important to trust one’s instincts if a gut-level hesitation or discomfort arises when interviewing a coach, even in the absence of a rational reason for that response. Different coaches—and training programs—have


different comfort levels concerning a client’s inner world. Some programs are focused fairly exclusively on “getting results,” while others allow more room for emotions and inner exploration as part of the coaching process. (For ex- ample, the Institute for Life Coach Training is specifi cally geared toward therapists and other human-service profes- sionals who are transitioning into coaching.) It’s important to fi nd a coach whose approach resonates with one’s inclinations. A client who wants to focus exclusively on results may feel distracted by a coach whose orientation is more psychological, and a client who is intrigued with his or her inner world is likely to feel constricted by a coach whose style is geared exclusively toward results and accountability. Telephone sessions are common in the world of


coaching. Many potential clients appreciate the conve- nience of not having to drive to and from sessions, as well as the freedom to choose a coach who lives anywhere in the world. Potential clients who, at fi rst, may be skepti- cal about telephone coaching often give it a try and fi nd it to be remarkably effective. For those who have a strong preference for in-person sessions, coaches can be found in virtually all metropolitan areas; as the profession grows, the likelihood of fi nding coaches in less populated areas increases as well.


How Coaching Works The agenda for each coaching session is set by the cli- ent, who comes to the session with a focus and a sense of what he or she wants to take away. The central aspect of the coaching process is asking powerful questions that reach deep inside the client and evoke new possibilities. Powerful questions draw out the client’s untapped poten- tial, spark the creative power to generate new options, and focus on areas where shifts can have the most signifi - cant positive impact. Because coaching is always geared toward eliciting the client’s wisdom, it’s standard practice to ask open-ended questions instead of yes/no questions. Throughout a session, the coach remains in a state of inquiry rather than analyzing, judging, or giving advice. Focusing on questions rather than answers fosters an envi- ronment in which new possibilities can continue to show up and supports the process of this creative mindset taking root in the client. Coaches often say that they “coach to the gap,” which refers to the gap between where a client is now and where he or she would like to be. Sessions are individually tai- lored and are often experienced by both coach and client as a synergistic dance. A coach and client often feel as if they’re in a creative “fi eld” together, where the coach intui- tively senses the questions that will spark powerful insights, and the client has an expanded mindset in which habitual


INTERVIEWING POTENTIAL COACHES These questions may be useful when looking for a coach:


• What kinds of coach-specifi c training do you have? • Are you certifi ed as a coach? • Are you a member of the International Coach Federation? • How long have you been practicing as a coach? • What are your specialty areas, and what kinds of training do you have in them? • What services do you provide? • Can you share with me one of your coaching success stories? • How do you deal with intense or diffi cult emotions that may arise in a client during a session?


• What is your approach regarding accountability?


While interviewing coaches, it’s useful to pay attention to the following:


• Does the coach listen well? • Does he or she clearly understand your coaching goals? • Is the coach both bright and compassionate? • Does he or she try to provide you with answers,


or to elicit your own wisdom?


limiting beliefs and blind spots are no longer operating. By the end of a coaching session, the client has an ac- tion plan for taking new insights for a “test drive.” The cli- ent then comes to the next session with observations about the results of the test drive, which coach and client can together use to make any needed course corrections. They keep their eyes on the client’s goals while also allowing that the coaching process itself might reshape the goals.


Is Coaching Right for You? Self-help author and coach Tony Robbins is often quoted as saying: “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” Coaching challenges clients to get outside their habitual ways of living and to engage in their lives from new angles. Not everyone has the mindset and life circumstances to do that. But for those who do, coaching is a precious opportunity to think outside the box and collaborate in a partnership that can be a creative, powerful catalyst to positive change.


Kira Freed, M.A., is a certifi ed life coach, certifi ed wellness coach, and freelance writer. Her innovative coaching style incorporates a gentle, respectful, cutting-edge form of psy- chology that can turbocharge coaching. Kira may be reached at 520-615-8615, kira@kirafreed.com or kirafreed.com.


January 2011 13


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