--Gail Dutton,
Management Review,
February 1997

--Terry J. vander Werff,
Washington CEO,
August 1997

from "So You're a Player.
Do You Need a Coach?"
FORTUNE Magazine,
February 21, 2000

Coach Robert Alderman in
Management Review

The simplest definition of coaching is a collaborative relationship which forwards action or deepens understanding, based on trust and integrity. Coaching focuses on the goals, development and dreams of the person being coached, with specific expectations for growth. One of the best definitions we've heard is from Dennis Kinlaw, in his book Coaching for Commitment:

"Successful coaching is a mutual conversation that follows a predictable process and leads to superior performance, commitment to sustained improvement, and positive relationships."

"Professional Coaching is an ongoing partnership that helps clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life."

How Does Coaching Work?

Coaching involves a series of interactive conversations, generally scheduled on a regular and periodic basis. These conversations are comprised of standard components designed to yield unprecedented growth and fulfilled goals. Those components include support, truth, integrity, trust, and facilitation. The conversations are usually via telephone, but on occasion can be done in person. These conversations are deliberately tailored and designed for the individual being coached to unlock his or her potential for continuous improvement and performance.

Yes! Coaching styles and methods are unique and diverse. This is why you will see references to such things as executive coaching, team coaching and development, financial coaching, life coaching, corporate coaching, etc. A coach, however, is NOT a consultant. A consultant brings into the relationship a certain body of knowledge relevant to the issue, but generally does not have a stake or interest in the well-being and growth of the client. A coach is trained in people, and partners with the client for the clientÕs success.

InterLink Training & Coaching, LLC has years of experience in the corporate and business world, helping managers become great leaders, working with teams to produce cohesive well-functioning business assets, coaching individual executives or entire organizations. InterLink Training & Coaching LLC provides direction, perspective, and innovation to companies and organizations which are finding the towering wave of technology and change a challenge to ride and advance with. We help build the organization's most valuable asset - its people. This field is generally called executive coaching and corporate coaching.

It is common, also, for personal issues to be addressed during executive coaching sessions. Quite often these personal issues are intricately involved in issues of a corporate nature. The whole person is considered in the coaching process.

• For CEO's, executives, managers and other professional who desire coaching to help them achieve their personal best
• For Human Resources Departments interested in bringing in external coaches
• For organizations interested in developing a coaching culture
• For companies who wish to train their leadership to be coaches
• For organizations interested in coaching workshops for employees
• For companies experiencing difficulties with individuals, teams, or structure who need an external source that is people-proficient, able to provide guidance, problem solving and growth potential
• For companies or organizations who need help with any of the following:
  • Process engineering
  • Creating vision
  • Strategic planning
  • Launching and/or developing teams
  • 360-degree reviews
  • team development

• For entrepreneurs, owners or managers of small companies who are looking for a competitive edge
• For those either involved in or planning start-up companies
• For professionals in private practice
• For people who work from home
• For Executives considering leaving companies to begin a new business

• For those in career transition, or with career decisions to make
• For those in corporate positions seeking advancement
• For those struggling with career decisions
• For those looking for help in any of the following areas:
  • Employer expectations
  • Workplace trends
  • Values and loyalty in the workplace
  • Specific evaluation criteria
  • Future professional planning
  • Career satisfaction
  • Career readiness

• For those who desire general life planning
• For those looking for life vision and enhancement
• For those needing extreme self care
• For those looking for spiritual answers
• For those seeking assistance with relationships
• For those we want all-around fitness and health coaching
• For those who wish to pursue their creative self
• For those needing organizational assistance
• For those with Attention Deficit Disorder
• For those who have children, teens, college students at home
• For those who wish to make their lives as full, challenged, and inspired as possible

Absolutely not! While it is true that coaching can be the answer to many personal and corporate "problem situations," it should not be reserved just for the tough times. Coaching can give individuals and companies the tools and edge to find personal and professional success, AND the skills and strategies to head-off potential problems BEFORE they happen. Coaching is about long-term fulfillment, goal attainment, and overall success.

No! A coach is an encourager and challenger, a facilitator for positive change. A counselor is trained to deal with problems and help others overcome them. In addition to "problem-solving" a coach trains in maximizing potential, in attaining what seems to be the unattainable. Having a coach is like having a climbing guide when you are trying to scale high peaks. As you climb, you work together Ð assessing the route, staying focused and moving forward skillfully. A counselor may be trained in behavioral psychology, but a coach is trained and experienced in the technology and development of life-long personal and professional achievement. A counselor may inadvertently foster dependency. A coach empowers the individual for flight.

How Long Does Coaching Take?

A person or a corporation may contract with a coach for a specific short-term project goal. People who have experienced great achievement and accomplishment with their coaches generally wish to continue for a minimum of 6 to 12 months. A coach can continue to increase your personal and professional awareness, help you identify barriers, provide vision direction, assist with structure, empower you for change, lend support and encouragement, give honest feedback, and generally adapt and act with you for any life or work challenge. You are free, however, to terminate the coaching relationship when you believe the coach has given you all the tools you need to accomplish your intended goals. Corporations will frequently contract for specific times for their leaders and other employees.

First of all, coaches never "just talk." Coaches explore, challenge, encourage, probe, suggest, facilitate, praise, focus, direct and stimulate, but never just talk. Yes, coaches do much more than talk. Most coaches have developed effective seminars, workshops, training programs and exercises designed for corporate and professional use. Most often these have been built around specific issues, and most can be customized to specific needs for specific clients. Many coaches are also trained and experienced speakers, and are featured at national and international business conventions, retreats, and corporate events. Executive coaches are always learning themselves, keeping well versed in the latest technology, language, practices and trends of the corporate environment so they can help others learn and achieve their best as well.

Personal coaching is also a very effective method for following up on workshops, seminars, classes or training events. Coaching packages can be designed to supplement and enhance training that a corporation has provided for employees.

The cost for different kinds of coaching varies, depending on the frequency of conversation, planning, researching, documenting, and other "behind-the-scenes" work involved. Generally, however, most coaches will charge about $300 to $600 per month for individual coaching. Corporate programs that include a wide range of services can vary from $1,000 to upwards of $25,000 and higher. Monthly fees will depend on number of individuals being coached, onsite or offsite trainings, meetings, etc. Teleclasses, special events and seminars also vary in pricing. For exact pricing, you need to present your personal and/or professional needs, corporate goals, required issues to be addressed and any other key components for coaching. Your coach will then tailor your coaching to your needs and provide you an exact profile and cost of his or her services

Is Coaching Confidential?

Yes. Trained and experienced coaches understand the need for complete confidentiality whether the coaching is of a personal, professional, or corporate nature. Certified coaches are bound by ethics agreements which include strict confidentiality. Coaches are dedicated to you and to your advancement, achievement and success. They understand the importance of trust in this kind of relationship.

Yes and no. Whether on a personal or professional level, coaching is for everyone who wishes to make the most of his or her talents and experience, and life achievements. However, some people will remain closed to coaching due to issues that are addressed in the next question. Some people are forced into coaching by their corporate leadership, and while there may be hurdles, they can be overcome with an open and honest coaching relationship. Many of the die-hard people who would never consider this kind of outside input and support, find themselves the most adamant promoters of coaching - after experiencing dramatic breakthroughs.

Yes. We won't try to snow you here. Whenever a business primarily deals with people, there will be potential problems. Generally, the issues of time, ego, confidentiality and trust, peer pressure, compatibility, credibility, perceived dependency, and finances can interfere with successful coaching relationships and experiences. See our section under Executive Coaching titled What Are Potential Coaching Hurdles? for more information about this. However, when these issues are openly discussed before entering into a coaching relationship, they can be short-circuited and even turned into strengths before the actual coaching process begins. Openness and straight talk are important issues in establishing a coaching partnership.

How Do I Know if I am Ready for a Coach?

From a personal and professional individual perspective, look at honest answers to these questions:

• Do I feel as though I want to go further, but have maxed out my current resources?
• Am I willing to explore my potential and begin thinking beyond normal to extraordinary?
• Am I willing to restructure my life, if necessary, to achieve my goals and dreams?
• Do I want to be a visionary, and maintain a high level of accomplishment?
• Am I willing to stick my neck out to operate at the leading edge?
• Am I willing to accept another person's advice, encouragement, insight and feedback so that I can advance beyond what I ever dreamed?
• Do I feel the need for something new and challenging?
• Do I have a problem with life and work balance?
• Do I feel stagnated?
• Do I have a lot of good ideas, but am not able to do anything with them?
• Do I feel overwhelmed?

Finding a coach is not difficult - finding the RIGHT coach may take a little more time, but it's worth the effort. The International Coach Federation offers a coach referral service where you can find information on coaches for just about any need, with any particular background, and for any coaching project. You can locate them at www.coachfederation.org. Once your have narrowed your search to at least five names, you should consider interviewing your potential coach and we suggest that you also consider asking the following questions before contracting or agreeing to be coached by anyone:

1. What experience do you have?
2. Do you coach in the area where I have a need, and what specific experience do you have in that area?
3. What is your background Ð what qualifies you to be a coach in this area?
4. Can you provide references?
5. What is your style of coaching?
6. What coaching methods do you use?
7. Do you have a specialty? What is it?
8. How long do clients typically work with you?
9. What are your coaching affiliations, networks, etc.?
10. What results can I expect from working with you?
11. What do you charge?
12. Am I required to sign or agree to a minimum amount of time with you?

One word: results. InterLink coaches work with executives, leaders, and teams to develop the skills and strong internal dynamics needed in the business community. The focus of the coaching is frequently on developing superior performance, positive relationships and creating a learning environment. We also love to design and facilitate customized leadership development for individuals and/or teams.

On a personal note, as the owner of InterLink Training and Coaching, my style is direct and truthful, intense and humorous, action focused and insight driven. My passion is around people. I love to see people thrive both at work and in their personal lives. I have a track record of achieving more than the expected results through individual executive coaching, performance coaching, group coaching, team coaching, coach training, and 360° facilitated coaching.

I am a founding recipient of the Master Coach Certification from the ICF and am Certified Master Coach and Certified Mentor Coach with Coach U. In addition to my own private coaching practice, I am the Director of Training for The Ken Blanchard Companies (www.KenBlanchard.com), one of the most recognized and respected international training and coaching organizations.