Frequently Asked Questions About Coaching

Who benefits from coaching?

Anyone can benefit from coaching.  In workplaces, individuals and/or managers may seek coaching for themselves or those they work with. People from all types of workplaces use coaching to address specific issues or gain specific skills, as well as to facilitate learning and development.  Coaching in team groups can also be useful as part of an overall development plan.  

What topics are covered in coaching?

Topics arise from whatever affects workplace success. People often want to assistance with career development, improving their workplace situation, tackling tough conversations, managing interpersonal issues, becomig more productive, or finding work/life balance.

How does coaching happen?

Coaching format is tailored to meet specific needs of each client. However, the core of workplace coaching consists of one-on-one, regular in-person meetings.  As a coaching develops meetings may become less frequent. The overall coaching relationship might take place over a few sessions, or be ongoing for a number of months depending on the situation. Additional support is available between sessions, by telephone or email.  Coaching meetings by Skype may form part of the arrangement depending on location and other specific factors.

What will my coach and I do?

Mostly each meeting will consist of conversation, with the initial phase being an evaluation of needs and wants. Each meeting will include clear goal setting (what you expect to achieve through coaching), and clients are encouraged to develop this goal setting themselves as the coaching relationship develops. Goals will range from modest and pragmatic to those that will stretch you, but they will always be achievable, measurable, and relevant.  During coaching meetings, listening and creative questioning are aimed at helping you find a response to your own challenges. A number of tools and techniques will be used into each session to assist in obtaining benefits. The approaches used will be transparent, with the focus being on both the journey and the destination.

Will there be homework?

On occassions it can be agreed that some homework would be useful as follow up to a coaching meeting. This might take the form of undertaking some reading, or other specifically identifed development task.

Is coaching confidential?

Definitely. The coaching relationship is build on high levels of trust, and appropriate confidentialty forms an important component. 

Don’t people seek coach because they want someone to listen to them?

This can be an element of coaching's purpose, although not the sole one. Leaders, for example, may not have many people in whom they can confide, discuss challenges, or strategize possible changes. One of the coaching roles is to offer a non-judgmental voice which can act as a sounding board.

Is coaching for you?

If coaching sounds like it could be an option for you or the people around you, let’s have a no obligation chat to discuss possibilities. Contact.