Coaching for Accelerated Results

by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC

As a coach I work with many people who are employed in a variety of jobs.  I coach salespeople, entrepreneurs, executives, managers and homemakers.  Everyone’s situation is unique and yet similar.  The people I work with have one thing in common, they have areas of their lives that do not work as well as they would like.  I love working with people as they create their goals and work week by week to achieve them.  Sometimes there is a misconception initially where the coachee thinks the coach is going to tell them what to do.  I explain to them that in coaching, the coach asks questions so the coachee can arrive at their own conclusions and discover their own insights.  The real coaching is in holding the coachee accountable to produce the results they say they want in their lives, even when they don’t feel like doing the work they committed to.  I have included below an outline of what coaching is, what it isn’t and the roles and commitments of both the coach and the coachee.

What is a Coach?

Professionals in all sectors require a coach for many reasons.  One-on-one coaching is a powerful way to support people to provide objective analysis, constructive support and accountability so they can achieve the goals they set for themselves.

Your coach is your champion and provides a structure to hold you accountable to do what you say you are going to do even when you don’t feel like it.  In other words support you to “Plan your work and Work your Plan.”

What a coach does:

• Mirroring-reflecting back
• Listening without judgment and beyond what they say (listen from the place of their commitment)
• Ask hard powerful reflective questions to help the client gain clarity
• Hold client accountable by telling the truth and by endorsing and validating them
• Create a safe environment
• Help client identify strengths and possible blind spots
• Partner with the client – celebrate their successes
• Conduct all interactions with complete confidentiality
• Does not council (i.e. legal)

What the client does:

• Set goals and be goal oriented
• Does the assigned homework and projects
• Honest and tells the truth
• Willingness to be coachable and move forward with their commitments
• Prep-work – Coaching Call Prep Form
• Willingness to move through fears and be open to change
• Commitment to the process

Commitments of the Coaching Program

 My commitment as your personal coach: I will exercise the highest degree of professionalism, integrity and honesty.  I am committed to your success.  I at all times with maintain the highest ethical standards and diligently respect your confidentiality.

Your commitment as my Client:  I request that you also bring a high degree of professionalism, integrity and honesty to your coaching sessions.  I request that you be open to new possibilities, fresh ideas and unique ways of approaching solutions.  I request that you be accountable and committed to producing your results.  Foremost, be prepared to have fun and enjoy the coaching.

Getting the Most from Your Coach

• Lead our session, know what you want.  The Coaching Call Prep Form is designed to assist you to do so.(sent in a separate file along with this agreement)
• I am professionally trained to help you discover your own answers; I do not tell you what to do.  Use me as a resource, not as an answer.  Said another way, I will support you with all of the resources, training and experience I have, but ultimately only you are responsible for getting the results you want.
• Enjoy our calls, personal and professional development is fun.
• Be fully human and communicate authentically, I respect your needs.
• Make sure you are fully heard and have the courage to express yourself.
• Double your level of willingness.
• Be prepared to be challenged, raise your standards, redesign your time, remove all sources of stress from your life, change your behaviors and discover more about yourself.