Frequently Asked Questions

What is coaching?
How is coaching different from therapy?
How is coaching different from consulting?
What is the basic philosophy of coaching?
Who could benefit from working with a coach?
Why does coaching work?
What does a coach focus on?
How can I tell if coaching would benefit my company or me?
How do I find out more about CCG’s coaching process and the complimentary coaching session?

What is coaching?
"Professional coaching is an ongoing partnership that helps clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of the conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are today and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be tomorrow." – 1999, International Coach Federation

How is coaching different from therapy?
A therapist deals with a person’s past and the painful circumstances that brought them to therapy. In contrast, coaches focus on a client’s present situation and guide and champion them toward developing a stronger, more ideal future. With coaching little time is spent in the past, except for brief "visits" to identify patterns and obstacles to success. According to nationally acclaimed professional coach, Cheryl Richardson, "Coaching is not about processing emotional history or diagnosing and treating mental health issues. Coaching is action-oriented with a focus on a client’s current life and plans for the future."

How is coaching different from consulting?
Consultants often are hired to uncover and investigate problems and to prescribe solutions to a situation where there is a problem that needs to be "fixed." In contrast, coaches help clients reach new heights and/or navigate uncharted waters in their lives and their businesses. In coaching, there is no automatic assumption that there are "problems" to be solved. Coaches actually start from the premise that their clients actually have a yet undiscovered, inner knowing about what they want and how to get it. Coaches ask focused, intuitive questions to help the client access this inner wisdom.

What is the basic philosophy of coaching?
Coaches operate from the belief that their clients are complete individuals and that they have "the answers" already within themselves. A coach acts as a catalyst to help these answers emerge. By asking probing questions, highlighting opportunities and recurring themes, and offering specific actions tools and skills, coaches help their clients get where they want to be quicker and easier.

Who could benefit from working with a coach?
Coaches help people who:

• are interested in getting more out of their life and their work;
• want to grow, learn and advance more quickly and easily;
• have specific goals that they want to achieve or want help in clarifying their goals;
• are willing to make a commitment to themselves; and
• are looking for a partner, supporter, cheerleader, out-of-the-box thinker, suggester of new ideas, teacher of new skill sets, recognizer of old patterns, or sounding board that knows them and helps them find their own answers.

Why does coaching work?
Coaching works because it helps the client focus on what really matters to them and how to get there. By holding yourself accountable to yourself and someone else, you are more committed to taking actions and changing your self-defeating thought patterns. It is easier to release yourself from the things holding you back and to create the momentum that spurs you on to your goals. Your goals are clearer and more specific, and you acquire the skills necessary to reach those goals.

What does a coach focus on?
A coach focuses on whatever the client wishes to address. It is up to the client to choose the direction of the relationship. Coaches can help work through personal and professional/business issues in fact, these are generally interrelated. Coaches bring their unique perspective and training to help clients see deeper into what is going on in their lives and build a map for their way through and out.

How can I tell if coaching would benefit my company or me?
The best way to determine if you or your organization would benefit from coaching is to discuss what you would like to accomplish with a professional coach. Some coaches offer a complimentary "get-acquainted" session so that you can determine whether working with this coach would benefit you and/or your organization. It is important to make a good match to find someone with whom you "fit". Not all coaches are alike.

How do I find out more about CCG’s coaching process and the complimentary coaching session?
For more information on turning your dreams into realities, please email us info@chatsworthconsulting.com

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