About Coaching

Professional coach, business coach, life coach, executive coach, success coach — which one is for me? A coach is trained to work on personal and professional/business goals so whatever your dreams, a coach can help you get there. The line between personal and business life is often blurry, what happens in one area of our lives affects the other; Coaching is a way to gain clarity and focus in both, so that growth and progress can be made. Whatever the title of coach, a qualified coach should be able to coach you in all areas.

Coaching Definitions:

Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. — InternationalCoach Federation

Business Coaching see Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC)

"Coaching helps people identify where they're at, what they want, and how to get there so they achieve the results they want and more." — Norma Reid

About Coaching

Coaching is a relatively new industry that started in the United States in the 1980s and has spread world-wide. It has become very popular because it works. A 2001 Manchester study of 100 executives from Fortune1000 companies found that the average ROI (return on investment) was 5.7 times the initial investment in a typical executive coaching assignment. The study found the benefits to companies that provided coaching to executives were improvements in:

• Productivity (reported by 53% of executives)
• Quality (48%)
• Organizational strength (48%)
• Customer service (39%)
• Reducing customer complaints (34%)
• Retaining executives who received coaching (32%)
• Cost reductions (23%)
• Bottom-line profitability (22%)
• Working relationships with direct reports (reported by 77% of executives)
• Working relationships with immediate supervisors (71%)
• Teamwork (67%)
• Working relationships with peers (63%)
• Job satisfaction (61%)
• Conflict reduction (52%)
• Organizational commitment (44%)
• Working relationships with clients (37%)

According to an International Coach Federation survey, clients typically seek help with time management (81%); career guidance (74%) and business advice (74%). The benefits extend to self-awareness (68%); smarter goal setting (62%); a more balanced life (62%); reduced stress levels (57%); and more self-confidence (52%).

Other studies reported:

• MetrixGlobal, LLC a Fortune 500 telecommunications firm reported a ROI of 529% based on survey of 43 leadership development participants. They also found the financial benefits from increased retention raised the overall ROI to 788%.
• The Xerox Corporation showed that in the absence of follow-up coaching 87% of the skills change brought about by the training program was lost. However good skills' training is in the classroom, most of its effectiveness is lost without follow-up coaching. For example: Most sales people try out the new skills for a few calls, find that they feel awkward and the new method isn't bringing instant results, so they go back to their old ways.
• "Coaching is the only cost-effective way to reinforce new behaviours and skills until a learner is through the dangerous results dip. Once through the dip, when the new skills bring results, they will become self-reinforcing." — Training and Development Journal.