Frequently Asked Questions

At its heart, coaching is a confidential conversation between two people; the coachee who, generally, has specific goals that they would like to pursue and the coach, whose purpose it is to facilitate the process of achievement.

Coaches have different styles of working with clients but, essentially, their primary role is to create a safe space within which you are able to; clarify your goals, explore your motives, consider your options, focus on your priorities, and begin to take the actions that will get you where you want to be. Generally, we do this by:

• Listening - a lot; there is nothing quite so powerful as a good listening to
• Asking questions - that occasionally make you squirm; but always make you think
• Providing feedback on what we notice - possibly the only person willing, or able, to do this
• Believing in your capacity to work it out - even perhaps when you don’t see this for yourself
• Offering tools and techniques to facilitate new insights - some fun, others more challenging
• Holding you to account for the actions that you decide you need to take

Most individual coaching takes place online or in person at my office in Kinton, mid-way between Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

There is also the option to meet at any other venue more convenient to the client including, where appropriate, on site at the client’s own premises in order to facilitate real time feedback on specific aspects of personal or business performance.

Depending on circumstances, phone and email can also prove very effective for ad-hoc support.

The location for team coaching may be at the client’s premises, or elsewhere but will be agreed during initial negotiations.

The first step following receipt of your enquiry, is to arrange a no fee, no obligation telephone conversation to discuss the focus of the coaching; specifically, the circumstances that have brought you to the point of making the call, and what you imagine would be a good outcome.

This is often referred to as a ‘discovery call’ because the main purpose is to discover whether we have the rapport and understanding necessary to work together on your goals. Once you have explained a little about what you are hoping to achieve, I will explain a little more about the way I work and answer any questions you might have about the process.

Towards the end of the call, we will discuss the details of how we might work together including; where, and when, the coaching will take place, and the cost of that arrangement. The call usually lasts between 30 - 45 minutes.

If we decide to go ahead, I will forward a bespoke coaching agreement setting out our agreed terms, as well as our responsibilities to each other during the period of our contract. The agreement will include a privacy statement outlining the purpose for which any personal information may be required, and how this will be handled. It will also address terms of cancellation and non-attendance of appointments. The agreement should be signed and returned prior to the commencement of the formal coaching.

Where the person commissioning the coaching is different from the person receiving the coaching, it is my standard practice, following the initial enquiry, to arrange a three way meeting with the coaching sponsor and the prospective coachee.

The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that there is a shared understanding of the focus of the coaching and the expected outcomes. This is followed up with a private and confidential meeting with the prospective coachee to check their motivation to engage with the process and to satisfy ourselves that we have the necessary rapport to work together in pursuit of the agreed goals.

If all parties are in agreement I will forward separate agreements to sponsor and coachee outlining our various responsibilities together with standard terms of engagement. Both agreements must be signed and returned before formal coaching can begin.

Coaching is suitable for anyone who wants to increase their chances of achieving their goals, provided that they are personally motivated to attend, and committed to taking the action necessary to move forward.

Coaching in itself will not get you where you need to be, neither can the coach take action on your behalf. Most of the real growth happens in the space between appointments, when you are putting into practice the actions that you have agreed. So, unless you are prepared to 'do the heavy lifting', and to be painstakingly honest with yourself in your assessment of your successes and set-backs, coaching may not be for you.

A word of caution – coaching is not a substitute for counselling, neither is it consulting by another name. Generally, coaches believe that all the resources to achieve success lie within the person being coached – even if some of those talents need to be developed over time. And, whilst we may need to dedicate some time to exploring patterns of behaviour that may have their origins in the past, the process itself is focused firmly on a vision of future possibilities, not past regrets.

The cost of coaching varies considerably between practitioners and is likely to be significantly higher if you are negotiating with a company of associates, rather than directly with your chosen coach.

I have always believed that coaching should be accessible to all those who want to succeed in their chosen field. That’s why I have moved away from associate coaching assignments to work solely for myself – saving you the cost of the middle man. It’s also the reason why I offer graded fees, depending on the size and nature of your business, and why I offer a range of solutions, including options for those with a limited budget.

As a guide, current rates are as follows:

Individuals (self-funding) = £100 per hour
Small Businesses = £130 per hour
Medium Businesses = £165 per hour
Large Businesses & Enterprises = £200 per hour

Bespoke discounts are available for NHS, charities, and 'not for profit' organisations.

Membership fees for Mastermind Groups are subject to variation depending on size, venue and members’ stage of development. For information about current vacancies, please call me on 0333 444 9845 or drop me an email using my contact page.

For further information about any of the options on offer, or to discuss your bespoke requirements, call me on 0333 444 9845 , or drop me an email using my contact page.

A Mastermind Group is a small group of like-minded people who come together on a regular basis for the purpose of supporting each other to identify, and implement, the actions necessary to achieve business goals.

Terms of membership are clearly defined but may vary according to the organiser/facilitator; most generally only allow for one member per trade/profession in order to avoid conflicts of interest. Meetings follow a standard format, with each member taking a turn in the ‘hot seat’ to share their individual progress, and enlist the groups’ support to maintain momentum, and brainstorm challenges. Key benefits include:

• Access to a select group of business minds
• Clarity on goals and actions
• Feedback on ideas and progress
• Challenge to move outside your comfort zone
• Support to solve problems
• Accountability partners
• Tools and techniques to help you lead and manage your business

The concept of a mastermind group was brought to popular attention by Napoleon Hill in his book, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, published in 1937. Originally referred to as a ‘Master Mind Alliance’, it is based on the principle that; “when two or more people come together in a spirit of harmony, for the purpose of pursuing a definite aim, an extra ‘Master Mind’ emerges from the blending of thoughts and ideas, such that ideas seem to appear from nowhere”.

For more information and an application form, call me on 0333 444 9845 or email me using my contact page.