Hoffmann Coaching - Focusing Your Energy For Measured Success

So you have been thinking about hiring a coach, but are unsure of where to start. Why do I want a coach? How do I find the right professional for me? What happens once I hire my coach? How do I tell if it is working?

Professional coaching is a relatively new and currently poorly regulated field. Navigating the uncharted terrain can be challenging and confusing.  This series of posts is designed to take the reader through the process of coaching.  Previous posts in this series addressed why you might want a coach, how to find the right coach for you, and what happens after you hire your coach.  This fourth and final in the series discusses how to tell if the coaching is working.

A bit on goals and objectives:

As stated in my previous post, the coaching experience alone is subjectively highly rewarding for most clients.  It feels great to be the center of someone’s attention, talking about what you want and need with someone who is a really good, caring, compassionate listener.  People tend to really, really like that a lot!  But, a good coach will help you identify goals that are critically important to you, help you create objectives to support those goals, and measure your progress towards your goals.      Ideally a great coaching experience will leave both client and coach with both the subjective experience of success, and objectively measurable evidence of success.

Subjective experience of success:

This is your gut instinct about whether coaching is working or not.  You will invariably know if something’s not right.  What sorts of thoughts and feelings (yes feelings) are you having surrounding your next coaching appointment?  There is a wealth of information on how the coaching is working for you right there.  Are you looking forward to your meetings?  Are you preparing in advance?  Are you feeling guilty for not completing what you said you would?  Do you know that in your session, you will be the center of the discussion?  Will the time be wide open to go where you want and need?  Do you trust that your coach respects you, “gets” you, your goals, your dreams?  If not, I suggest you take some time to clarify within yourself what feels not quite right, and find a way to discuss it openly with your coach.  This will be a good experience for you and  your coach can handle it, I promise.  It is likely the result will be you getting more of what you want and need.  If you can’t make the relationship work for you, you will know.  It’s perfectly fine to seek other alternatives.

Objective Reporting:

Typically the subjective experience is a greater priority to most people, but the rewarding experience of setting and achieving objectively measurable goals is fantastic.  I specifically love to work with highly capable smart people with BIG goals that help humanity at large or some subgroup.  Some examples are, starting and/or improving a nonprofit that helps children, improving healthcare service delivery, improving relationships, improving teamwork, creating life balance, increasing personal and professional influence.  It is an honor to partner with people in achieving these goals.

So in order to achieve these big goals we translate them into measurable objectives together.  Your coach will guide you through this activity.  If your goal is to improve teamwork, for example, the question might be, “How will you know teamwork has improved?”  The answer might be, “Team members will take more risks, work more effectively together, there will be less interpersonal undermining during projects, they’ll involve me less in the problem resolution process.”  ”Each of these can be formally measured, if desired, or can be informally measured depending on the client’s needs.

A word about cost

Hiring a professional coach can be expensive.  Not hiring a coach can be more expensive. In the beginning, it is a challenge to help companies and individuals understand the value of professional coaching.  I like to help both individuals and organizations see the value of coaching, and the cost of the status quo. What is the value, speaking of both dollar value and the value of personal well being, of getting that promotion you want?  What is it worth to you to create your ideal life?  What is the cost in both revenue loss and logistical headaches to your company when you lose a key executive, or worse, have a disengaged executive staying but not producing what he or she could.  Now that’s expensive.

The bottom line is each of us deserves the time and space to create the life of our dreams. There are many ways to go about doing it.  Coaching may or may not be for you.  Life and work can be exciting and fun.  In whatever manner works best for you, go for it!

So you have been thinking about hiring a coach, but are unsure of where to start. Why do I want a coach? How do I find the right professional for me? What happens once I hire my coach? How do I tell if it is working?

Professional coaching is a relatively new and currently poorly regulated field. Navigating the uncharted terrain can be challenging and confusing.  This series of posts is designed to take the reader through the process of coaching to clarify the process.  Previous posts in this series addressed why you might want a coach and how to find the right coach for you.  This third article in the series explains what happens after you hire your coach.

I’ve hired a coach, Now what?

I’ve committed to beginning coaching. I’ve chosen a coach.  We completed a “test drive” session and I think he or she will be a great fit for me.  Now what?  What do I do next? What can I expect from my coach?  What will he or she expect from me?  The beginning of a coaching collaboration is always very exciting and can be a bit stressful. It is filled with endless possibilities awaiting the uniquely transformational chemistry created by client and coach.

The Coaching Agreement:

During your “test drive” with your coach, part of the discussion should include clarifying some basic expectations on both sides.  How long is each meeting?  How often will you meet? What is the duration of the agreement?  Will the meetings be face to face or via telephone or Skype?  Will you, and if so, how will you communicate between sessions?  What happens if it just doesn’t work?  What should either party do if there is a problem of some sort?  When and how are payments due? All of these questions and more should be addressed both verbally, and in a signed written agreement prior to your first coaching session.   If you have questions that haven’t been answered, do not be shy.  Ask your coach.  Remember, as stated in previous posts on this subject, your coach doesn’t want a nonproductive or unsatisfying coaching relationship any more than you do.  Clear communication of your needs and expectations is the key to a successful coaching experience.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork:

In addition to your coaching agreement, you will probably be asked to fill out some additional paperwork.  The amount of paperwork, and nature of the paperwork will vary depending on your coach’s preference and you, the client’s, willingness to tolerate it.  Remember, coaching is somewhat of a new field, and not very well regulated, so there are not clear standards for record keeping as in medicine or counseling.  I prefer for client’s to complete a significant amount of paperwork when we begin, and complete a short, one page update prior to each meeting.  I find this helps keep us both in alignment and focused on our established coaching objectives.  When I start a new coaching alliance, I typically ask my clients to fill out information on demographics, life history, present situation, and goals and objectives.  My paperwork is all electronically delivered and stored.  My clients have access to their private section on my website and we keep records of progress through that site.   This site serves to capture goals and objectives, as well as chart progress as we go.  It’s great for both client and coach to be able to go back, review where we have been and appreciate the progress that has been made.  It’s very satisfying to remove a goal from the list because it has been successfully completed.

But what do we do???

This is the tricky part to explain.  I am going to try not to get too “woo woo” on you here. Here it is.  People are naturally whole and brilliant.  Given the proper time, space, and tools it is amazing what people can do.  The coaching process provides you, the client, with the time and space to create, grow and develop in ways that are most natural and most desired by you.  This is done primarily through dialog.  Your coach is your partner.  He or she listens deeply, asks compelling questions, partners with you as you set goals and objectives, and occasionally reminds you of what you have indicated you want for yourself and why.  In the coaching alliance, you are the expert, your coach is your collaborative partner.  Remember, almost anybody can benefit from coaching in some way, but coaching is exclusively for those who are open to personal and/or professional growth using this type of collaboration.

A bit on goals and objectives:

The coaching experience alone is subjectively highly rewarding for most clients.  Heck, let’s be honest, it feels great to be the center of someone’s attention, talking about what you want and need with someone who is a really good, caring, compassionate listener.  People tend to really, really like that a lot!  But, a good coach will help you identify goals that are critically important to you, help you create objectives to support those goals, and measure your progress towards your goals.      Ideally a great coaching experience will leave both client and coach with both the subjective experience of success, and objectively measurable evidence of success.

I hope you have enjoyed this post.  Thank you for taking the time visit my blog and to read this!  As always, I would love to hear from you, including any reactions to this article, or alternative perspectives you might have.  My next post will look more closely the coaching experience,  addressing the question, “How do I know if coaching is working?”

So you have been thinking about hiring a coach, but are unsure of where to start.  Why do I want a coach?  How do I find the right professional for me?  What happens once I hire one?  How do I tell if it is working?

Professional coaching is a relatively new and currently poorly regulated field.  Navigating the uncharted terrain can be challenging and confusing.  Yesterday’s post addressed the question, “Why do I want a coach,” by painting a broad picture of the value of coaching for achieving goals, getting more of what you want in life personally and professionally, and less of what you don’t want. This is the second in the series offering suggestions and insights into finding a great fit for you when hiring a professional coach.

How do I find the right professional coach? 

O.K., so you’ve decided to move forward on hiring a professional coach.  So now what?  How do you find one, and what should be considered in the process?  Here is the three step process that I recommend. 

1.  Find a legitimate professional. 

2.  Know what you want. 

3. Take your prospective coach for a test run.

Finding a legitimate professional. 

The field of professional coaching has really only been in existence for about 30 years.  It evolved from several fields including psychology, business consulting, and leadership development.  Currently there is no external regulating body for coaching, although it is internally regulated.  What does this mean to you, the consumer?  Buyer be ware.  Anybody, regardless of level of training, education, and experience can hang their shingle as a coach.  You probably are not looking for one of those “Woo Woo” coaches now are you?  Whether you find your coach on the web, through word of mouth, or through a professional association, you are investing a significant amount of time and money in yourself or your organization, so think quality.  Choosing a coach who is affiliated a professional coaching organization is a simple way to begin the screening process.  Find out about your prospective coach.  I am certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF).   Two other options that I am aware of include, the International Association of Coaching (IAC) and the  Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC).    You might be wondering what the certification process entails.  To  be certified at the lowest level for the ICF, I was required to complete a significant amount of coursework (60 hours), complete a significant amount of coaching hours, purchase and receive professional mentor coaching to improve my coaching skills, take a practical coaching exam wherein an experienced assessor coach evaluated my skills, and commit to uphold the ICF code of ethics.  It is a somewhat rigorous process  requiring stretching and the development of critical skills.   

So when you are considering coaches, check them out.  Find out about their background including education and training, professional (and sometimes personal) experience.  Are they certified?  Are they continuously and actively developing their own coaching and life skills?

Know what you want. 

Just because you’ve screened them and know a certain coach is well qualified doesn’t mean they are the right fit for you right now.  What do you really want to achieve?  You don’t need to know exactly what you want,  but it helps to think about what you generally want.   Think about skill sets and attributes of the coach that will make a great match for you.  Are there specific skills such as large scale budgeting, progressive discipline, or time management, that you wish to acquire?  Learning from someone who has this particular skill set might really close a gap for you.  Maybe it’s the development of the “soft” skills that you desire, and someone who has expertise in helping people develop these skills is a great fit.  Sometimes it helps to have someone from a similar background as you, with similar strengths, and sometimes it’s great to have your opposite.  Many times skill sets can be less important to a great coaching collaboration than a coaches attributes.  Who they are as a person and how well they have developed their core coaching skills such as coaching presence, can seal the deal  and make one coach stand out among the rest.   My favorite attributes in a great coach are listens deeply, speaks boldly, and can stand up for his or her client even when they aren’t standing up for themselves.  Different coaches work well for different people at different times throughout their lives, and that’s wonderful!  You deserve to find a really great match!

Take him or her for a test drive!

How are you going to KNOW  it’s a match made in heaven?  It may be funny and awkward and strange, but if you are serious about beginning coaching, ya gotta take ‘em for a  test drive.  Most coaches offer a free initial coaching session of some sort.  We do this for several reasons, but primarily because WE also want to know if it will be a great fit.  Your coach will be screening you while you are screening him or her.  The last thing the coach or client want is a struggling, limping, draining, nonproductive coaching relationship.  That is not at all what coaching is about.  When I do my screening, I typically schedule a 20 minute phone call.  I ask the client to tell me about him or her, their current situation, and what they are hoping to achieve.  I then tell them about me, about coaching, and how the whole thing works.  Typically within the first 5-10 minutes of our conversation I have a very good sense of if I’m interested in working with the client.  If we both find it’s a great fit we have set the foundation for strong coaching alliance.  Sometimes I’m not feeling the love.  Sometimes the potential client is not feeling the love.  When that happens, it’s O.K.  We call it as we see it.  I may offer alternative suggestions.  We say thanks for the memories and move on.  No problem.  It’s rewarding to have the conversation and make a clear call as to whether it’s a fit.

Finding a great coach does take some effort.  A great coaching alliance is tremendously rewarding for both coach and client and is very much worth the effort.   I hope you have enjoyed this post and found the information helpful.  I would love to hear from you.  If you are a coach and have additional suggestions, or a different perspective, I would love to hear it.  If you are a client, I would like to hear what you think of this process, or any comments or questions you might have.  If you are just out there reading this, I’d still like to hear from you!  My next post in this series will be about what happens after the initial coaching conversation.  I will discuss how the coaching process typically begins.    

So you have been thinking about hiring a coach, but are unsure of where to start.  Why do I want a coach?  How do I find the right professional for me?  What happens once I hire one?  How do I tell if it is working?

Professional coaching is a relatively new and currently poorly regulated field.  Navigating the uncharted terrain can be challenging and confusing.  This is the first in a series of articles offering suggestions and insights into finding a great fit for you when hiring a professional coach.

Why do I want a Coach?

Insiders in the coaching industry have a saying that goes a little something like this, “Everyone needs a coach, but coaching is really exclusively for those who want it.”  Look around.  Do you see anybody who can’t improve his or her life in some way?  At work, most of us want to do our best, make lots of money, get along, play nicely with others, and contribute in some meaningful and pro-social way. Coming home from work, we all pretty much want the same thing, right?  Peace, serenity, some fun, the love of our significant others, who also understand us enough to give us some personal space occasionally. An occasional satisfying meal, and living with people who will pick up their own socks is just icing on the cake, right?  As human beings we all want some variation of this theme in our life.   It’s simple, when we know what matters most to us and focus our energy on getting more and more of it, it makes us happy.  When we identify people and things in our environment that drain our energy and begin to address them, it is magical!  Energy is restored and abundant.

Coaching is an extremely powerful tool that can help you get more of what you want and less of what you don’t want in your life. It’s not for everybody.  Ask yourself  . . .

• Is there something challenging that I really want to accomplish in my personal and/or professional life?
• Do I already have many strengths from which to build?
• Am I now ready willing and able to take full accountability for where I am in life?
• Am I now ready willing and able to take full accountability for where I want to be?
• Would I like a partner who will accompany me, provide a fresh perspective, and ask many compelling questions?

If the answer is yes, you may be ready to start learning more about coaching and screening possible coaches.  Most coaches provide a free initial screening/coaching conversation.   Tomorrow’s blog post will be about how to screen coaches.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you have found this article to be helpful and informative.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this article, questions, or suggestions, and ideas for future posts.