What is coaching, anyway?

The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. To that I say YES! and add experience and knowledge in technology and leadership. This creates a rich partnership to support change.

What is your process?

Every coaching relationship evolves differently based on the client’s needs, goals, and actions. That said, they often follow a similar arc:

1. Assessment and Exploration: Where am I now? What do I care about?

2. Targeting: What is my main desired outcome? Other desired outcomes?

3. Action (including Internal Work): What are the steps I will take to achieve my desired outcomes? How will I be accountable?

4. Iterate through step 1-3.

What are some areas you have helped others with?

• Building influence and expanding impact

• Creating high functioning, collaborative teams

• Moving from the tactical to the strategic

• Addressing Imposter Syndrome and other personal saboteurs

• Executive Presence

• Work / Life Balance

• Developing a career navigation plan

• Tackling large initiatives

• Navigating career changes

I’m already so busy. Do I really have time for this?

Often deciding what not to do is every bit as important as deciding what to do. One misconception of executive coaching is that it involves the client working harder and longer than they ever have, while the coach provides encouragement from the sidelines. In fact, very often an early part of the engagement involves figuring out what to delegate, do less of, or not do at all, freeing up bandwidth for what is really important. If you are so busy you cannot take time to take a step back and assess if you are going in the right direction, I guarantee that you are not doing your best work, and it is certainly taking a toll on you.

Is now really a good time? I am (in the middle of a transition / changing jobs / starting a family).

Only you can answer that. That said, transitions are often a beautiful time to engage with a coach. Transitions are times in our lives when we have a fresh start, when it is easier to build new patterns and implement change. Transitions made with intention can be powerful inflection points.

You can also consider: when will the “right time” be? How will I know when it is here?

I want a combination of life and executive coaching. Do you do that?

Yes. In fact every executive coaching engagement involves some personal coaching as well. I coach the full human, because we cannot be our best selves when only addressing a slice of our identities.