Why do people hire a coach? Isn’t having an encouraging friend or mentor the same thing?
[collapsible_item title=”People decide to hire a coach for every reason you can imagine …”]People decide to hire a coach for every reason you can imagine: personal development, business development, career growth, money issues, spiritual development, relationship skills, leadership and communication skills … the list goes on and on.
What all of these different areas have in common is that there is often a gap between where we are and where we want to be. A coach brings new eyes and ears to your situation and provides a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to figure out how to close that gap.
One of my colleagues called coaching “facilitation of the future.” I love that! It captures what makes coaching so powerful.
Encouraging friends and mentors are an important part of our support network. That said, coaching with me brings benefits that they usually can’t:
- Support tailored to your introvert strengths and personality
- Complete focus on YOU and YOUR agenda
- Objectivity and a fresh perspective unmuddled by any history
- No unsolicited advice
- Nonjudgmental approach
- Oriented towards the future, not the past
- Willingness to challenge you and help you honor your commitments to yourself
- Deep belief in your inner knowing and ability to succeed
- Strict confidentiality (what you say to me will never get back to your sister or your boss!)
Coaches DO NOT treat clinical disorders such as anxiety, depression, addiction and phobias.
My specialty is Entrepreneur, Leadership and Personal Discovery Coaching for introverts. With me, you’ll find a uniquely safe space for you to process and succeed on your own terms. You develop skills that help you work WITH your introversion, not against it. It’s not about changing who you are so you can be more extroverted; it’s about understanding your strengths and trusting them enough to let them shine.[/collapsible_item]
What benefits can I expect from a coaching partnership?
[collapsible_item title=”Over the past three years, I’ve worked with dozens of clients …”]Over the past three years, I’ve worked with dozens of clients on a range of topics. Some of the benefits they’ve experienced include:
- better understanding of the strengths and challenges of their introvert personality
- improved communication, based on knowing their style and needs
- living and making choices that work with their introvert energy, rather than against it
- increased self-trust and compassion
- ability to show up confidently in their own skin, rather than trying to be an extrovert
- less attachment and fear
- living in closer alignment with their values
- safe space to process through and plan for a life transition
- more fulfilling relationships with family, friends and colleagues
- enhanced leadership skills that take advantage of their introvert strengths
- more commitment and follow-through by learning how to deal with over-thinking and “paralysis by analysis”
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Do I have to be an introvert to be coached by you?
[collapsible_item title=”No! While my introvert clients do outnumber the extroverts, both find benefit from my approach and focus. After all …”]No! While my introvert clients do outnumber the extroverts, both find benefit from my approach and focus. After all, everyone has aspects of each type of energy within us. That said, the majority of my clients are introverts. My introvert clients benefit from working with a coach who understands their unique strengths and challenges, as well as their need for space, processing time and reflection. Extroverts stand to benefit in two different ways: first, coaching can help them bring out and strengthen their introvert energy (which enhances their capacity to listen, create safety, slow down and reflect internally); and second, it helps them better understand and live/work with the introverts in their lives.[/collapsible_item]
How do you conduct the coaching sessions?
[collapsible_item title=”This depends on distance and preference and is agreed …”]This depends on distance and preference and is agreed upon at the start of the coaching relationship. Most often, sessions are conducted over the phone or Skype. This allows for optimal flexibility and convenience for both coach and client.
If you are in the Seattle, WA/Puget Sound region, you have the option of in-person sessions at my office in downtown Tacoma. I can also travel to you in special circumstances. Even if you are local and opt for phone sessions, it’s desirable to meet in person for the first session.
Other options include online live chat or video calls through Skype. I’ve worked with clients from around the country (and even the world!), so distance is not an issue.
All clients have access to a secure online client-only website that contains session notes, forms, goal setting and other useful tools to support getting the most out of the coaching experience.[/collapsible_item]
What kinds of coaching packages do you offer, and how much do they cost?
[collapsible_item title=”Regardless of the type of coaching you want …”]Regardless of the type of coaching you want (Entrepreneur, Leadership or Personal Discovery), you have two options: Traditional or Fast-Track.
The Traditional Coaching Package starts off with a 90-minute Discovery Session, during which we assess your current situation and goals, as well as prioritize and determine our primary areas of focus. Following that, you will have two 60-minute sessions per month. I require a three-month minimum commitment, after which we proceed on a month-to-month basis.
Fast-Track Coaching is specifically designed for the individual who feels like s/he’s on the right track, but progress has stalled, focus has gotten fuzzy, or a new development has thrown a monkey-wrench into the works. We work together for approximately eight weeks from start to finish. The process begins with a 2-hour Discovery Session to determine what’s most important and where to focus our energy. You then receive three 60-minute sessions, to be scheduled within a six-week period. This provides the partnership with a tight timeline, facilitating focus, momentum and action. Additional a la carte coaching, if requested, is available for a reduced investment.
My rates are commensurate with my training and experience, as well as client success rates. They range from a per-month retainer model (Traditional) to a flat fee (Fast-Track). You can take a look at my updated 2012 Rate Sheet here (PDF, opens in a new window).[/collapsible_item]
What’s the coach’s responsibility?
[collapsible_item title=”In every interaction I have with you, I will act with …”]In every interaction I have with you, I will act with integrity, honesty and sincerity. I will listen carefully and be fully present. I will access my intuition and seek the best way to support your needs. I will gently probe as well as ask direct questions, and I will seek your permission if I want to offer a suggestion. My approach to Leadership and Entrepreneur Coaching involves a hybrid of styles, mixing some consulting in with the coaching paradigm. I will provide you with support, encouragement and a safe space to take risks. All communication is confidential. I abide by the ethical standards set forth by the International Coach Federation. If you need assistance I cannot provide, I will refer you to a variety of resources.[/collapsible_item]
What’s my responsibility as the client?
[collapsible_item title=”You are committed to action and evolution. You want …”]You are committed to action and evolution. You want to look more closely at what you’re doing – and not doing – and make changes that will move you forward. You come to the partnership with curiosity, openness and a willingness to be honest with yourself and with me. You are ready for new possibilities and ways of seeing yourself and those around you. You set the agenda and tell me what you need for each session. You determine your goals and priorities. You define success for yourself. You keep your commitments and are fully present for each session.[/collapsible_item]
I’ve heard that coaching involves you asking me a lot of questions. Would you give me some examples?
[collapsible_item title=”You’ll notice right away that a coaching conversation is very different …”]You’ll notice right away that a coaching conversation is very different than one you might have with a best friend, partner or co-worker. Instead of offering advice or personally relating to your statements, I’ll ask you what coaches call “powerful questions.” These are open-ended, often begin with “what,” “how” or “when,” and are an invitation for deeper reflection and exploration. Here are a few examples:
- What are you committed to?
- What did you learn?
- What’s next?
- How will you know?
- When will you take action?
- What are your choices?
- What’s true?
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How do I know you’re a good coach?
[collapsible_item title=”You can talk to me! I am happy to …”]You can talk to me! I am happy to have a phone or e-mail conversation and answer your questions. Click here to schedule a complimentary Information Session (opens my TimeDriver scheduling page in a new window). You can also read what some of my clients have said about their experience with me.
It’s recommended that you talk to a few coaches and see who feels right, who you click with. Someone who is a good coach for your best friend or sister may not be a good coach for you. Your coach needs to be someone you trust and who makes you feel safe, as well as challenged and motivated.
My training is through inviteCHANGE, a highly rated, ICF-accredited academy located in Edmonds, WA. I work with my own coach, and I participate in ongoing professional development as an active member of the Puget Sound Coaches Association and International Coach Federation.[/collapsible_item]
What kind of time commitment can I expect?
[collapsible_item title=”Traditional Coaching: The actual coaching sessions themselves are …”]Traditional Coaching: The actual coaching sessions themselves are 60 minutes, twice per month. Because traditional coaching is not a “quick fix,” I require a minimum three-month agreement, for a total of 6 sessions. At the conclusion of the agreement, we will discuss if we want to continue or if our work together is done. On average, many clients are with the same coach for 12-18 months, with some having much longer, ongoing relationships.
Fast-Track Coaching: The process will last about eight weeks from start to finish, including the Discovery Session and three regular coaching sessions. Because of the accelerated pace, it’s important to make sure there’s room in your schedule to take immediate action on your commitments (you don’t want vacations, big deadlines or foreseeable speed bumps to impede your progress).
Regardless of the type of coaching, know that the coaching sessions are meant to be the touchstone for the work you do on a daily basis. This includes implementing your action plan, journaling, reading, revisiting your goals and value statements. As you begin to integrate new behaviors and thought patterns into your life, they will become second nature. But in the beginning, be prepared for fairly significant mental, emotional and even physical energy to be expended on behalf of your personal commitment to progress.[/collapsible_item]
How is coaching different from therapy or counseling?
[collapsible_item title=”The shortest answer is that coaching accepts where you are …”]The shortest answer is that coaching accepts where you are now and focuses on looking forward to where you want to be in the future. Most of the questions a coach asks start with “What.” Therapy and counseling focus on your history and an analysis of how you got to your present state. Most questions a therapist asks start with “Why.” Review this PDF from Coachville.com for additional information.[/collapsible_item]
How do I contact you to ask a question that’s not here, or to learn more about your services?
[collapsible_item title=”I can be reached in several ways …”]I can be reached in several ways:
Beth (at) TheIntrovertEntrepreneur . com
253-617-0779
The Introvert Entrepreneur
711 St. Helens Ave, #203
Tacoma, WA 98402
Online Contact Form[/collapsible_item]