Coaching Maxims

Truth 1: Find a Certified Life Coach

Not all coaches are certified professionals. Work with an accredited coach.  Organizations like Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. (CCE) or The International Coach Federation (ICF) provide independent certification that is the benchmark for the professional coaching industry. They can provide lists of certified coaches working in your area.

Truth 2: Coaching is a nice employment perk

Coaching is an added employee benefit. Done right, professional coaching can drive sales, enhance employee engagement, promote creativity, improve workplace satisfaction, and increase bottom line results. According to a Manchester Consulting Group study of Fortune 100 executives, the Economic Times reports "coaching resulted in a return on investment of almost six times the program cost.

Truth 3: Coaches can help you reach personal and business goals

Coaches help others create positive change in their lives. For clients who choose to focus on personal
goals such as relationships, time management, work-life balance, stress reduction, simplification, health, etc., while others emphasis professional or business goals such as leadership, getting a promotion, starting a business, etc., an effective coach works with the client to help them live a better,
richer life - regardless of their goals.

Truth 4: Professional coaching offers something for everyone

According to Paul Michelman, editor of Harvard Business School's Management Update, "whereas
coaching was once viewed by many as a tool to help correct underperformance, today it is becoming much more widely used in supporting top producers. In fact, in a 2004 survey by Right Management Consultants, 86% of companies said they used coaching to sharpen the skills of individuals who have been  identified as future organizational leaders." Good coaching focuses on an individual's strengths and aims to help the client achieve what they want out of life and at work.

Truth 5: Personal coaching takes very little time

Clients can achieve remarkable progress toward their desired future in less than an hour per week of coaching. There is a wide spectrum of how coaching is delivered.  Some coaches prefer to meet one-on-one with clients in an office, but most recommend telephone sessions for the ease of use, minimization of distractions, better privacy, greater efficiency, and for (yes, apparently) better connection to the client. Best practices in coaching call for between two and four sessions per month that last at least 20 minutes and up to 60 minutes. A sweet spot for many coaches and clients seems to be three sessions per month for 20 to 45 minutes a session - a miniscule investment to achieve satisfying results.

Truth 6: Life coaching keeps you accountable

Your coach is your advocate who works to help reach your goals successfully. They will hold
you accountable while challenging you to grow and do more than you think you can do. They may push, pull, and stretch you in ways that feels uncomfortable, but like with exercise, working hard costs you, sometimes it's painful, but ultimately you will appreciate the end result.

Truth 7: Coaching helps motivate you

If motivated to create a better life, coaching will benefit you both personally and professionally. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD -- http://www.cipd.co.uk/research) research
study shows just under 5% of coaching is restricted to senior executives. Now, more and more companies are recognizing the powerful benefits of providing coaching to rank and file employees. For example, online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com, known for their outstanding commitment to creating a culture of unparalleled customer service (they even teach this through Zappos Insights), has a
full-time goals coach who works with any employee - not just management – to help create better lives. We recommend everyone take personal inventory spending time on self-reflection and examination for
both professional and personal satisfaction in life. We all want to transform our life from time to time, but a coach will keep you on track towards accomplishing positive change.

Truth 8: Professional coaches provide opportunities for self-discovery

Most clients realize they don't need anyone telling them what to do. Coaches work with people
to explore options and opportunities while assisting the client in coming up with the best choices based on their unique needs and vision for the future. Coaches also are experts at modifying behavior, step by step, so that a new perspective will emerge and possibilities and potential changes become apparent to the client. The good coach recognizes answers are hidden within the client and assists in discovering buried value and successful solutions to life’s obstacles.

Truth 9: Coaching is worth the expensive

In economically challenging times, coaching may seem like a luxury. According to the ICF Global Coaching Client Study commissioned by the International Coach Federation, individual clients reported a median return on investment (ROI) of 3.44 times initial cost. Bottom line, coaching is an investment that can produce monetary rewards above and beyond the cost. Coaching rates can vary from hundreds of dollars an hour to much less. Some organizations, such as TLC, accept payment based on a sliding scale (please note: must meet eligibility requirements for this option). TLC believes everyone deserves a chance to benefit from life coaching services and we are here to help.

Truth 10: Professional coaching produces tangible results

Most coaches are practical, professional, business people focused on helping clients receive tangible results, not mystics offering some form of airy-fairy meaningless spirituality.  Put simply, “buyer beware.” Examination of your journey to determine perceptible results is essential. If time spent with your life coach is not producing results, find another professional who speaks to your sitatuion and inspires you. But also be “self-aware” because lack of growth is not always the coach’s fault. Perhaps you are the problem, the one hindering your own success.  Structured self-examination is one life coaching goal.

Note: The list above is based on the “Top 10 Professional Life Coaching Myths,” located at: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57345386/top-10-professional-life-coaching-myths/

TRUTH 1: Use certified Lfe Coaches to help you achieve your goals. 

Not all coaches are professionals  who can help you reach your goals, so be sure to ask them for their credentials. Work with a coach that has been accredited by organizations like the Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. (CCE); or the International Coach Federation (ICF). Organizations like these provide independent certification that is the benchmark for the professional coaching industry.

TRUTH 2: Coaching is a nice employment perk. 

Many employees view coaching as a  value added benefit. Done right, professional coaching can drive sales,
influence employee engagement, increase creativity, develop workplace satisfaction, and markedly improve bottom line results. Employees benefit from coaching in areas such as improvement in performance, improved relationships
among co-workers, better teamwork, greater job satisfaction and quality control.

TRUTH 3: Coaches can help reach personal and professional business goals. 

A good coach is an expert at  helping others create positive change in their lives. For some, the positive change focuses on personal goals such as relationships, time management, work-life balance, stress reduction, simplification, health, etc., while other clients may be interested in professional or business goals such as leadership, getting a promotion, starting a business, etc. An effective coach works with the client to help them live a better, richer life - regardless of their goals.

TRUTH 4: Professional coaching is for everyone. 

According to Paul Michelman, editor of Harvard Business School's Management Update, "whereas coaching was once viewed by many as a tool to help correct underperformance, today it is becoming much more widely used in supporting top producers. In fact, in a 2004 survey by Right Management Consultants, 86% of companies said they used coaching to sharpen the skills of individuals who have been identified as future organizational leaders." Good coaching focuses on an individual's strengths and aims to help the client achieve what they want more of in life and at work. The goal? To help the client identify and achieve their greaterst goals to live a better life. A good coach isn't there to  "fix" anyone, but to help the client navigate toward a more engaged and compelling future.

TRUTH 5: Personal coaching takes little time. 

Clients can achieve remarkable  progress toward their desired future in less than an hour per month of coaching. There is a wide spectrum of how coaching is delivered. Some coaches prefer to meet one-on-one with clients in an office, but most recommend telephone sessions for the ease of use, minimization of distractions, better privacy, greater efficiency, and for (yes, apparently) better connection to the client. Best practices in coaching call for between two and four sessions per month that last at least 20 minutes and continue for up to 60 minutes. A sweet spot for many coaches and clients seems to be three sessions per month for 20 to 45 minutes a session - a miniscule investment of time for the results achieved. 

TRUTH 6: Life coaches are your advocates. 

A coach is your advocate who wants the best from you. They will work with you to help you reach your goals and to succeed.  Your coach will hold you accountable and challenge you to grow and do more than you think you can do. They may push, pull, and stretch you in ways that may feel uncomfortable. But endurance through the process, like in fitness training, will produce positive results and achievement of your goals.

TRUTH 7: Life Coaching helps everyone. 

Coaching is good for anyone who is motivated to create a better life. Initially professional coaching or executive coaching was for upper management, and some organizations still focus their coaching efforts on their top performers. But professional coaching isn't just for the executive suite. A CIPD research study shows just under 5% of coaching is restricted to senior executives. Now, more and more companies are recognizing the powerful benefits of providing oaching to rank and file employees. For example, online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com, known for their outstanding commitment to creating a culture of unparalleled customer service (they even teach this through Zappos Insights), has a full-time goals coach who works with any employee - not just management - on helping them create better lives.

TRUTH 8: Professional coaches help their clients discover their own solutions. 

Coaches help their clients explore and come up with the best choices based on where they are and the client's vision for their future. Coaches are experts at the process of changing behavior, which is much more valuable than giving instructions or advice.

TRUTH 9: Executive coaching is not expensive. 

According to the ICF Global Coaching Client Study commissioned by the International Coach Federation, individual clients reported a median return on investment (ROI ) of 3.44 times coaching costs. Bottom line, coaching is an investment that can produce monetary rewards above and beyond the initial expense.

TRUTH 10: Professional coaching relies on clients needs and goals. 

Most coaches are practical, professional, business people who are focused on tangible results, not airy-fairy mysticism. The need of the client dictates the direction of the sessions and determines how the coaching time will be most effective.

Note: The above list is based loosely on the Top 10 Professional Life Coach Myths: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57345386/top-10-professional-life-coaching-myths/