Coaching FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the distinction between an ADHD coach and a general coach? (PAAC, 2017)
A coach who specializes in ADHD coaching has a knowledge base in a specialty area that the general coach does not have. It’s much like a coach who specializes in small business possessing a special business knowledge base. The coach can draw on this knowledge base in his or her coaching, and generally be more conversant and effective in that specialty.
What is professional coaching? (ICF, 2017)
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Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve -
Encourage client self-discovery -
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies -
Hold the client responsible and accountable
How is coaching distinct from other service professions?
What are some typical reasons someone might work with a coach?
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Something urgent, compelling or exciting is at stake (a challenge, stretch goal or opportunity) -
A gap exists in knowledge, skills, confidence or resources -
A desire to accelerate results -
A lack of clarity with choices to be made -
Success has started to become problematic -
Work and life are out of balance, creating unwanted consequences -
Core strengths need to be identified, along with how best to leverage them
How long does a coach work with an individual?
The length of a coaching partnership varies depending on the individual's or team's needs and preferences. For certain types of focused coaching, three to six months of working may work. For other types of coaching, people may find it beneficial to work with a coach for a longer period. Factors that may impact the length of time include: the types of goals, the ways individuals or teams prefer to work, the frequency of coaching meetings and financial resources available to support coaching.
Within the partnership what does the coach do? the Inividual?
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Provides objective assessment and observations that foster the individual's or team’s self-awareness and awareness of others -
Listens closely to fully understand the individual's or team's circumstances -
Acts as a sounding board in exploring possibilities and implementing thoughtful planning and decision making -
Champions opportunities and potential, encouraging stretch and challenge commensurate with personal strengths and aspirations -
Fosters shifts in thinking that reveal fresh perspectives -
Challenges blind spots to illuminate new possibilities and support the creation of alternative scenarios -
Maintains professional boundaries in the coaching relationship, including confidentiality, and adheres to the coaching profession's code of ethics
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Creates the coaching agenda based on personally meaningful coaching goals -
Uses assessment and observations to enhance self-awareness and awareness of others -
Envisions personal and/or organizational success -
Assumes full responsibility for personal decisions and actions -
Utilizes the coaching process to promote possibility thinking and fresh perspectives -
Takes courageous action in alignment with personal goals and aspirations -
Engages big-picture thinking and problem-solving skills -
Takes the tools, concepts, models and principles provided by the coach and engages in effective forward actions
What does coaching ask of an individual?
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Focus on one's self, the tough questions, the hard truths and one's success. -
Observe the behaviors and communications of others. -
Listen to one's intuition, assumptions, judgments, and to the way one sounds when one speaks. -
Challenge existing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and develop new ones that serve one's goals in a superior way. -
Leverage personal strengths and overcome limitations to develop a winning style. -
Take decisive actions, however uncomfortable and in spite of personal insecurities, to reach for the extraordinary. -
Show compassion for one's self while learning new behaviors and experiencing setbacks, and to show that compassion for others as they do the same. -
Commit to not take one's self so seriously, using humor to lighten and brighten any situation. -
Maintain composure in the face of disappointment and unmet expectations, avoiding emotional reactivity. -
Have the courage to reach for more than before while engaging in continual self examination without fear.