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How & Why

How does it work?

During your coaching calls, your coach will use incisive and searching questioning to establish where you are now, where you want to get to and what's standing in the way. Coaching is based on the fact that we all know the answers, but we sometimes need someone to prompt us into thinking through our issues and finding the right solutions.
Your coach listens to what you say, and to what you don't say, and will ask questions that you may never have thought of asking yourself.

Your coach will then work with you to knock down barriers and move you forward to uncover and implement answers. Your coach helps you continually focus on your goals and keeps you on track until you reach them.

This is where coaching has an advantage over other personal development methods, such as audio programmes and live seminars. Coaching is individual and continuing, so you get one to one, long term advice and support.

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Why is it so effective?

There are 3 main reasons why coaching is so incredibly effective:

  1. Coaching is a Partnership Where Your Agenda is Key

    Coaching works because you've got a collaborative partner in your coach. Your coach is completely on your side and by your side as grow. Your coach understands the processes of awareness, learning and growth. Your coach knows when to encourage, when to cajole and when to keep quiet and listen.

    Your coach focuses on your strengths rather than your weaknesses, on what you've done right rather than what you didn't do! The partnership is 100% supportive, 100% respectful and 100% confidential. You can share your ideas and your dreams without fear of dismissal or ridicule.

  2. You Agree Regular Sessions

    Coaching works because you're connecting frequently and you are accountable. This doesn't mean that your coach will chastise you if you don't do something, but you will find that, because of the structure and support of regular sessions, you will "buy in" to your own goals and you will want to keep moving forward.

  3. There's a Personal Focus

    Coaching works because we focus on you, the whole you and nothing but you! The reason why so many people give up on their goals is that nobody asks them the questions to establish why they want to achieve those goals - whether the goals are truly compatible, and what they will bring to their lives.

    Ultimately, happiness and success come from how you feel, not what goals you have achieved. Coaching brings self-awareness in spades. It is this self- awareness that leads to learning. Learning leads to empowerment and empowerment leads to action! Your coach will get you to look at all the stuff that you never stop and think about, such as your needs, your values, what gives you joy and what zaps your energy. The end result is that you will have a much clearer idea of who you are and where you want to be.

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How long will I work with the coach?

Coaching sessions usually take place over the telephone and each session lasts 45-50 minutes. Most people hire a coach for three to six months, as this is a realistic timescale to start to make some tangible changes to your life. However, some clients just want one or two "power coaching" sessions to help them make an important decision in their lives.

Everyone is different, and the duration of coaching is entirely up to you. You may only need to work on a specific short time goal with your coach, or you may want coaching over a longer period of time.

In your first few sessions we will work together to develop some clear long and short-term goals. We will then work together to develop a plan of action to move you towards these goals.

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What happens in between each of my coaching calls?

Before your first session, you will be sent a Coaching Welcome Pack. This includes a detailed Coaching Kick-Start Questionnaire that you will work on and send back to your coach prior to your first session.

Take your time over this questionnaire; most clients find it enjoyable, thought provoking, and challenging. You will probably be thinking about your life in a way that you have never considered before. The questionnaire is designed to get you thinking - you will start to learn more about yourself whilst you are answering the questions.

Each week, you will have some "fieldwork" or "homework" to do - actions to move you forward. Don't worry about this, because you will always either decide your fieldwork yourself, or agree to it with your coach. And you won't get detention if you don't do it! You will find a lot of your fieldwork great fun, as it will be all to do with your life and what interests you.

Prior to each session, you will fill in and email to your coach a Coaching Focus Form. This helps you and your coach to focus on your agenda during each session, and maximises your coaching time so that we can hone in on the areas that are your highest priority.

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How much does it cost?

Coaching packages are available from £150 for telephone coaching.

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What is the difference between coaching, mentoring and counselling?

In the coaching relationship, two people – the coach and coachee – agree to work together in order to forward the learning, awareness and development of the coachee. This implies that coaching is focused on the future, and not on the past. In no way should coaching be construed as counselling, which deals with healing and the resolution of the past. Neither is coaching the same as mentoring or consulting.

A consultant is normally hired to impart their expertise and recommendations, and similarly, a mentor is someone, normally in a similar line of work to the mentee, who has experience, wisdom and knowledge to pass on.

A coach is not trained to deal with serious emotional matters. Within the Code of Ethics to which I adhere, I will always refer a client to a professionally trained and accredited counsellor with issues such as abuse, alcoholism, substance abuse, phobias, depression etc.

A coach does not, and some would argue should not, be an expert in their client’s field of expertise. Coaching is effective by its objective nature. We will work on your agenda, not mine!

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“Happiness is not in our circumstances, but in ourselves.”
- John B Sheerin