I recently sent out a survey to do some research on challenges that leaders have so I could build some coaching programs. Some of the responses included some questions about coaching and how it works. I thought it might be helpful to answer those questions here in this post.
What is coaching?
The International Coaching Federation who is the governing body of certification for coaches defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment.”
Why do people seek out a coach?
There are many reasons depending on the kind of help you need. Some of the common reasons are, they are interested in changing careers, getting promoted, building their confidence, work-life balance, being healthier, want to accelerate their results or they are stuck and not sure how to move forward. Coaching takes you from where you are to where you want to be. It is action focused and client driven.
What type of coach should you select?
There are many types of coaches out there. Here are some of the most common types of coaches: Business, Leadership, Life, Health/Wellness, Executive, Sales, Career and much more. Depending on what you are looking for you should research them and understand what their focus is and how they can help you.
See attached resource for questions to ask a potential coach: Questions to ask a potential coach
What is the difference between one on one coaching and group coaching?
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One on one coaching – coaching takes place between the client and the coach. Client drives the agenda for the sessions. Can be in person or via video conference/phone
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Group coaching – coaching sessions that take place with a group of people and a coach. Usually between 3-8 people in the group. Can be in person or leveraging video conference/phone
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Group Coaching sessions may be structured in different ways.
1. Coach sets the agenda of topics for each session
2. Clients each come with their own topics and each person gets 10 minutes of coaching
3. All clients agree on a topic for the coaching session. Coaching occurs as a group discussion as the coach asks questions and lets the group discuss them.
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How do I know if I should choose one on one coaching vs group coaching?
1. The choice is primarily based on preference.
If you are talking about a topic that you are comfortable discussing with a group, then group coaching is a good option, otherwise one on one coaching should be your choice.
2. Group coaching may be a slightly cheaper option for coaching vs one on one coaching
3. Group coaching offers a chance to learn from a group of people and gain different perspectives from multiple people.