Frequently Asked Questions
What is Professional Coaching?
Professional coaching is a strategic partnership between the coach and the client to explore goals and obstacles and develop an action plan to achieve objectives, create accountability, and unlock and maximize the client's personal and professional potential. The coach views the client as the expert in his or her life therefore the coaching process is client-focused and client-driven. The coach's responsibility is to create focus, provide perspective, motivate and empower, encourage client self-discovery, elicit client-generated solutions, and hold the client accountable.
Is Coaching right for me?
Determining whether coaching is right for you or your organization starts with clarifying the desired outcome you expect to accomplish through a coaching partnership. A coaching partnership can be a helpful tool to move individuals and businesses toward maximum potential whether the outcome is leadership development, improved communication, or increased productivity. It is important to assess whether new perspectives are valued in your organization and whether you are ready to devote the time and energy necessary to enact change. If yes, then coaching may be the right choice toward achieving your desired results.
How is coaching different from other services?
Professional coaching is focused on personal and professional growth based on self-initiated change and action through the pursuit of specific goals. The coach sees the individual or organization as the expert and therefore does not advise, prescribe, or implement solutions. The coach's role is to provide guidance to the individual or organization while they explore their goals and set action items. Counseling and therapy, on the other hand, focus on resolving past emotional pain and improving psychological function; while consulting and training focus on providing a set curriculum and expertise. Catalyst Action Coaching provides several services that are solely coaching and other services that use a combination of coaching, consulting, and training. The coach and the client will determine whether the partnership will involve more than one service during the initial sessions.
What are the benefits? What is the return on my investment?
The benefits of coaching can range from increased productivity, increased job motivation, to better people management skills. The return on investment is measured both quantitatively and qualitatively using internal and external measurements including achievement of coaching goals, increased income/revenue, promotion, performance feedback (from direct reports, colleagues, customers, manager), performance data, self-assessments administered throughout the coaching process, and shifts toward more effective actions.
How does Coaching work? What does the process look like?
Coaching begins with an initial session either face-to-face or by phone to assess the individual's or organizations' current situation including opportunities and challenges. At this time, the scope of the relationship is defined as well as the priorities and desired outcome of the coaching relationship. Coaching sessions are conducted in person or by phone with the individual or team typically lasting 60 minutes depending on the type of coaching. The coaching approach is flexible and modified based on what's right, what's working, what's wanted, and what's needed to get there. The coach uses an appreciative approach and discovery-based inquiry to focus on the client's goals rather than the problem, and to develop measurable action steps. Between coaching sessions, the individual or team is responsible for completing specific action items and fieldwork. The coach may provide additional resources to support the achievement of the individual's or organization's goals. Assessments are used as a benchmark for creating goals and action items, and for evaluating progress. The duration of the coaching relationship varies depending on needs and preferences but typically starts with a minimum three month commitment.
How long does a coach work with an individual or organization?
The length of the coaching partnership will vary depending on the type of coaching, preferences and needs of the individual or organization, frequency of coaching sessions, and desired goals and outcomes. With some coaching partnerships, a three month solution will be the answer, while others may need a multi-year solution.
What are the coach's and individual's responsibilities in a coaching partnership?
The coach's responsibilities:
· Administer objective assessment to increase self-awareness and/or team-awareness
· Provide fresh perspective
· Create focus
· Listen
· Support the exploration of goals and barriers, and development of action steps and accountability
· Encourage and Champion client
· Challenge client to grow and develop personally and professionally and foster shifts in thinking
· Empower client
· Maintain professional boundaries, including confidentiality and adheres to the coaching code of ethics
The individual's responsibilities:
· Determine the coaching goals
· Use assessment tools to enhance awareness
· Take the tools, concepts, models provided by the coach and use them to maintain focus and achieve results
· Focus on self and explore personal and professional values, while showing compassion for self and others during the process
· Willing and open to see the hard truths
· Observe others
· Assume full responsibility for personal decisions and actions
· Use the process to gain fresh perspectives
· Takes courageous action in line with personal and professional goals
· Engages problem-solving skills
· Challenges judgments, assumptions, and beliefs about self and others to achieve goals
· Commits to overcoming barriers and limitations
· Engages in regular self-assessment
What is team coaching?
Team coaching provides a creative way for teams to move past barriers and experience success. Team challenges may include communication issues, interpersonal conflict, trust issues, unclear direction, new leadership, low morale, or low productivity. The coach will gain feedback from the team members through assessments and interviews. Once team members become aware of their strengths and weaknesses as a team they begin to experience a greater understanding and appreciation of their co-workers. The coach also serves as a facilitator to guide the team to create team and individual action plans and agreements to move the team toward greater cohesiveness, improved effectiveness, and increased performance.
What distinguishes Catalyst Action Coaching services?
Catalyst Action Coaching is a results-focused creative solution used to address personal and professional challenges so that each individual and organization is empowered to work and live at their maximum potential. We combine strategic planning with values-driven living to provide a powerful and holistic approach to coaching that produces desired results. This approach includes the use of proven planning and coaching tools to assess and measure your progress. Our coach has a diverse background in managerial leadership, instructing and training, public speaking coaching, business communication, worksite wellness leadership, and strategic planning. Rebecca Cooley specializes in mindfulness, relaxation and stress-reduction and utilizes methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you achieve your goals with clarity and confidence. From leadership development to business communication, CAC can assist you with your goals of increased productivity, improved communication, and greater people management and team effectiveness.