Frequently, we need guidance and external input in our personal and professional lives. Sometimes we’re stalled, or we can’t seem to shake this sense of stagnation. Sometimes we feel that we’re not at our peak. There’s an edge that’s lacking. Somewhere we’re not quite exhibiting the energy, productivity, creativity or directedness that would add momentum to our personal and professional lives. Additionally, we feel that our gifts, talents, abilities and skill sets are not being adequately incorporated in our lives. We realize that we have more to offer, but we simply can’t get there.
Coaching is designed to comprehensively assist the individual in bringing the fullest of their abilities to their personal lives as well as their professional work environment. The coaching process is shaped to come alongside the busy individual and provide a directive function that maximizes the individual on a number of fronts. Typically, core strengths are determined, as well as ways to more aggressively develop and utilize those strengths. Additionally, talents and abilities unique to the individual are also highlighted with the corresponding action of determining how to more effectively develop and integrate them personally and professionally. These are intentionally cultivated and concurrently released into the individual’s personal and professional life in a manner that both reinforces and builds on these skills.
Clearly, the main facet in the coaching process is the mentoring relationship. This relationship provides the individual the needed support, encouragement, insight, accountability, and tenacity to intentionally move their lives forward. An array of testing and assessment tools are utilized to assist in the effective performing of these tasks. This approach provides the professional objective measures to more effectively assess and integrate their skill sets and innate abilities into the personal and professional realm.
Coaching can be difficult, challenging, and demanding. But it also creates breakthrough’s that can transform an individual’s life for the rest of their life. Feel free to contact us using the form below should you wish additional information, or if you feel coaching would be of value to you.
The Coaching Relationship
As a client, you can derive great value from a single coaching session. However, the real benefit of personal and professional coaching is experienced through an on-going relationship aimed at achieving your goals. Here is a checklist of some of the resources that we offer as part of our coaching services:
- Scheduled one-on-one coaching sessions in person, via telephone, or secured video conferencing.
- Email support.
- Between-session “homework.”
- Impromptu calls as needed.
- Personality assessments and debriefings.
- On-line tools such as journaling and goal tracking.
Typical Goals for Coaching
While the coaching process can be quite diverse and can vary based on the client’s presenting needs, the typical goals we attempt to accomplish often include the following:
- Assisting recent graduates or individuals who are new to a particular field in finding an effective point of entry.
- Facilitating career transitions at multiple life stages.
- Interview preparation and skill development.
- Improvement and honing of communication skills.
- Discovery and development of hidden assets and abilities.
- Professional skill development.
- Enhancing of self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Effective balancing of personal and professional life.
How Do I Know if Coaching is for Me?
It is critical that the client accurately determine if the coaching process is right for them. Decisions that are based on a thoughtful and comprehensive evaluation of core motivations, clear life goals, specific career objectives, current life circumstances, and a willingness to invest in the process are important. Answering the following questions will assist you in more effectively determining whether coaching is the right choice for you at this time:
- Am I where I intended to be at this point in my life?
- As I look at my accomplishments and consider my current station in life, would I describe myself as successful?
- How do I define success outside of professional achievements or monetary gains?
- Do I have a dream? If I do, can I say that I am living it out?
- Is my dream sufficiently compelling for me to invest the energy and resources that it would take to achieve it? If not, why?
- How important is comfort to me?
- What would those closest to me say about the idea of coaching for me?
- Are those closest to me willing to support me in this process?
- Is my career and the choices I make within that career driven by fear or passion?
- Have I fallen into the rote processes of my career or do I have a vision that circumvents those processes?
- Where do I want to be ten years from now, and what is the most effective way to get there?
Coaching Articles
Part of the coaching process involves providing individual’s a robust array of informative, relevant, inspirational, timely and growth-inducing resources. Craig has authored an extensive array of articles to assist the individual in this process of personal and professional growth. Feel free to enjoy this selection of coaching articles:
Am I Paying Attention – Being Vigilant
Common Sense – Having Lost All Sense
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
I Was Thinking – To Think Outside the Box
Left Lane Living – Driving at the Speed of Life
Mediocrity – The Waste of Fear and Absent Vision
The Botton Line – What Drives Our Decisions
What I Want – The Frightening Call of Great Things
Craig’s Coaching Blog
Craig produces regular coaching blogs specifically designed to provide practical, fresh, unique and relevant resources for both personal and professional development. You can find his blog posts at https://craiglounsbroughcoachingblog.wordpress.com/.
Contact Us About Coaching
We would be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the coaching process. Feel free to contact us if we can be of service to you in your own personal and professional journey.
Craig Lounsbrough
M. Div., LPC