Coaching
frequently do you want to meet?). Potential clients should also interview multiple coaches before making a final decision. Ask them about their experience, qualifications, skills, and ref- erences. And perhaps one of the most important things to consider when looking for the right coach is the reminder that a coaching relation- ship is an important relationship. There should be a connection between you and the coach that “feels” right to you.
6. These are anxious times within the busi- ness environment. What factors have to be considered when looking at the financial in- vestment in coaching? Dave Freeman – London
ICF: Working with a coach requires both a per- sonal commitment (of time and energy) and a financial commitment. When considering the fi- nancial investment in coaching, individuals should consider both the desired benefits as well as the anticipated length of time to be spent in coaching. Fees charged vary by speciality and level of experience of the coach. Since the coaching relationship is predicated on clear communication, any financial concerns or ques- tions should be voiced in initial conversations before the agreement is made.
It may also help to know that coaching of- fers a good return on investment (ROI) for indi- vidual clients and offers a significant return on investment for companies. According to the ICF Global Coaching Client Study, 68 percent of in- dividuals indicated they had at least made back their initial investment. The median suggests that a client, who achieved financial benefit from coaching, can typically expect a ROI of more than three times the amount spent. According to the same report, the vast majority of companies (86 percent) say they at least made their invest- ment back. In fact, almost one-fifth (19 percent) saw an ROI of 50 times their investment, while a further 28 percent saw an ROI of 10 to 49 times the investment.
7. With the economy struggling and unem- ployment rates rising, how can business coaching help my company to survive and how do I measure the success or otherwise of coaching? Shane O’Donohoe – Dublin
ICF: In the face of uncertainty caused by work- force reductions and other factors, coaching can be very powerful. Coaching is a thought
New European Economy
provoking process that supports individuals to confidently pursue alternative solutions with greater resiliency. Professional coaches help com- panies and their employees achieve strategic busi- ness objectives. Organisations of all types and sizes have experienced the value professional coaching brings…including: increased business performance, improved product quality, higher employee retention and morale, greater employee commitment, leadership development, conflict re- duction, team building skills, and more. Success through coaching can be measured in two distinct ways. First, there are the external indicators of performance—these are the meas- ures that can be seen and measured in the indi- vidual’s or team’s environment. One example of an external indicator would be the achievement of coaching goals established at the outset of the coaching relationship. Second, there are the in- ternal indicators of success—these are the meas- ures which are inherent within the individual or team and can be measured by the individual or team with the support of the coach. One example of an internal indicator would be the use of self- scoring/self-validating assessments that can be ad- ministered initially and at regular intervals during the coaching process. Ideally, a mix of both exter- nal and internal indicators is incorporated.
8. I would like to take on a business coach. I’m concerned, however, about finding the time for doing it. How are coaching sessions conducted and how often? Felip Laporta – Barcelona
ICF: The amount of time spent in a coaching partnership truly depends on what you hope to accomplish, along with your individual needs and preferences. Suggested timeframes will vary from coach to coach. If you meet less fre- quently, your coach may suggest meeting over an extended period of time versus meeting more frequently over a shorter period of time. As for how coaching sessions are conducted, this too varies from coach to coach. Coaches work vir- tually (via telephone, Skype, email) or in-per- son. Your coach will work with you to determine the structure that will work best for you. Ac- cording to the ICF Global Coaching Clients Study, an average engagement length is 12.8 months. Coaching engagements, however, tend to be fairly short with over half (53 percent) last- ing less than nine months and almost three quar- ters (73 percent) lasting one year or less. The most common engagement durations are 3 to 5.9
months (22 percent), 6 to 8.9 months (23 per- cent) and 9 to 12 months (20 percent).
9. Is coaching oriented purely towards reach- ing business targets or can it help me with my work-life balance too? Pete Hanley – Manchester
ICF: Coaching can be utilized in all areas of your life—across both personal and professional arenas. A coach can work with you to discover, clarify, and align with whatever you want to achieve. Their job, no matter what you hope to accomplish, is to provide the support you need to enhance your already existing skills, re- sources, and creativity. They will work with you to generate solutions and strategies to reach your goals—be it reaching your business targets or balancing work and life. According to the ICF Global Coaching Study, the most common rea- sons why people seek coaching are: Seeking better work/life balance; Looking for guidance during a career change; and Need help solving various business related matters and challenges.
10. Essentially, what does business coaching require of me? Is the process stressful? Barbara Ielati – Milan
ICF: The coaching process includes you work- ing with your coach to determine your current opportunities and challenges—this defines the scope of your relationship, how you will work, and actions/desired outcomes you hope to achieve. From there, you and your coach will determine the frequency of your meetings, the method (telephone, in-person, virtually, etc.), and how long your meetings will last. In-be- tween coaching sessions, your coach may ask you to complete specific actions to support the achievement of your identified goals. To do so, the coach may provide additional resources—in the form of relevant articles, checklists, assess- ments, or models to support your thinking and actions.
The process does not have to be stressful—
in fact, if you are completely intentional about it, you will not only be able to fully reap the bene- fits of your coaching partnership, but you will feel more at ease as coaching has been proven to help clients set better goals, take more action, and make better decisions. Coaching is a partnership and your coach is a catalyst for you reaching your full potential through active listening, powerful questioning, and action planning.
103
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124