Coaching FAQ ::
The most common Frequently Asked Questions are answered below. If you have more questions please contact me - I can answer your questions and also add them to this list for other visitors!
- How does it work?
- What can I expect?
- What if I can't wait to contact my coach?
- Does it Hurt?
- Is it Fun?
- Should I Tell My Friends?
- Will it be Worth the Money?
- Payment
How does it work?
We will share regular calls (usually 2 a month), booked at the start of the month. Calls last up to 45 minutes. Generally ....
What we discuss is down to you – I will listen and react to what you are saying. Our productivity will be greater if you come to the call prepared, focused and with some idea of what you would like to talk about. (If you are in the Painless Business 12-week Programme, we will have more structure).
We may digress. It is a fact of coaching that sometimes we will stray from your agenda, but often this is more productive and can be more likely to reflect your true values and needs. If we do digress, we can both benefit from allowing this to happen, but if you feel we have gone too far, just say and it's up to you.
What can I expect?
You should expect to give your best, for your own sake, and for you to:
- Be committed to having a successful and painless business and to be responsible for your results.
- Be committed to the coaching process: to initiate and take action each week.
- Use me as a resource, a fellow traveller on your journey, and a sounding board.
- Recognise that the results, actions and many of the answers come from you – you have asked me to help you find them.
- Tell the truth, always: be honest with yourself and me, even if that is uncomfortable.
In return you may expect from me:
- Support for your vision and goals.
- High expectations – I will ask a lot of you, but never more than I think you can achieve at that time (but it is likely to be more than you would ask of yourself).
- That I will be an open objective listener – you can use me to sound out any ideas, personal or professional and you can know I will provide an objective response.
- Confidentiality – what we discuss stays as what we discuss, be it personal issues, professional ideas or business plans. Others will know of our coaching from the changes in your life, not my gossiping.
- Honesty – I will tell you the truth as I see it. That is sometimes hard for both of us, but I will work hard to ensure my honesty is not confrontational. You are not getting value if I become a ‘yes-man’ – that is not why you have come to me.
- Resources – I can provide ideas, tips, techniques, exercises or suggested reading.
What if I can’t wait to contact my coach?
If you need advice, have a challenge or can’t wait to share a success with me, I am happy for you to contact me between calls and I will have the time for you to do that. I enjoy providing this extra level of service, but as I do not charge for this time I request that you limit each call to less than 10 minutes, please.
Does it Hurt?
It doesn’t have to, but you have chosen this relationship because you want to change something (coaches don’t work on keeping the status quo). Change means things are different, and we will work to ensure this is an overwhelmingly positive experience, but you may encounter friction on the way. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start, it means we should anticipate that it will happen, and recognise it when it does.
Is it Fun?
Well, I do this for a living so it better be. We have serious work to do and frivolity may limit our effectiveness, but we are going to go nowhere if either of us is not happy to be there – so we will enjoy it and approach (and hopefully end) every call with a smile on our faces.
Should I Tell My Friends?
You probably won’t have to – people will see the changes in you and the business as we progress. But don’t shrink from sharing your learning or experiences – it will strengthen your own commitment to your success if others are in the loop.
Those around you may want to share the experiences you are going to have (most coaching clients come from referrals from existing clients). That’s fine – you can always refer them to me and I can explore with them whether they are ready for coaching and if I am the best coach for them. If my practice is full, or I think another coach would be more suited to them, I have access to a large network of fellow coaches who will be able to work with them.
Will it be Worth the Money?
It’s your money and your success we are playing with here, so you will determine the value we derive. I will ensure that you receive support, structure, focus, acknowledgement and warmth, but you will be the one to ensure you achieve the results.
Payment
Invoices for each month are raised on the first of that month and can be paid by cheque, credit card or bank transfer. Please show your own commitment and afford me some respect by ensuring your fees are paid promptly.
Now you know how it works, why not try a complimentary session?