FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The shortest answer is, "A consultant holds the answers, while a coach helps their client find their own answers."
"Coaching can help turn an entrepreneur into a great leader. Consulting, on the other hand, provides that much-needed expertise and assistance. Oftentimes, the lines between coaching and consulting can get blurred, creating a situation that is not effective at providing what the client actually needs.
Knowing when to employ the services of a coach or a consultant can be crucial for your business, either by helping you further develop your leadership skills or by helping you solve a problem head-on." - - Forbes, Coaches Council, June 14, 2018
Executive coaching is a form of professional development in which an experienced coach collaborates with an individual executive or leader to assist that person in achieving their personal as well as professional objectives. Executive coaching primarily consists of one-on-one meetings between the coach and the client. During these meetings, the coach assists the client in clarifying their goals, identifying and addressing any obstacles or hurdles to progress, and co-developing strategies for reaching their objectives.
There are many ways in which an executive coach may improve the bottom line for their client and their company. Executive coaching is beneficial for executives on a personal level because it helps them develop their leadership and communication skills, boost their self-assurance and self-awareness, and learn to better manage their time and resources. The benefits of executive coaching extend beyond the individual employee and into the workplace, where they can boost team performance, output, and cultivate a more cooperative team culture.
It is essential to identify an executive coach who is a good match for your requirements and objectives before making a final decision. At Ascent we start every engagement with a pre-engagement questionnaire designed to provide the potential client and coach with insights on alignment. This is a true, no cost, no commitment assessment for fit that helps inform our initial engagement call. If the process continues forward, some factors for the client to take into account include the coaches level of expertise and qualifications, their coaching method and style, as well as their availability and flexibility.
Following the pre-engagement questionnaire and review call, the next step in the "official" coaching process is often an initial consultation or assessment to begin discussing desired outcomes. During this time, the client and coach talk about the client's goals and objectives, evaluate the client's present condition and problems, and devise a strategy for moving forward.
From that point on, the next step in the coaching process often consists of regular one-on-one meetings between the client and the coach, during which the coach offers the client with feedback, thought provoking questions and support while the client works towards achieving their goals. The process of coaching can be adapted to meet the individual requirements and preferences of the client, and it can make use of a wide variety of strategies and methods, such as the formulation of well defined goals, the resolution of problems that create obstacles, and the development of obstacle-busting skills.
The length of an engagement for executive coaching can vary greatly depending not just on the unique aims and objectives of the client but also on the progress that the client is making. It's possible that some coaching interactions will just last a few months, while others could go on for a year or even longer. The length of time it takes to complete the coaching process is also determined by the number of coaching sessions that take place as well as the amount of time and effort that the client is able to devote to their own growth.
There are several different types of executive coaching available, including:
Leadership coaching, which is centered on assisting current (or potential) leaders in the development of their own leadership skills and capacities.
Career coaching, which helps them evaluate their professional aspirations and formulate action plans to realize those ambitions.
Team coaching, which aims to improve teams' overall performance and make it easier for them to collaborate and communicate effectively.
Transition coaching, which supports individuals as they manage transitions or obstacles in their jobs through the practice of transition coaching.
Performance/Action coaching, which focuses on assisting individuals in improving their performance and accomplishing particular goals.
Depending on the interests and requirements of both the client and the coach, executive coaching can be conducted either in-person or remotely, through the use of technologies such as video conferencing or phone calls. Depending on the client's location and availability, many coaches provide a hybrid service that includes both in-person and remote coaching sessions.
Do you find it frustrating when you become interested in a product or service, but the price is not readily available or is concealed behind a "Contact Wall"? So do we. Because we at Ascent are committed to maintaining complete pricing transparency, we provide prospective customers with access to pricing information for both individual sessions and package deals.
In general, the cost of executive coaching can range substantially depending on a number of factors including the duration and frequency of coaching sessions, as well as the expertise, qualifications, and location of the executive coach. It's possible that some coaches could charge by the hour, while others will offer discounted pricing for sessions purchased in bulk. When making a choice, it is essential to discuss the fee for coaching with potential providers and to take into account both your financial constraints and your requirements.
There is a difference between committing to do the work and the financial commitment of engaging a coach. 100% commitment to the former will maximize the latter! Every client jointly signs a commitment contract with their personal coach. If you aren't committed to the work there is little a coach can do to help you move forward. At Ascent we set the terms of the contract to fit your individual goals, budget and plans but commitment to the necessary work rests with the client. Please pop over to the Contact Us page and drop us a line with any questions!
The first step is to complete a pre-engagement questionnaire that helps paint a picture of what you want to achieve. Following that we schedule a FREE introductory session where you will meet your potential coach and walk through questionnaire and expectations for the required work. In that session, we will get an idea of how well we work together and what our next steps should be from there. You will leave the initial session with a clear understanding of what you and your coach will be working to achieve over the course of the coaching engagement.