October 27th, 2009 - What Does A Coach Do Anyway?
“Coaching helps you develop your leadership skills, clarify your values and guiding principles, and build your reputation.” – John G. Agno
I’ve noticed that when I introduce myself to strangers at networking events, one of the first questions they ask me when learning that I’m a Leadership and Teambuilding Coach is, “How interesting. What does a coach do anyway?” I’d like to take time in this week’s newsletter to offer a bit of insight as to what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in how I help my clients step up, claim their power and go from good to great leaders.
What is Coaching?
Coaching in my books is defined as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
Coaching honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.
As a leadership and teambuilding coach, my responsibility is to:
- Get clear about their goals
- Encourage client self-discovery;
- Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies; and
- Hold the client responsible and accountable.
How Do Coaching Sessions Work?
Coaching can be done over the phone or in person. The person coached completes a coaching prep form prior to each call or visit, describing the current challenges and the progress they’ve made since we last talked. The focus of the session is determined by the client and it’s my job to help them solve the problems and make the most of the opportunities. If a client is taking on a large goal, I help them design the project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done on time.
I strive to bring out the client’s best by offering feedback, helping them strategize, and celebrating the wins. There is often “fieldwork”, where the client is given a formula, new perspective or a challenge to try something in a new way. That forms the basis for progress and the next session.
How Can an Executive/Manager/Business Owner Benefit From Coaching?
Coaching creates an environment where there is freedom from judgment and freedom from expectations that the executive behave according to typical corporate mandates. In this environment it is safe to question, to appear vulnerable, to observe, to explore, experiment, to learn and to change. That allows the executive to use me as a coach to…
- Reach high targets and quotas. Accomplishing this consistently requires a manager who also coaches the team to work together to reach extraordinary goals.
- For business planning, budgeting and goal-setting.
- To integrate business and personal life for balance.
- To prioritize actions and projects.
- For training, developing and managing staff.
- To turn around a difficult situations.
- To handle business or personal problems.
Why Is Coaching So Successful?
Coaching works when there are two factors present: 1) The client is willing to grow, and 2) There is a gap between where they are now and where they want to be.
Successful coaching clients know the value of sharing ideas with someone who understands them and is subjective enough to want a lot for them, yet objective enough not to be biased or self-serving. Just talking about options with someone who can listen and offer constructive feedback is often enough to have the overall picture or direction for their business become very clear.
Here are just a few of the many benefits of working with a successful business/leadership/teambuilding coach:
- IMPROVE executives/manager’s ability to lead and delegate
- IDENTIFY big visions
- CREATE value based leadership skills
- BRIDGE the gap between goals and actions
- IGNITE productivity and effectiveness
- BUILD negotiating skills and manage conflicts
- DEVELOP a heightened sense of confidence
- COORDINATE action more effectively
- STAY calm and focused when under pressure
- MAKE sound decisions quickly and efficiently
- CREATE cohesive, productive, powerful teams
- CONQUER overwhelm
- REDUCE stress
Every day I work with women and men just like you! They have a burning desire to create successful businesses and productive teams... they understand the enormous value of working closely with a successful mentor... and they are eager to master powerful tools and tactics to boost business and team success.
Thank you for taking the time to read more about what it is that I do for my clients on a daily basis. I hope I’ve demystified what the process of coaching involves so that you, my valued readers, can decide if hiring a coach is a good fit for getting you to where you want to be in your business or career.
And if you’re still trying to figure out if coaching is right for you, email me at Cookie@CookieTuminello.com, to schedule a complimentary Get Acquainted Session today.
