"People come to coaching for lots of different reasons,
but the bottom line is change."
(From the book, Co-Active Coaching)

It used to be said that the only two things you could count on in your life were death and taxes. However, in our fast-paced, ever changing world we can add one other item to this list—change! And the speed of that change seems to be ever increasing. It's no wonder that people are often left feeling dazed, confused, or overloaded--unsure of what to do next.

A personal coach does not remove these stresses from your life, but rather helps you to turn them into challenges to be overcome through strengths and resources you may never have known you had.

New to coaching? Check out these frequently asked questions.

WHAT IS COACHING LIKE?

Imagine developing a personal relationship with someone where the total focus is on you. Not only is that person deeply interested in your goals and dreams, but will actively support you in achieving them.

Imagine someone who will help you clarify your goals and give you the strategies and support you need to take action and achieve the results you desire.

Imagine working with someone who will always tell the truth—both about your strengths and times when you do not act in congruence with your values and beliefs. Someone who will listen but never pass judgement. You can expect an atmosphere of complete trust and confidentiality. As your coach, I will not disclose any details of our conversations without your express permission.

Imagine being able to talk with this person each week—talking about your successes or even your big messes. The best part is that these conversations happen regularly--helping to keep you on-track and focused on achieving your goals.

Weekly coaching sessions usually last between 30-60 minutes. Some people prefer to conduct these weekly meeting in person, while others find the phone more convenient and call the coach. Compact and regular, these sessions are regular enough to help clients keep momentum. And while most are private conversations, group settings (both face-to-face and on the telephone) are also possible.

WHY DO PEOPLE COME TO COACHING?

There are many reasons why people come to coaching. However, the three most common are for fulfillment, balance, or process.

Fulfillment. This can mean or feel like different things to different people. However, clients usually report feeling like something is missing, or a sense that they are not satisfied with how things are going in their life. Together, we can explore your core values--to determine what is really important to you, and work towards you reaching your full potential. This is not usually about doing more things, but rather about doing things differently. Together we look at what it would take for you to be fulfilled.

I want to be a better parent.
I need to know that I'm a good parent.
I don't want to parent like my mom or dad.
There must be an easier way to deal with my kids.
Overall, I just feel unhappy or unfulfilled as a parent.
My kids are really having problems in school.
I don't know how to handle my kids.
I now know why some animals eat their young.
I want a better relationship with my son or daughter.

Balance. With so many demands being made on us, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Coaching helps you look at all the different parts of your life and achieve better balance. For example:

I feel like I spend too much time at work, away from my family.
I want to be a good parent, but feel guilty about taking time for myself.
I want to make changes in my life, but don't think I have any options.

Coaching for balance focuses on widening your perspective and showing you possibilities or choices that you may not have realized existed.

Process. Life is full of moments--some calm, others frantic, and often people need help in developing strategies to deal with these more stressful situations that WILL arise in one's life. All too often we are more concerned with what we are doing, rather than who we are being. Coaching can help you to be the person you want in any given situation.

HOW LONG DO PEOPLE STAY WITH THEIR COACHES?

For some it may be 3 months, for others 6-12 months. This varies from person to person, and is dependant on what they want to get out of their coaching experience. Often times, clients will move from weekly calls to monthly or even quarterly "check-ups". The length is up to you. However, I do suggest you seriously consider an initial 2-3 month commitment, allowing yourself time to fully benefit from the coaching experience. This also help clients to see that coaching is not about finding quick fixes or solutions, but rather about making changes to last a lifetime.

HOW DO YOU PICK THE RIGHT COACH?

In many ways, selecting a coach is a lot like buying shoes. You need to consider fit, style, price, and location.

Fit. With both shoes and coaches, the most important factor is a good fit, and the best way to ensure this is to try on several pairs and compare. Take advantage of complimentary coaching sessions offered by most coaches. See how well you "click" before committing to any paid sessions.

Style. Coaching comes in many styles. You need to determine which is right for you. One-on-one? Group? Face-to-face? Telephone or email coaching? Again, setting up trial sessions can help you decide which might be best for you.

Price. Just as with shoes, coaches come in a range of prices. Shop around, and compare prices. Newer coaches may charge less, as they seek to establish their practices. Still seem too expensive? Don't be afraid to ask about potential discounts.

Location. Unlike shoe stores, location does not have to be a factor when choosing a coach. While face-to-face coaching works best with a local coach, with telephone coaching your coach could be located in a different city, state/province, or even country.

So, are you interested in trying out parent coaching? Set up a complimentary coaching session and check our fit.