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Got Problems? Hire a Coach!

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By Ellen Goodstein • Bankrate.com

What's a cross between a psychologist and a mom, is less expensive than a shrink and doesn't apply guilt? A personal coach.

Most people think physical fitness when they hear the word "coach," but life coaches are more like a personal trainer of attitude. They help their clients put together a step-by-step plan of action for achieving success -- in the workplace or in their personal life.

Coaching can help people create more satisfaction in their jobs, find new jobs, start new ventures, get a better handle on their fears and anxiety and get out of their own way, says Barbara Walton, past president of the International Coach Federation, the largest worldwide organization of professional coaches.

Coaching might sound like therapy, but it is not, says Walton.

"Therapy focuses on healing pain and dysfunction, most often arising from the past, which hamper emotional functioning in the present. Coaching is forward moving and future focused. It focuses on thriving. Therapy focuses on surviving," she says.

What is coaching and what can it do for you?
Coaching helps you be the best you can be, explains Mark Weinstein, founder of Peak Life Habits, an executive and personal coaching firm in Albuquerque, N.M. A coach offers feedback, insights and guidance from an outside vantage point.

Weinstein coached Bruce Malott.

Malott was struggling. He was 47, a partner in an accounting and consulting firm in New Mexico and seemingly successful. Yet, he was unhappy personally and professionally.

"I was going through a devastating divorce and having trouble focusing at the office," says Malott. He sought out the services of Weinstein who helped him to get back on track. Under his guidance, Malott began to make changes in his behavior, set priorities and communicate with his partners. The impact of coaching is difficult to measure in dollars, but I know it's made a big difference, Malott says.

"Most people know what needs to be done, but struggle with the execution. Coaching holds you accountable. With Mark's help we are way more productive than ever before," says Malott.

"People seek out coaches because there's something in their life they want and they don't have," says Weinstein.

"It could be a certain position in their career or a certain quality in a relationship. It could even be a certain level of fitness that they are always on the verge of hitting but somehow always missing the mark."

A coach will help you identify habits that are impeding your success as well as sidestep the obstacles that seem to get in the way of what you want.

Procrastination is one bad habit that commonly gets in the way. We have probably all used the expression "someday I'll do this" or "one day I'll do that."

Weinstein says he guides his coaching clients to make someday into now.

"We make a plan of action, even for something as simple as cleaning your desk. Instead of someday, we make a commitment in our conversation that by next Thursday, this will be done."

How to find the coach for you
Coaches come from many backgrounds -- psychology, business, education, law -- and specialize in everything from finance to personal relationships.

To find the right coach for your needs, Joy Leach, owner of Professional Resource Initiatives and life coach for over 20 years, recommends interviewing a few coaches before hiring one.

"Coaching is a two-way process and needs to be a good fit for both coach and client to be successful," says Leach, co-author of "A Practical Guide to Working with Diversity."

She recommends the following:

• Look for stylistic similarities and differences to help you determine your compatibility.

• Ask questions about their typical time frame of coaching, their specific coach training, their experience as a coach, the number of individuals, organizations and situations they worked with as well as the number of years in the field.

• Find out what specific expertise or specialized skills the coach would bring to the relationship.

"You want to find someone you can build a partnership with, someone with whom you can easily relate," says Leach.

Currently there are no state licensing requirements for coaches.

"Coaching is like a lot of other professions, it's up to the individual or group hiring the coach to look into their credentials," says Daniel Martinage, executive director of International Coach Federation, whose organization credentials coaches and accredits coach training programs.

"Find out whether and where the coach received training and how many hours of experience they have coaching," suggests Martinage. "Take the time to find the right person for your needs. You want to be clear about what you're looking for and be sure the person you hire fits your bill."

Cost of success
Hiring a coach can be pricey. Fees range from $200 to $800 a month depending on the coach and on the number of sessions held per month.

Coaching usually begins with either a personal interview or phone interview that assesses needs, defines the scope of the relationship and sets priorities for actions.

"Usually, clients and coaches talk once or twice a week in the beginning," says Walton. "Some people go every other week. It depends on how you choose to set it up."

The coaching relationship can last anywhere from 30 days to a year or more depending upon the goal and the individuals.

"It usually takes about three to six months to achieve sustainable change without slipping into the habits of the past," says Walton. "It's very individual. Change is certainly possible to do in 30 or 60 days."

About 80 percent of coaching is done by phone and is therefore not limited by geography says Leach, who practices from Santa Barbara, Calif.

"Phone coaching supports people's lifestyle. They can 'meet' with their coach and not lose any time traveling. It can be done on a lunch hour or between other appointments. The focus can be complete because there are no distractions on the phone," she says.

Another benefit is that you can work with someone anywhere in the country -- or the world, says Leach.

Practice makes perfect
If you hire a coach, be prepared to work.

"Homework is a big part of the work we do in coaching. Whether it's buying a book, writing a memo or cleaning your desk and developing a plan for keeping it clean -- there's work to do," says Weinstein, an adjunct professor of marketing at the University of New Mexico.

"I'll often say, 'For this week, write a memo about falling through the cracks -- listing everything that's not getting done -- and begin to work on a program of action on how to change that, including prioritizing tasks. Then the next session we will go over the plan.'"

"It may seem basic, but if no one is holding you accountable, it often doesn't get done."

Could some people have done the same thing without a coach?

"Certainly some people could and do accomplish great change without a coach. But having a coach makes it easier, more fun and cuts the time it takes to accomplish the goal," says Walton.

"I've seen transformations that are amazing."

Eighty percent of coaching clients report they have experienced a positive change in self-esteem/self confidence as a result of partnering with a professional coach. In addition to a boost in self-esteem/self confidence, respondents also reported experiencing a positive impact in relationships, communication skills, interpersonal skills, work performance and work/life balance as a result of their coaching partnership.

An overwhelming majority, 82.7 percent, of individuals who have experienced professional coaching report being "very satisfied" with their coaching experience and 96.2 percent said they would repeat it given the same circumstances.

"The bottom line is coaching works!"