Q: Why would I need a coach? (top)

You don't...necessarily!  No one needs a coach to get by in life.  People use coaches because they want to do more than just get by.  People use the support of coaches when they want to live fantastic lives and undertake amazing projects. It's not about need, it's about wanting a life that is bigger and/or better and/or deeper and/or more fulfilling!

Q:  Is coaching different from consulting? Therapy?  A best friend? (top)

Consulting: Coaching is a form of consulting. But I stay with my clients to help implement the new skills, changes and goals to make sure they really happen. 
Therapy: Coaching is not therapy. Therapy is about HEALING the past; coaching is about moving forward from the present. I help clients move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want. If past issues exist, I make referrals to the appropriate professionals.
Best friend:  A best friend is wonderful to have. But is your best friend a professional who you will trust to advise you on the most important aspects of your life and/or business? Have a best friend and a coach.

Q:  Does coaching work? (top)

Q: What are common reasons people hire me as their coach? (top)

•  I'm thinking of starting a new business or career.

 Q: What is worked on?  (top)

Here is what the client and coach work on together:
•  Identifying your goals and attaining them with integrity

 Q: What happens when you hire me as your coach?  (top)

Many things, but the most important are:
You take yourself more seriously.
You take more effective and focused actions immediately.
You stop putting up with what is dragging you down.
You create momentum so it's easier to get results.
You set better goals that you might not have without my coaching.
You are consistent in everything you do
 

 Q: What types of coaching do you offer?  (top)

Usually coaching is done over the phone, one-on-one - this is the fastest and most effective and personalized option.  Most people like the convenience of the phone sessions and find that they work really well - there is a sense of anonymity to the process and people usually feel freer to open up.  If you live in the Southern New Hampshire area however, in-person coaching is also possible. Another option that is VERY affordable is group coaching. A small group of 4-10 people will meet via Telephone-conference line and the coaching is similar but in a group.  The advantages of this kind of coaching are the accountability to the group not just me and that you DO learn from others and what they experience as well

 Q: But how does a coach do this?  (top)

Coaching is delivered during regular, weekly sessions by telephone and / or in person, whichever is more convenient. Clients bring an agenda of items to the call. The coach helps them to solve the problems and make the most of the opportunities. When they are taking on a large goal, we help them design the project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done. We bring out the client's best by offering advise, expecting a lot, helping them strategize and celebrating the wins. My practice is national and my clients live all over the country.

 Q: Where do I start with a coach?  (top)

Most coaches begin with a special client meeting to get to know each other. The coach wants to hear about the client's goals, needs and problems. The client wants to get comfortable with the coach. During this meeting, both parties design a list of goals and a game plan to reach these goals. Prior to this meeting,  I send out an electronic questionnaire to learn more about my client to make the most of this initial meeting.
I spend extra time (gratis) with new clients getting to know them and coaching them to set the best goals for themselves and together we design the best way we can work together as a team to accomplish the goals.

 Q: How do I know that you are the right coach for me?  (top)

Right now, you don't. It would be ludicrous for either one of us to assume that we are the right "fit." There are about 800 excellent coaches around the country and following our initial interview, I may recommend that you consult someone else. This is because coaches, like many other professionals, have specialties. If your specific situation would be better served by one of my colleagues, I would gladly make the referral. Contact me for a free 30 minute introductory session!
 

 Q: How much does it cost?  (top)

My fees are based on the requirements of the client. A typical situation would be 3-30 minute sessions per month in the first 3 weeks of the month. However some people hire me to work on a specific project where they feel the need for more intensive sessions. I will work with you on creating the schedule that fits your needs. 

 Q: What are people saying about the effectiveness of coaching?  (top)

 

"A coach may be the guardian angel you need to rev up your career" MONEY Magazine;  "I never cease to be amazed at the power of the coaching process to draw out the skills or talent that was previously hidden within an individual, and which invariably finds a way to solve a problem previously thought unsolvable," John Russell, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson Europe Ltd.; "Coaching is the number two growth industry right behind IT (Information Technology) jobs, and it's the number one home-based profession." Start-Ups Magazine; "Asked for a conservative estimate of the monetary payoff from the coaching they got, these managers described an average return of more than $100,000, or about six times what the coaching had cost their companies."  Fortune, 2/19/01, "Executive Coaching -- With Returns a CFO Could Love";   "What's really driving the boom in coaching, is this: as we move from 30 miles an hour to 70 to 120 to 180......as we go from driving straight down the road to making right turns and left turns to abandoning cars and getting on motorcycles...the whole game changes, and a lot of people are trying to keep up, learn how not fall off." John Kotter, Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School;  "Inside every successful business person is an even more ambitious one trying to get out. He or she just needs a little help." Someone To Watch Over You, 10/9/00, Australian Financial Review;