What is Coaching?

The Cardinal Goal of Coaching is making real progress on optimizing your potential and actualizing yourself.  Aspects of that goal include...
 

• identifying the deep purpose of your life.

• developing a life vision to realize that purpose.

• investing in and commiting to yourself

• creating momentum in your life.

• accelerating achievement of your objectives.

•  making vision a reality by...

  •  achieving your goals.

  •  enhancing the quality your life.

  •  creating your personal best life.
     

Successful coaching leads to deep change so that you may... 
 

• Actualize your life with effective and focused actions.

• Align your values with your goals.

• Amplify and accelerate your growth.

• Balance your life.

• Live more creatively.

• Deepen your learning.

• Embark on a journey of self-discovery.

• Enhance clarity in your life.

• Experience a more choiceful way of living.

• Improve your performances in life.

• Live more mindfully.
   

Specific goals of coaching include...

I believe that healthy people are intelligent, resourceful, motivated, creative, and whole.  People have untapped potential and are ready and able to work and change.  People are willing to discard old "Shoulds", to try new ideas, and to learn from their own inner wisdom.

People able reconnect with loved ones and connect with new ways.

People want to claim the life they really want.

A safe environment for growth, discovery, and change.  

A non-judgmental space to be honest, take risks, and express yourself.   

Accountability without blame, shame, nagging, or badgering.  

A space to overcome defensiveness.  

A way to make progress and become successful.

Help developing new behaviors and attitudes.  

Support and mentoring on the path of development and growth.

Asks probing questions that ignite new ways of thought.

Challenges and encourages.

Provides motivation.

Develops your resources and creativity.

Elicits solutions and strategies from you.

Focuses on what you want and holds you to your objectives.

Keeps what you say confidential.

Leads you toward accomplishment and realizing your full potential.

Listens to you and focuses on understanding you as a unique individual.

Offers insights and provides you new perspectives.

Prescribes learnings to enhance your skills.

Provides feedback and a reality checkpoint.

Supports you as you take on new challenges and growth.

Tells you the truth.

Coaching isn't ... consulting.  The consultant advises you and recommends solutions based on their experience and knowledge.  A coach assists you to discover your own inner answers.

Coaching isn't ... counseling or psychotherapy.  Counseling or psychotherapy is focused on the past, harm done in the past, and how that affects you today.  Therapy is about fixing broken lives.  Coaching assumes you are whole.

Coaching isn't ... advice.  Advice is a fundamentally disrespectful activity as it assumes that one person knows best how another ought to live.  Coaching is founded on deep respect for the individual.  Coaching is about helping find your own answers based on a deepening understanding of yourself.

Coaching isn't … just interesting conversation.  Although coaching interactions may be fun, a coach's job is to help you move forward in life along lines in harmony with your values, resources, and goals.  

Coaching isn't … teaching or training.  While coaching may include direction and instruction, it is much deeper and more equality based.

The coaching relationship is a relaxed, collegial, mutually respecting, and trusting relationship.  But the focus is not mutual - the focus of the relationship is on you, the client.  This distinguishes coaching from friendship.  In a friendship, both people expect to have their needs and wants addressed.   In a coaching relationship, only the client's needs and wants receive attention.   

The relationship is a cooperatively crafted collaboration, customized for you.  While the coach may have experience and knowledge, the coach's is not and expert on your life.   You and your coach create a vision for your future, derived from your values, resources, choices, and perspectives, and actualized into a clear plan.  As you move into action, your coach supports you, challenges you, and aids you in maintaining focus on your vision.  As your plan comes to fruition, your coach stands back to justly allow you to take the credit.  You may then reformulate the goals of your relationship, put the relationship on hold, or terminate.  

Our conversations are scheduled in advance at a rate tailored to your needs. 

Sessions are conducted on the phone or in person, and we will also e-mail as part of our coaching program.

People who want more of some things (money, time, connection, passion, fulfillment, fun, love, creativity) and less of others (procrastination, frustration, delays, worry, stress, boredom.  

People who are willing to trust and invest in their lives.  

A desire for deeper meaning and purpose in life.

A major personal or professional transition.

Feeling in a rut and seeking a new direction.

Motivated but unable to realize your full potential.

Feeling that a coach’s insight and support would be a benefit.