Personal
Effectiveness creates Personal Success!
Most of your questions can best be answered in a free, no obligation,
sample coaching call with coach Diana Gardner Robinson. This can be requested
at the Guestbook page.
To find more information about coaching before your call, please
click on the question-mark link beside the question you want answered.
The answer will appear at the top of the resulting screen.
|
"Your
words of wisdom have helped me get through some pretty tough
times these past few months."
(Client)
|
?
What is a personal
coach?
?
I'm already successful, why would I need a coach?
?
What would I hire a coach to do?
?
How does coaching work?
?
I am hesitant about choosing a coach. Can I "try before
I buy"?
?
If I choose to have a free coaching call, what happens?
?
What is involved in a free coaching call?
?
If I hire a coach, how often would I have contact with him/her?
?
Must I use a phone to communicate with my coach?
?
Do I need to find a coach who lives near me?
? Is there a certain time commitment if I work
with a coach?
? What does this all cost?
? Will a coach take responsibility for
my being successful?
|
"I'm
much more aware of what motivates me now, and why I make
the choices I make."
(Client)
|
? Who decides when I'm "successful"?
What criterion is used?
? Where does spirituality fit into coaching?
? How is this different from counseling
or therapy?
? How can I get the free half-hour of coaching
that you offer?
? How do I subscribe to the free newsletters?
? I'm interested! What's my next
step?
What is a personal coach?
A personal coach is someone who works with individuals to help them
get where they want to go more quickly and easily than they might
on their own. Ideally she or he has been trained, and preferably
certified, by an accredited coach training organization. The
focus may be on business success, personal growth, clarifying goals,
on reaching a specific goal, on giving honest and objective feedback--whatever
it is will be decided by both client and coach together. There
are many aspects to personal coaching and all of them, in essence,
relate to the individual even if the goal(s) relate to business
situations. Most coaches work by phone or in person, with
each client having several coaching sessions per month.
Return to FAQ Index
I'm already successful, why would I
need a coach?
Successful people know how to leverage every available asset, and
a coach is often one of those assets. Think of the winners
of an Olympic event. Sometimes the performances of gold and
silver medalists are separated by onlyhundredths of a second, but
the difference they make to the athletes' reputation is huge. People
who are successful know that having "the edge" is important,
and they know that a good coach can help them to have that edge.
Return to FAQ Index
What would I hire a coach to do?
The range of life areas on which coaches work with clients is tremendous. Most
frequent needs that bring clients to a coach are for better organization
and/or time management, focus, accountability, support during life
transitions, relationship issues, career path, communication skills,
self-presentation and a general need for direction and/or for objective
and honest feedback.
Return to FAQ Index
How does coaching work?
Arrangements may differ according to the needs of the client, and
the practices of the coach. Most frequently a coach and client
have three or four sessions a month, usually by phone, sometimes
face-to-face, occasionally over the internet by e-mail or by one
of the real-time message systems.
Return to FAQ Index
I'm hesitant about hiring a coach, yet I could use somehelp.
Can I "try before I buy"?
Almost all coaches offer a free half-hour coaching call so that
both you and they can decide whether or not the two of you are a
good match. It is usually a good idea to talk to two or three
coaches before you make a final decision as to which one to hire.
On the other hand, a coaching partnership is not "until
death do you part" and if believe that you have a good match,
and later change your mind, it is not difficult to discontinue,
or to request that your coach refer you to another coach who might
be a better personal match for you.
Return to FAQ Index
| When
was the last time you got 30 FREE minutes to talk about YOU and only you?
Give yourself the gift of a half-hour of free coaching by phone, with the
focus being entirely on YOU, on your dreams and how to attain them, on your
obstacles and how to overcome them. My promise to you: No sales pitch,
no obligation, no pesky follow-ups. To request your free coaching
call now, click
here. |
If I choose to have a free coaching call, what happens?
I will ask you for times that are convenient for a call, we will
set up a time for you to call me, and then we'll have the call.
Our focus will be on whatever issues are of concern to you
in your current situation, and, within the time limits, on fiinding
ways to resolve problems. You will find out how my coaching
feels, and whether it works for you. We will allow time
for you to ask questions about coaching procedures, fees, etc.
I will explain my procedures in more detail if you wish,
but there will be no pressure, no sales pitch. And you may
then make a decision to be coached, to not be coached, or simply
say that you'll get back to me. Either way you will have
received the benefit of a half-hour of being coached.
Return to FAQ Index
What is involved in a free coaching call?
A complimentary coaching call usually lasts about 30 minutes or
a little more. There is no obligation or charge for this
call, other than the cost of the phone call. The call is
simply an opportunity for you to have the experience of being
coached and for you and the coach to get an idea of how you interact
together. It will enable you to get a jump-start on your
immediate goals, and to decide how you feel about working with
the individual coach. It will also enable the coach to discover
what kind of situation has prompted you to consider hiring him/her,
and whether this is an area in which s/he has the skills to be
able to help you. For myself, I do no hard selling, and
if I do not believe that I am fully competent to address the areas
the client is presenting, then, through my CoachU and International
Coach Federation contacts, I am almost certain to be able to recommend
a coach who is well qualified to work on your particular life
situation.
Return to FAQ Index
If I hire a coach, how often would I have contact with him/her?
This may vary according to your coach's policy. Most coaches
work on a three or four calls a month schedule, with the possibility
of e-mail contact and brief "triumph or tragedy" calls
(as I call them) as necessary.
Return to FAQ Index
Must I use a phone to communicate with my coach?
This may vary according to the coach. Some coaches are willing
to do cyber-coaching, i.e. use e-mail, as do I. Some also
use instand messaging, if this is the best medium for the client.
If you live in the same community as your coach s/he may
be able to arrange face-to-face meetings - this may depend partly
on scheduling concerns and availability of an appropriate meeting
place.
Return to FAQ Index
Do I need to find a coach who lives near me?
No, because of the various communication systems that are now
available to us. I have coached clients from Sweden to Australia,
and from England to Hong Kong and Korea. One simply has
to adapt one's schedule according to the varying time zones.
Return to FAQ Index
Do I have to commit to a certain length of time when I work
with a coach?
This varies between coaches. Some request a commitment of
three months or more, most do not. I request no legal commitment,
but I do ask clients to commit to themselves that they will work
with me for three months, so as to build momentum and rapport,
and to give themselves time to see solid results. An exception
to this is when we are working on a short-term project. Either
way, nothing is binding except (usually) the commitment to the
current month.
Return to FAQ Index
What does this all cost?
Until you know what it is to be coached by me, you cannot know if
it is worthwhile to hire me as your coach. This is one reason
why I offer a half-hour of free coaching - you only pay for the
phone call. This gives youthe opportunity to (a) get the benefit
of a coaching session; (b) find out what coaching is about, and
(c) ask questions as to fees etc. That way, you will have the opportunity
to make a knowledgeable judgment as to the cost-effectiveness of
working with me. In my sample call I do not give any kind of
sales pitch - the focus is entirely on giving you the benefit of
a coaching session, so there is really nothing to lose. After
you've been coached you'll be in a better position to judge whether
the fee is an appropriate investment in your future progress.
Return to FAQ Index
Will a coach take responsibility for my being successful?
Absolutely not! Your success is your responsibility, and
a good coach will help you to recognize that. A coach will
help you to decide where you want to go, what you want to achieve,
not by telling you these things, but by helping you to do the
self-exploration, and by giving you honest feedback. If
necessary s/he may need to help you decide where you are now,
which is essential before you can decide how to get anywhere.
A coach will also help you to discover and evaluate the
various options open to you, and what steps are needed to pursue
them. However, a coach cannot take those steps for you, cannot
do the work for you, and therefore cannot be responsible for your
success.
Return to FAQ Index
Who decides if I'm "successful"? What criterion
for success is used?
The client is always the person who makes such decisions. Some
clients may hire a coach for a specific project or goal and when
this is achieved, they may decide to discontinue. I have
worked with clients for as short a time as six weeks, because
the focus was on a specific project which they were able to complete
in that time. Others may choose a coach because they want
an ongoing partner or objective sounding-board, so that for them
the relationship is successful as long as it is working. They
sometimes feel that they gain so much from the relationship that
they choose to continue working with the coach over a period of
years.
Return to FAQ Index
Where does spirituality fit into coaching?
That depends on the client and what his or her interests and issues
are. Some clients want to be coached on specific issues
having nothing to do with spirituality, and that is fine with
me. If the issues relate specifically to career, or life
path, or financial organization, then that is where our coaching
will go. On the other hand, some spiritual explorers want
to be able to discuss their ideas, or to receive a guided meditation,
as part of their coaching session, and they come to me because
they know that I have some experience in this field. For
one client, at her request for whom I concluded every session
with a guided meditation for well over two years. For others,
such topics are never mentioned. As with everything else
in coaching, the client makes the choices.
Return to FAQ Index
How is this different from counseling or therapy?
In psychotherapy it is assumed that there is a problem so that
the client needs healing from some emotional problem or wound.
The psychotherapist is seen as a source of healing and the
goal is to make the client well and healthy. In coaching,
on the other hand, the client is seen as being a healthy and whole
person who can actively partner with the coach in seeking ways
to grow and move forward with his/her life. The International
Coach Federation has a page on this topic, also, which you can
find at http://www.coachfederation.org/natureofcoaching.htm. (If
you use this link you will need to use your browser controls to
return to this site.)
Return to FAQ Index
How do I subscribe to the free newsletters?
How can I get the free half-hour of coaching that you offer?
The Guestbook page has spaces where you can indicate that you
want to subscribe to one or both of the free newsletters described
in the Written Resources section of this site and/or if you would
like the half-hour of free coaching. Please be reassured
that if you subscribe to the newsletters you will not be subjected
to constant sales pitches, and your subscriber information will
be kept completely confidential.
Return to FAQ Index
I'm interested! What's my next step?
You can either use the Guestbook to request a free coaching call,
or e-mail me directly. I'll be delighted to hear from you,
and to learn how I can best be of service as a coach.
Return to FAQ Index
Have questions that you do not see here? Suggest them
at the Guestbook. I will answer your question to the best
of my ability, and who knows, it may end up on this page.
To
request your free coaching call or e-zines now, click here.
To read on, click on Next Page below.
|
|
