FAQ

 Questions About the Coaching Process

What is coaching?
Coaching is a new technology of personal and professional development based on concepts from sports, business, spirituality, psychology and organizational development. It's for passionate people who want more from their personal and business lives. A coach helps them set larger, more rewarding goals, develop a strategy to achieve them and provide support throughout the process. It's not unlike having a personal trainer or an athletic coach... transformational, but in a business and personal sense. The achievement of goals is something that comes more quickly as a result of the coaching partnership.

Why does coaching work?
Coaching works when there are two factors present: 1) The client is willing to grow, and 2) There is a gap between where they are now and where they want to be. 

Successful coaching clients know the value of sharing ideas with someone who understands them and is subjective enough not to want a lot for them, yet objective enough not to be biased or self-serving. Talking about options with someone who can listen is often enough to have it all become very clear. 

Coaching works because of three unique features:
      Synergy: Client and coach become a team, focusing on the client's goals and needs and accomplishing more than the client would alone.

     Structure: With a coach, the client takes more actions, thinks bigger and gets the job done, thanks to the accountability the coach provides.

     Expertise: The coach knows how to help business people make better decisions, set the best goals, develop new skills for communicating and restructure their professional and personal lives for maximum productivity.

Where do you start with a coach?
Most coaches begin with a special client meeting or call 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.

How do the coaching sessions work? 
Coaching is usually done over the phone. In addition to allowing frequent, regular contact, it makes it easy to stay in the "coaching relationship," since the client can call from their office, home, car or hotel. The person coached completes a coaching Call Strategy Form prior to each call, describing the current challenges and the progress they've made since the last call. Most people are coached two hours a month, in either four 30-minute sessions, three 40-minute sessions or two 1-hour sessions. 

The focus of the call is determined by the client. The coach helps them to solve the problems and make the most of the opportunities. When they are missing a principle or distinction, we draw one so they can see a whole lot better. When they are taking on a large goal, we help them design and project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done. We bring out the client's best by offering advice, expecting a lot, helping them strategize and celebrating the wins. There is often "fieldwork", where the client is given a formula, new perspective or a challenge to try something in a new way. That forms the basis for the next call.

What happens when you begin a contract with a coach?
     *You take yourself and what you want more seriously. 
     *You take more effective and focused actions immediately. 
     *You stop putting up with those things that gets in your way. 
     *You create momentum to achieve more, be more balanced and develop more powerful management skills. 
     *You set personal goals that are clear and meet your needs. 
     *You identify and eliminate the barriers that get in the way of the achievement of goals. 
     *You communicate about what you need and want from others in a more responsible way.

How can a Manager/Executive use a coach?
Coaching creates an environment where there is freedom from judgment and freedom from expectations that executives behave according to typical corporate mandates. In this environment it is safe to question, to appear vulnerable, to observe, to explore, experiment, to learn and change. That allows the executive to use the coach... 

...To reach high targets and quotas. Accomplishing this consistently requires a manager who also coaches a team to work together to reach extraordinary goals. 
...For business planning, budgeting and goal-setting. 
...To integrate business and personal life for balance. 
...To prioritize actions and projects. 
...For training, developing and managing staff. 
...To turn around a difficult situation. 
...To handle business or personal problems.

What is in the area called Clients Only Area?
In this area you can:

     * Complete your Welcome Packet

     * Update various forms (such as Client Profile, Goals, Discovery, Evaluations we will use in the coaching relationship

     * Process your monthly coaching payments

     * Schedule & re-schedule your coaching appointments

     * Enjoy various documents and materials posted for your use

     * Review archived newsletters

     * Complete your Call Strategy Form prior to the coaching session

     * Complete your Post Session Re-Cap Form after each coaching session

What do I do if I have to re-schedule an appointment?
Simply access the "Clients Only Area" by logging in with your username and password and access my on-line calendar to re-schedule. Make sure you select an open coaching time within a slot marked "AVAILABLE". Once you have determined the time you would like to reschedule for, simply click on the "title" of your current coaching appointment, click on the "EDIT" button and change the start time, stop time and date to reflect the new desired appointment time. We both will receive instant emails confirming the changes.

What happens if I miss a call due to an emergency?
No worries, we can do laser coaching via email until our next scheduled call. If you give me 24 hours notice I will do my best to reschedule your appointment.

What if I've lost my password?
Not a problem! When you go to the home page of my private clients area and click on the "Login" link at the top center, you will be able to enter your username and then click on the "I FORGOT MY PASSWORD" button. My system will automatically send you an email with your password included.Should you misplace your username, simply contact me via email and I will send you your username.

Questions About Coaching Services

Are there professional standards for the coaching industry?
Yes, there is a code of ethics, core competencies, accreditation processes and an International Coach Federation (industry association) that promotes the advancement of coaches. To learn more about this click here: http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/

How will I know you are the right coach for me?
During our initial conversations and/or discovery session, together we will identify if this is an appropriate fit. So before you say "yes", you will have a sample of what the coaching experience will be like. Until then, click on my BIO page to learn more about myself and my approach in coaching.

How do I get started in the coaching process?
If you are interested in beginning the coaching process, please contact me so we can discuss your interests and what I offer. After an initial call, most clients schedule a Discovery Session.

What can you expect from me as your coach?     
    1. Be a partner in bringing out the best, the deepest, and the truest in you
     2. Provide safety, encouragement and support; an environment in which you can relax and explore
     3. Respect the confidentiality of the agreements we make
     4. Expand your view of what is possible and promote discovery of new insights
     5. Give you input, straightforward feedback and operate as a sounding board
     6. Ask powerful questions that increase awareness
     7. Be an on-going resource for you in accomplishing your intentions

What if I sign up for this and decide it is not right for me? Do you have a money back guarantee?
Yes, I call it my "participate and get your money back" guarantee. If within the first month of our relationship you show up to the calls and participate fully in the coaching process, you can simply let me know this is not working for you and I will completely refund your money. To honor the coaching agreement and the coaching process, if you sign up and do not show up for your coaching sessions, do not do the follow up work, etc, then we will not refund your money.

Questions About the Client Portal

Security & confidentiality

Is this client center and my data secured and safe?
Yes!  In fact, there are 3 levels of security: provided to keep your data safe and confidential:

1 – Username and Password protected
2 – Verisign Security Certificate protects your data on this site
3 – https:// secured pages

Is my information confidential?
Yes.  This site is protected by  a username/password system.  You are the only one that has access to your information.

Additional Support

Can I contact you in-between our scheduled coaching sessions?
Yes!  In the event that you would like support on something that comes up in between our meetings, you can post an inquiry to the Client Log and we can have “just in time” coaching via your Private Client Website.

Accessing the Private Client Area

What is the “Register Now” link and when would I use it?
If you are interested in becoming a client or beginning the coaching process, you can create your own account to access the private client area.  When you “register” I will be notified that your account has been created and will need to activate your account. This could take up to 24 hours.

How do I access your private client area and how do I log in?
Click on the Login Link (above, at the top center of this website page).  Then enter the username and password that has been assigned to you.  Don’t have login information yet?  Contact me so we can get an account created for you.

I have a password that I use for most of my on-line accounts.  Can I change the password you assigned to me?
Yes.  You will need to log in initially using the password I assigned to you.  Once you log in you can change your password at any time under your Client Profile Page.

What if I forget or lose my password and login information?
If you simply forgot your password, you can still go to the Login Link.  Enter your username and click on the “I Forgot My Password Button”.  You will receive an email shortly with your password included.

If you misplaced both your username and your password, contact me and I will forward you your information.

I’m trying to log in, but it will not accept my username or password, what do I do?
Remember that the login information is case sensitive, so enter it exactly like it was given to you,  If you are unsure what that is, you can contact me via email and I’ll forward that to you.

Forms, Documents and Resources Available

What makes up a “Welcome Packet” and what do I do with this?
A welcome packet consists of some basic forms, documents and resources that will help to get us started in the coaching process.  By completing the information in the welcome packet, you are providing me with some helpful information so I know best how to support you, guide you and work together with you.  It includes a “Client Profile” form, a “Goals” form and also a “Discovery” form.  You will also find our coaching agreement located in this packet.  It is customary for you to complete these items prior to our initial coaching session together.

Scheduling/Rescheduling Appointments

What if I need to reschedule my appointment?
It’s easy.  With at least a 24 hour notice, you can reschedule any appointment by using the on-line calendaring system, just follow these steps:
     1. Login to your Private Client Website Area
     2. Click on the Calendar Menu
     3. Locate and click on the desired block of “Available” time (or if you already have an existing appointment, click on the title of your existing apointment you wish to reschedule)
     4. Click on the “Edit” button and change the details of the appointment to correspond with an “Available” block of time.
     5. The calendar will update itself, you’ll see your new appointment reflected and I will receive an email notification letting me know of the change. 

Paying for the coaching services

How do I easily make my payments for my coaching services?
Each month you’ll receive an invoice from my practice letting you know the amount committed to for that month.  You can (1) mail a check to the remit to address located right on the invoice or (2) log in to the private client area, click on the Payments Menu and you will see any outstanding balances due at that time.

What are the various methods of payment I can use to pay for my coaching services?
Check, Credit Card, Pay Pal, Have your coach process your payments for you each month on a credit/debit card

• To pay by Check:  to pay by check, simply use the “remit to” address located right in the body of the invoice you’ll receive monthly from my practice.
• To pay by Credit Card or Pay Pal:  when you receive you monthly invoice, click on the link at the bottom of the invoice (Or log into the private client area) and click on the Payments Menu.  Here you can either enter your credit card number or pay pal information and my system will automatically (and securely) process your payment.
• To have your coach process your payments for you:  Complete the “Credit Card Authorization” form found under the Documents section of the private client area.  Once I have the authorization and billing information, I will automatically process your payments for you as outlined in the authorization form.