COACHING FAQs

» When might you want to hire a coach?
» Are you ready to be coached?
» How do I choose a coach that is right for me?
» How long will the coaching relationship last?

When might you want to hire a coach?

• When you spend your day putting out fires
• When you realize you are procrastinating too much
• When you are stuck and want to move ahead
• When considering a career change
• When life sucks
• When life feels overwhelming
• Starting a new business
• Wanting to improve your productivity
• When you are depressed
• To reduce time spent working and get more balance in your life
• To seek your life purpose
• When you want to create a different future than you see right now
• When you want to look at life through a new spiritual perspective

Are you ready to be coached?

• I can make and keep commitments
• I will invest the time, energy and resources necessary
• I can take action to improve my life and am willing to do the work required
• I recognize that I have created the life I now live
• I am willing to stop self-defeating thinking and behaviors
• I will reconsider assumptions I've made about myself and others
• I can afford to make the investment and will not regret the fees paid
• I have the patience to keep working toward my goals
• I can be totally honest with my coach
• I can accept total honesty from my coach
• I believe a better life is possible and that I will make it happen with help

How do I choose a coach that is right for me?
There are many coaches with many specialties. Find a coach that is a good match for what you want to achieve. Here are some questions you may wish to ask when interviewing coaches:

What kind of training have you received?
Training for coaches ranges from weekend courses to degree programs, with many variations between. There are even some coaches have no formal training at all. In those cases, a coach's life experience, outlook on the world and professional activities may be of value. You may want to know how they made the transition to coaching, what their professional involvement and memberships in the industry are, and how they measure their qualifications.

How long have you been coaching or how many clients have you coached?
The answers will give you an idea of the amount of experience they have helping others. You might also ask about their successes, as well as situations that didn't work out and why. Some coaches may have case histories and testimonials of their work to share.

What kind of coaching is your specialty?
Just as there are a lot of ways a coach might receive their training, there's an even greater diversity in the areas in which coaches specialize. There are life, business, executive, spirituality, career, wealth creation and mentor coaches, to name a few. One of my friends specializes in coaching the wives of athletic coaches.

What assessments do you use to help define where I am?
Coaches use a variety of tools to assess your current level in different areas of your life. You may want to know what tools and approaches they use and how your success will be measured.

What is your coaching style?
Finding the right match in style and personality could be crucial. How do you want to be coached? Tough task master? Supportive friend? Encouraging motivator? If you're unsure, talk about what's worked or not worked in the past to help you motivate yourself. The experienced coach has a variety of approaches to help you get results.

How long will the coaching relationship last?
It's really up to you. Most coaches contract for at least three months to make sure you begin to get desired results. Many people continue coaching for 6-9 months or even for years. Discuss a time frame and investment that is comfortable to start and then evaluate at regular intervals.

» Contact Jack Pyle for information.

Face to Face Matters, Inc. 1560 Little Lake Drive #16 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 517-243-3223