art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another."
The School of Coaching
Question How does coaching work?
The coach and client intentionally develop a relationship which is characterised by a growing and mutual appreciation and respect for each other as individuals.
Coaching is designed to provide clients with a greater capacity to produce results and a greater confidence in their ability to do so.
Coaching is goal oriented – it is about looking forward and it is constructive in that it is solely aimed towards the achievement of goals and it ensures clients turn their vision into reality through taking action.
Coaching is non-critical, non-judgemental and confidential. The whole essence of the coaching relationship is bound up with the coach’s ability to listen and make the right response by asking open ended questions that enable you to provide answers.
These questions generate different perspectives to familiar problems, thus producing new ideas and solutions.
It is a simple but effective concept. A Clarity Coach is a partner, working with clients to help them achieve the personal success they desire. The coach helps the client set goals, offers encouragement and new ways of tackling situations.
It is like having someone 'running alongside you' in life, giving you the extra input and insights that can really make a difference to your success.
Through the coaching process the clarity that is needed to support the most effective actions is achieved. Coaching accelerates the individual's progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices and great results.
Coaching concentrates on where individuals are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future.
Coaching is all about having someone believe in you and encourage you, about getting valuable feedback, about seeing things from new perspectives and setting your sights on new horizons.
Every successful athlete and performer today has a coach of some sort. A coach makes coaching available to anyone wanting to achieve their best, in any field. It is a powerful alliance between two people that produces exceptional results.
The Clarity Coaching Process is well defined so that client objectives are achieved.
Question Why has coaching become so popular?
Some of the factors are:
- A rapidly evolving business environment. Targeted development interventions have become popular in helping individuals adjust to workplace changes.
- The structural features of modern organisations. Organisational downsizing and flatter structures mean that newly promoted individuals often have to quickly fit into the higher performance requirements of their new roles.
Coaching can support individuals achieving these changes. - The need for targeted, just-in-time and individual development. The development needs of individuals can be diverse and in smaller organisations there are often too few individuals with specific development needs to warrant the design of a formal training programme.
Coaching offers a flexible, option, which can be delivered 'just-in-time' to strengthen under-developed skills. - Improved decision-making by senior employees. For senior level executives it can be 'lonely at the top' as they have few people they can confide in, develop ideas and discuss decisions and concerns.
A coach can be used as a 'safe and objective haven' to discuss issues and provide support. - Individual responsibility for development. There is an increasing trend for individuals to take greater responsibility for their personal and professional development.
Coaching can help individuals identify development needs, plan development activities and support personal problem-solving. - Support for other learning and development activities. Coaching provides a valuable way of providing ongoing support for personal development plans, especially in assisting the transfer of learning in the workplace.
- A popular development mechanism. People enjoy participating in coaching as they get direct one-to-one assistance and attention that fits in with their own timeframes and schedules.
There is the potential to see quick results.
International Personnel Management Association
Question What about the benefits?
Is coaching worth the time and investment?
Based on the results from the 2004 CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) training and development survey, it would appear so.
Two-thirds of respondents to the survey reported that they felt their activities had been 'effective' (61%) or 'very effective' (69%) in meeting objectives.
This is a positive response and is mirrored by the fact that 99% also felt that 'coaching can deliver tangible benefits both to individuals and organisations'.
Furthermore, 92% also agreed that ‘when coaching is managed effectively it can have a positive impact on an organisation’s bottom line’.
This is a strong endorsement by the Human Resources community about the value and impact coaching can have in an organisational setting.
There appears to be a genuine belief from those who take part in coaching that it does deliver benefits.
Coaching has rapidly become a significant part of many organisations' learning and development strategy. As a tool that can help businesses to be competitive, as well as help people attain their potential, coaching seems to offer a win-win solution for all.
Coaching is about change and transformation – about the human ability to grow, to alter behaviours and to generate new, adaptive and successful actions. It is also about reinventing oneself - creating new stories, new identities and new futures.
It recognises that the self is not a fixed entity, but is fluid and always in a state of becoming. Coaching is a journey where the journey is as important as the destination.
Personal Benefits
- Increased confidence and quality of life
- A better balance between life and work
- More time to have fun and play
- Establish a sound basis for financial success
- Attract and deepen positive relationships
- Manage stress
- Make successful transistions
Professional and Business Benefits
- Put pleasure and passion back into your work
- Develop management and leadership skills
- Create actions plans and strategies
- Develop a consistent vision for your business and or team
Question Is Coaching like Counselling or Therapy?
No, as they are very different in usage and process. Counselling and therapy concentrate on resolving difficulties arising from the past which impact an individual’s emotional functioning in the present and will prescribe an appropriate solution to the problem.
Coaching on the other hand is focused on where the client is now and where they want to be in the future. It is forward moving with the primary focus on creating actionable strategies for achieving specific goals.
A coach does not offer solutions to the client. Coaching is based on the premise that individuals possess all the necessary resources they need.
It is the role of the coach to enable the client to uncover all their hidden abilities and motivations so they are empowered to take positive actions towards achieving their goals and aspirations.
It is very much about asking and listening, with the client taking their own decisions about what to do as a direct result of the questions asked by the Coach. The emphasis in a coaching relationship is on action, accountability and follow-through.
It is a simple and yet very powerful process.
Question How is coaching different from mentoring?
Mentoring is sometimes confused with or referred to interchangeably with coaching and as there are similarities, there are also clear differences. Both require well developed interpersonal skills.
Mentoring invents a future based on the expertise and wisdom of another, whereas coaching is about inventing a future from the individual’s own possibilities.
Mentoring is a way of passing on knowledge, skills and experience to others to a task-related situation.
A coach works with you so that you discover the questions and answers for yourself, not just for a particular task, but also for all your life situations.
Question Who hires a coach and why?
Almost anyone for whatever reason who has approached a crossroads and wants to make some changes. Anyone who is experiencing a lack of progress with a goal or someone who feels dissatisfied with the direction or an aspect of their life.
People hire a coach because:-
- They want more
- They want to grow
- They want to do things more easily
- They want to evolve beyond themselves
It is as simple as that. Coaches help a client obtain all three, quickly.
There are many reasons that an individual might choose to work with a coach. Some examples include:-
- There is a gap in knowledge, skills or behaviours
- Have been promoted and need to learn some new skills and/or behaviours
- There is something at stake such as a stretch goal and it is urgent, compelling and/or exciting
- There is a desire to accelerate results
- There is a lack of clarity and focus about a choice of action
- Work and life are out of balance and this is creating unwanted consequences
- Have better relationships with friends, family, employees and colleagues
- Need a change of direction
- There is a need and a desire to be even more effective at work
- Want to get more out of life and feel more fulfilled
Question How do I get the most out of coaching?
Decide upon the area that you wish coaching to concentrate on to create an agenda based on personally meaningful goals. Make use of the assessment and observations from the coach to enhance your self-awareness and awareness of others.
Utilise the coaching process to promote possibility thinking and fresh perspectives. Answer the questions put by your coach and let the answers unfold. Then take action that moves you towards your goals and aspirations.
Engage in big picture thinking and make use of the tools, concepts and models provided by the coach to take decisions for forward action. It is a simple and yet very powerful process.
Question What are the results from coaching?
Coaching is designed to provide clients with a greater capacity to produce results and a greater confidence in their ability to do so.
The results are truly amazing and very powerful. From the coach asking questions on the topic provided by the client, each individual finds their own solutions. Goals are set that naturally pull you towards the goals that provide personal satisfaction, success and a deep sense of achievement.
You discover new ways of thinking about your success and new approaches to achieving your goals. You feel energised to move forward in a very positive and purposeful way.
At the end of each session you will be surprised about the extent of what has been achieved in terms of goals set and action plans implemented.
You leave each session feeling motivated and supported to implement changes where previously you might have felt stuck or overwhelmed in how to tackle a particular challenge or make changes.
Completing specific actions between sessions keeps you clearly focused to achieve great results. The in depth question and answer process leads you to a thoughtful, honest review of your current choices.
Other powerful outcomes from coaching include increased self-awareness, understanding of your strengths and how to use these to increase your levels of success. It is an opportunity to gain powerful insights into your true values and what motivates you to take action.
Our Clarity Coaching Process is designed to provide you with a greater capacity to produce outstanding results that have a long lasting impact:-
- Improve your working relationships
- Take more effective and focused action immediately
- Set personal goals that are clear and meet your needs
- Communicate what you need and want from others in a more compelling way
- Understand how to utilise your strengths and delegate other areas
- Clarify and develop your corporate vision and values
- Increase your productivity and effectiveness
- Achieve your career aspirations
- Enhance your leadership skills
- Develop high performing teams
- Achieve a better work/life balance
Question How long would someone work with a Coach?
The period of a coaching relationship varies depending on the individual needs and preferences.
Some clients hire a coach to help them accomplish specific goals or projects such as improving their presentation techniques.
However, the client usually chooses to continue with coaching as they realise the benefits and move into other interesting things to accomplish.
Factors that influence the length of time include the type of goals, the frequency of coaching meetings and financial resources available to invest in coaching.
Clients will realise the benefits right from the first session and the relationship can of course last as long as the client wants it to.
Question Why would successful people need a coach?
You could be even more successful by working with a coach. Coaching is about continuous improvement, realising all your potential, increasing your performance and producing results more quickly and easily.
Are all areas of your life successful? Often, people expect more out of their lives:-
- Do you have a big dream or idea you want to bring to reality?
- Is your life in balance?
- Are you fulfilled and doing what you most enjoy?
- What are you tolerating?
Imagine what it would be like to be even more successful with all the time you need to focus your attention and energy on the activities that bring you joy and fulfilment.
Question How can you know if coaching is right for you?
To understand if you could benefit from coaching, start by summarising what you would expect to achieve from a coaching relationship.
When someone has a clear idea of the desired outcome, coaching can be a great process for developing a strategy of how to achieve that outcome quicker, easier and more effectively than if you worked on your own.
As coaching is a partnership, 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 making real changes in your work or life.
If you answer yes to these questions then coaching can be a great way for you to grow and develop.
Question What does the coaching process look like?
In the coaching process goals are set and both the coach and the individual are able to easily track results as they monitor performance together.
With Corporate Coaching results can also be observed by the organisation in the form of improvements in individual behavior, performance and effectiveness.
In our first session we would discuss what is happening currently and what could be done to improve the current situation. We would clarify what defines success, whether this is business or personal and agree goals and outcomes to achieve your aspirations.
During each session you have the opportunity to express yourself, be heard without prejudice or judgment. You will increase your self awareness; learn new skills and techniques and gain valuable insight into your strengths and personal values.
Answers will unfold and solutions will become apparent as you test out new ideas.
You will develop the self confidence and feel fully supported to make the necessary changes. The process is empowering. You will feel energised, inspired and championed!
The Clarity Coaching Process is well defined so that client goals are achieved.
Question How flexible is the coaching programme?
All our coaching programmes are 100% client focused and our sessions are completely tailored around your current needs and aspirations.
This approach achieves results much faster than traditional training courses.
Coaching can be fitted into almost any busy schedule and can of course be carried out over the telephone. This provides greater flexibility, eliminates travel time and allows you to be coached from wherever you are in the world.
Face to face sessions can be in your own business environment or an environment of your choosing.
Question How does Executive Coaching and Personal Coaching differ?
When considering a coaching relationship, there is a distinction between personal coaching which is also known as life coaching, success coaching or career coaching and executive or business coaching.
With personal coaching the focus of the relationship is in helping the individual achieve their dreams and grow personally.
The focus will likely center on career goals and planning a personal career path, achieving financial objectives, setting up a business or improving personal relationships.
Personal or life coaching is an investment in yourself and your ability to create a meaningful and fulfilling life and career.
In contrast, Executive Coaching is also known as corporate coaching, management coaching, business coaching or leadership coaching, to mention a few.
In an executive coaching relationship the focus is on professional development by helping clients with leadership skills, management training, team building, organisational development or change management.
For an Organisation, Executive Coaching is an investment in leveraging the productivity and effectiveness of an individual executive or small group of executives who work together on common goals.
Further Help
Clarity Coaching offers two types of coaching based around the concepts outlined above.
Please choose the type of coaching service you are seeking from us: