Coaches work with clients to develop various aspects of their life, for example, seeking guidance in building confidence, career change, self-worth, work-life harmony, relationships, finding purpose, wellness, emotional intelligence, and much more. Accountability with a coach helps to regenerate lost energy, enhance your outlook on life, and pursue personal and/or professional goals and dreams.
It’s important to note that coaches are not mental health professionals, such as therapists or counselors. The International Coaching 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. Coaching focuses on visioning, success, the present and moving toward the future. Therapy emphasizes psychopathology, emotions and the past to understand the present, and it works more with developing skills for managing emotions or past issues than does coaching.”
Benefits of Coaching
According to a survey conducted by the ICF, those who hire a coach can experience a wide range of positive effects in their lives. 80 percent of respondents said self-confidence improved, 73 percent said relationships improved, 72 percent had better communication skills, and 67 percent said they balanced work and life better. These types of results show that working with a personal coach can be helpful for those looking to live into their potential and create what they want in their life.
Working with a coach and receiving coaching is about growth and transformation. The coach is a guide on that journey with you. An experienced, trained coach expedites the process of self-discovery by honoring your strengths and gifts, which helps build confidence. Coaches also identify the places a person needs to gain developmental insight to enable growth. This increases the person’s self-awareness about limiting beliefs, fixed mindset, blind spots, undesirable habits, and other roadblocks that have kept them from reaching their potential.
Process of Coaching
The process starts with exploring the client’s vision for their life, then helps refine that vision, set goals, and create a coaching plan. Sometimes coaching isn’t that straightforward because life isn’t a linear journey. When the unexpected occurs, it can have an effect on the client’s coaching plan. When this happens, the coach is there to support the client, provide focus, and circle back to the overall coaching plan.
Phase I. Intake Discovery “Inner-view” & Assessment
After signing a coaching agreement, this first phase is to determine the client’s goals for coaching. This happens through reflection, self-discovery, and assessment. The discovery process involves the completion of a questionnaire, assessment/s, and a one-on-one interview. This session may be done in person or virtually, to be determined by the coach and client.
Phase II. Coaching Plan
Upon completion of Phase I, you will work with your coach to create a Coaching Plan summarizing your coaching goals. From this plan and discussion, we will work together to create ongoing focus with action steps to move you closer to your desired goals.
Phase III. Coaching Sessions
Coaching sessions are one hour in length twice a month and will be Zoom, telephone, or face-to-face visits when available. The sessions may be adjusted as needed. A three-month minimum engagement is required, unless an alternative approach is identified. Subsequent coaching sessions can be scheduled on a session-by-session basis should you wish to continue after the initial agreement.
Phase IV. Completion
A final coaching session is conducted with a review of the initial coaching plan and achievement of the client’s goals. The client is also asked to complete a coaching evaluation.
Throughout the four phases, your coach guides you each step of the way to achieving your coaching goals. The good news is that you may even achieve other goals along the way that you hadn’t even identified in your initial plan. Coaching can have a positive effect on the things you do in life, in work, or both.
Coaching Testimonials
“Sandy is a talented, intuitive coach, who provides solutions designed for each individual’s unique situation and abilities. Each time that I’ve worked with Sandy over the years, she’s adeptly identified key areas of focus, always in a positive manner. The results of her coaching are evident as I’ve grown in my career and experienced continued success.”
“Sandy is a talented, intuitive coach, who provides solutions designed for each individual’s unique situation and abilities. Each time that I’ve worked with Sandy over the years, she’s adeptly identified key areas of focus, always in a positive manner. The results of her coaching are evident as I’ve grown in my career and experienced continued success.”
“Sandy is a talented, intuitive coach, who provides solutions designed for each individual’s unique situation and abilities. Each time that I’ve worked with Sandy over the years, she’s adeptly identified key areas of focus, always in a positive manner. The results of her coaching are evident as I’ve grown in my career and experienced continued success.”
"Sandy's role as a leadership coach is singularly responsible for the significant training and advancement of the management team over the past year. She has taken a broad group of people and compressed their development into focused development plans upon which those managers and senior professionals can now execute themselves. Sandy's success is directly related to her personality, style, and ability to directly identify and communicate growth opportunities for people she is coaching. I have witnessed others in similar roles in large companies. None has been so successful in as short a time as Sandy."
"Sandy's role as a leadership coach is singularly responsible for the significant training and advancement of the management team over the past year. She has taken a broad group of people and compressed their development into focused development plans upon which those managers and senior professionals can now execute themselves. Sandy's success is directly related to her personality, style, and ability to directly identify and communicate growth opportunities for people she is coaching. I have witnessed others in similar roles in large companies. None has been so successful in as short a time as Sandy."
"Sandy's role as a leadership coach is singularly responsible for the significant training and advancement of the management team over the past year. She has taken a broad group of people and compressed their development into focused development plans upon which those managers and senior professionals can now execute themselves. Sandy's success is directly related to her personality, style, and ability to directly identify and communicate growth opportunities for people she is coaching. I have witnessed others in similar roles in large companies. None has been so successful in as short a time as Sandy."
"Sandy used the 360 feedback and a detailed questionnaire to help me clarify my goals. We then used this questionnaire to outline what I wanted to see achieved...and we made steady progress towards achieving those goals. She helped me to periodically assess our progress, not hesitating to change direction when warranted. I have greatly appreciated Sandy's help as my coach. She was flexible, understanding and discreet, while being candid, and helped me crystallize and solve my issues. I wholeheartedly recommend Sandy to anyone looking for coaching."
"Sandy used the 360 feedback and a detailed questionnaire to help me clarify my goals. We then used this questionnaire to outline what I wanted to see achieved...and we made steady progress towards achieving those goals. She helped me to periodically assess our progress, not hesitating to change direction when warranted. I have greatly appreciated Sandy's help as my coach. She was flexible, understanding and discreet, while being candid, and helped me crystallize and solve my issues. I wholeheartedly recommend Sandy to anyone looking for coaching."
"Sandy used the 360 feedback and a detailed questionnaire to help me clarify my goals. We then used this questionnaire to outline what I wanted to see achieved...and we made steady progress towards achieving those goals. She helped me to periodically assess our progress, not hesitating to change direction when warranted. I have greatly appreciated Sandy's help as my coach. She was flexible, understanding and discreet, while being candid, and helped me crystallize and solve my issues. I wholeheartedly recommend Sandy to anyone looking for coaching."
"My coaching relationship with Sandy began in June. There were several key issues identified and worked on during the year and a half we worked together. Major strides were made in my professional and personal life. I worked through a difficult situation with my employer and stayed with the company to later receive a promotion. I now love my role within the organization and am grateful I chose to stay."
"My coaching relationship with Sandy began in June. There were several key issues identified and worked on during the year and a half we worked together. Major strides were made in my professional and personal life. I worked through a difficult situation with my employer and stayed with the company to later receive a promotion. I now love my role within the organization and am grateful I chose to stay."
"My coaching relationship with Sandy began in June. There were several key issues identified and worked on during the year and a half we worked together. Major strides were made in my professional and personal life. I worked through a difficult situation with my employer and stayed with the company to later receive a promotion. I now love my role within the organization and am grateful I chose to stay."
“Sandy’s passion and expertise in working with teams was evident in the full-day workshop and subsequent follow-on coaching sessions she led with my team. The assessment tool that Sandy used gave us a starting point to engage in honest dialogue about where our team is and where we need to go so that we can be even more effective. I recommend Sandy’s team coaching process–whether it’s for a newly formed team or one that has been together for a period of time–the results will undoubtedly make a difference.”
“Sandy’s passion and expertise in working with teams was evident in the full-day workshop and subsequent follow-on coaching sessions she led with my team. The assessment tool that Sandy used gave us a starting point to engage in honest dialogue about where our team is and where we need to go so that we can be even more effective. I recommend Sandy’s team coaching process–whether it’s for a newly formed team or one that has been together for a period of time–the results will undoubtedly make a difference.”
“Sandy’s passion and expertise in working with teams was evident in the full-day workshop and subsequent follow-on coaching sessions she led with my team. The assessment tool that Sandy used gave us a starting point to engage in honest dialogue about where our team is and where we need to go so that we can be even more effective. I recommend Sandy’s team coaching process–whether it’s for a newly formed team or one that has been together for a period of time–the results will undoubtedly make a difference.”
“Sandy did a fantastic job helping me apply what I was learning to issues I was facing as a newer supervisor. She really was able to create a safe environment in our coaching sessions where I could be vulnerable and honest about what I was learning about myself. This coaching has had a major impact in a short time in my effectiveness as a leader.”
“Sandy did a fantastic job helping me apply what I was learning to issues I was facing as a newer supervisor. She really was able to create a safe environment in our coaching sessions where I could be vulnerable and honest about what I was learning about myself. This coaching has had a major impact in a short time in my effectiveness as a leader.”
“Sandy did a fantastic job helping me apply what I was learning to issues I was facing as a newer supervisor. She really was able to create a safe environment in our coaching sessions where I could be vulnerable and honest about what I was learning about myself. This coaching has had a major impact in a short time in my effectiveness as a leader.”
"Sandy is a great coach and listening is her gift. She really listened to me without judgment. She's able to normalize things for me. She got me thinking in new ways and then I was able to act on it. She put a bow on the tough stuff. I trust her completely. She's been on this long journey with me for four years and she helped me deal with so many difficult situations. Her special gift is that she is an amazing listener. I don't know many people who can do what she does and how she does it. It's truly her gift. My colleague, whom Sandy also coached, said 'I can talk to three people in my life that I trust...and that's you, my wife, and Sandy.' You make such a difference in people's lives and I am glad that I had that honor."
"Sandy is a great coach and listening is her gift. She really listened to me without judgment. She's able to normalize things for me. She got me thinking in new ways and then I was able to act on it. She put a bow on the tough stuff. I trust her completely. She's been on this long journey with me for four years and she helped me deal with so many difficult situations. Her special gift is that she is an amazing listener. I don't know many people who can do what she does and how she does it. It's truly her gift. My colleague, whom Sandy also coached, said 'I can talk to three people in my life that I trust...and that's you, my wife, and Sandy.' You make such a difference in people's lives and I am glad that I had that honor."
"Sandy is a great coach and listening is her gift. She really listened to me without judgment. She's able to normalize things for me. She got me thinking in new ways and then I was able to act on it. She put a bow on the tough stuff. I trust her completely. She's been on this long journey with me for four years and she helped me deal with so many difficult situations. Her special gift is that she is an amazing listener. I don't know many people who can do what she does and how she does it. It's truly her gift. My colleague, whom Sandy also coached, said 'I can talk to three people in my life that I trust...and that's you, my wife, and Sandy.' You make such a difference in people's lives and I am glad that I had that honor."
