How is coaching different from consulting or therapy?

Coaching-mentoring-advising is a specialized form of consulting. But the coach-mentor-advisor stays with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals to make sure they really happen. Coaching is not therapy. We don't work on "issues" or get into the past or deal much with understanding human behavior. We leave that up to the clients to know and figure out, while we help them move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want. However, we are capable of assessing clients and referring them to clinical support if there is mutual agreement between coach and client.


What is the basic philosophy of coaching-mentoring-advising?

Simply put, we're all discovering what we really want, and we can get what we want faster and easier by having a coach-mentor-advisor who's been there and who can help us reach our goals.


What happens when you hire a coach-mentor-advisor?

Many things, but the following are the most important:

  • You become far more purposeful about your endeavors.
  • You take yourself more seriously.
  • You take more effective and focused actions immediately.
  • You stop putting up with what is dragging you down.
  • You create momentum so it's easier to get results.
  • You set better goals than you might have without the coach.

Does the coach-mentor-advisor work on personal goals or business/professional goals?

Both, actually. With the line between personal and business life blurring in today's day and age, the coach-mentor-advisor is professionally trained to assist clients with all aspects of development, professional and personal.


Why does coaching-mentoring-advising work?

It works for several reasons:

  • Synergy and bonding between the coach-mentor-advisor and client create momentum.
  • Better goals are set - ones that naturally pull clients toward the goal, rather than ones that require clients to push themselves to the goal.
  • Clients develop new skills, and these skills translate into more success.
  • A good coach-mentor-advisor has numerous powerful assessments to assist clients in achieving goals and enhancing professional development.

Why is coaching becoming so popular?

American business has been reducing the management ranks for the last twenty years, and therefore, companies that once had very strong bench strength no longer have a natural coach-mentor-advisor within the organization. Secondly, people change jobs so often that companies have reduced training and development budgets. However, CEO's have realized that it is an important benefit to employees to feel they are being developed in the job. Coach-mentor-advisors are a perfect addition to the development of employees.

Moreover, people are realizing how simple it can be to accomplish something that several years ago might have felt out of reach or like a pipe dream. A coach-mentor-advisor is not a miracle worker, but a coach-mentor-advisor does have a large tool kit to help the "big idea" become a reality.


Can a dependency be created between coach-mentor-advisor and client?

The client may "need" the coach-mentor-advisor in order to maximize an opportunity or accelerate a company's growth, yet not be "dependent" on the coach-mentor-advisor. Anyone who is in the process of change needs structure, advice, support and a sounding board with an opinion, so in that sense, the coach-mentor-advisor is invaluable. But an emotional or psychological dependency is not created. The coach-mentor-advisor is helping the client to create a better future, more success, more money and a higher quality of life.


Can coaching-mentoring-advising be detrimental?

No. We are not forcing anyone to do anything. We're not trying to control the clients' thinking. We're not cattle prods; we're partners. All choices are the clients'; all we do is guide them to educated solutions.


Can I hire a coach-mentor-advisor just for a short-term special project?

Yes. Some clients hire a coach-mentor-advisor to help them accomplish specific goals or projects.


How long must I commit if I start working with a coach-mentor-advisor?

Most coaches ask for a six-to-nine-month commitment but usually let you stop if the arrangement is not working out for you. For the corporate client, a signed agreement is expected for a full-term commitment. After all, the coach has committed to the client for the duration of the contract.