» About Coaching
» About the Entrepreneurs' Club rules
ABOUT COACHING
1) Where does coaching come from?
You probably have heard of coaches and the concept of coaching for a long time, most especially in the sporting world: football, rugby, tennis... Coaching has now evolved tremendously and expanded to all aspects of life, where the game can be played within a working environment, a business, a relationship, and plenty of other activities. However, if we go back to the very first meaning of the word "coaching", that fully relates to our world today, coaching means to transport someone from one place to another.
2) What is coaching?
"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". (Definition of the International Coaching Federation)
3) What is the difference between?
Coaching and Mentoring
The Coach believes that the client holds most of the answers within themselves. He is not an expert in any given field, whereas the client is. The coach and the clients do not need to come from the same background, as the coach facilitates the client's discovery and awareness. There is no hierarchy between the coach and the client, it is a peer relationship. The Mentor is an expert who shares his skills, experiences, knowledge with someone who is learning the same things. There is a hierarchy existing between the mentor and the client.
Coaching and Therapy
The coach emphasises on supporting a client moving from where he stands now to where he wants to be. The coach focuses on what is already working positively in the client's situation, concentrating on the present. The Therapist deals with past issues on which the client is (un)consciously dwelling on and that prevents him from moving forward. The therapist "fixes" problems.
Coaching and Consulting
The coach fosters the client's awareness for him to realise what he wants to do/be and take action to reach this. The consultant is an expert in any given field and is hired to give advice, and tell the client what he ought to do.
4) What is more useful: Telephone Coaching or Face to Face Coaching?
Both are extremely useful and effective. All depends on your learning style, as well as your availability and search for flexibility.
Face to Face Coaching
Allows both the coach and the client to (un)consciously read and respond to each other's body language, a key for a good communication. Often, clients book their initial session face to face and then move on to telephone sessions.
Telephone Coaching
Saves you time, money and frees you from any limit. It offers complete flexibility.
It allows you to have your session from wherever you are, your office, the comfort of your home, your hotel when travelling... It saves you money for the transport itself as well as the time you waste while commuting. It does not restrict you to any geographical area, a good thing to base the choice of your coach on his/her quality and rapport with you, rather than the distance between the two of you. It prevents both the client and the coach from being distracted, and proved to be effective in a shorter period of time than face to face meetings. It also reinforces the confidential nature of the coaching relationship.
5) How long does a session last?
Usually speaking, telephone sessions last no more than 30/40 minutes and face to face sessions no more than 1 hour.
You are free to book the number of sessions you want. Simply remember that coaching becomes effective between sessions, when you actually make things happen. The length is of no relevance here, but the quality and focus of our conversations.
6) Who hires a coach?
Anyone who is ready and committed to make things happen. Already successful individuals, who want more, better, faster with less pain. Olympic medallists and all our great champion... is there a coincidence?
Those who hire me the most are entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.
7) Why does coaching work?
Coaching works because it focuses on what is already working in your life, be it professional or personal. Coaching takes you here and now to where you want to be, using all the positive aspects that impact your being to discover more solutions. Coaching takes for granted that by leveraging your assets, "loopholes" will simply and steadily reduce, or simply become of least importance. Coaching will help you manage those in a painless manner.
8) Are results guaranteed?
No. It is very important for you to understand that coaching works because of the measures and actions you take. So you may end up booking regular coaching sessions, being in touch with me in between sessions, and being busy. As long as you take no actions, none of our conversations support you in any way. You stand no chance of getting anywhere. So rest reassured that as soon as I feel that it is not working, I will share it with you so that we can reassess and take necessary steps.
9) Why does coaching not always work?
A client needs to be willing to make things happen, to take the necessary steps for this, including initiating some drastic changes. He needs to be accountable for his time and actions.
Coaching is not indicated for people who are dependent on class "A" drugs, addicted to drinking problems or others, who have mental illnesses or who still suffer from past violence, abuse, or psychological issues.
10) Does the coach work on personal goals or business/professional goals?
Although you come to your coach with a specific goal, which can be either personal or professional, it often happens that you work on the personal side of things while working on your professional goal for instance. After all, we are only one individual, using pieces of our personality and behaviour for different outcomes, in different environments. Hence, there are no surprises that both personal and business are interlinked. However, if, at any time, you feel that you do not want to go into a specific direction, feel free to mention it to your coach, who will certainly take it into consideration while you have to prepare yourself to be challenged there.
11) Can coaching hurt?
No. Coaching finds its foundation in what you are already doing well, and stretches you further to leverage it.
12) What does coaching provide?
Support: A sounding board to share, ask, require, and celebrate.
Structure: For planning, organising...
Strategies: Room to explore several solutions to achieve one single goal.
13) What are the challenges of coaching?
Coaching being intangible, it is sometimes difficult to grasp the effects it produces immediately and/or in the long run. These programmes have been created to offer a more practical approach to coaching and will certainly address how you can measure its effectiveness. A monthly record sheet will help both of us there.
14) What about confidentiality?
The aspect of confidentiality is very important in my work and our coaching relationship is totally confidential. None of your details, none of the information we share is revealed to any third party without your prior approval, unless for legal issues. Without sharing any details that may identify you as a client, I may only reveal case studies, success stories, to my own coach for her to help me in any given situation, or for the sole purpose of illustrating a point. This confidential aspect is clearly stated within my agreement that you receive at the beginning of our coaching relationship.
15) What can I expect from my coach?
Availability: I am here to support you during the hours stated in my diary. When I am away on business or on holiday, I will endeavour to let you know with notice. I also made a policy of getting back to your emails within 24 hours, between Monday and Friday.
Commitment: I am dedicated to supporting you in your venture, in various ways.
Challenge: I will challenge further than you believe you are able to go, as I expect nothing but the best from you.
Fieldwork: To support this and keep a momentum, you will often be given some fieldwork to complete by our next session. Fieldwork does not necessarily mean paperwork by the way...!
Extreme positivism: You will have ups and downs. I make a point of honour of maintaining the ups and turn the downs around.
Listening skills: I may talk less than you expect, and simply acknowledge your words. I value you for who you are.
Non-judgmental: I am a sounding board, a guide. I am all hears to support you and will not judge, criticise what you are doing or saying. If you choose to work with me it is because of my open-mindedness.
16) What is expected from me (the client)?
Truth: "Tell the truth and nothing but the truth." You hire a coach to support you. Lying would only make you be dishonest and unfair to yourself. There is nothing to lose, but so much to gain!
Responsibility: Take ownership of your actions and non actions.
Will: Being self-driven will help you immensely. Do not expect your coach to give you the will or motivation.
Commitment: Your coaching session only represents a focal point, the starting block before taking action. You will be asked to commit.
Availability: We do not have time. We make or create time. Create the time to make the steps you commit to, a success.
Open-mindedness: Be open to fully listen to the questions and challenges that your coach is throwing at you. There are here to help you create opportunities and solutions, and some may appear very different to what you are used to. At least, consider them, give it a try!
Fieldwork: It corresponds to the actions you will take to help you move closer to your goal. You will be accountable to your coach for completing it. You are in the coaching relationship at free will and may refuse, change or accept the fieldwork. In fact, you will create it yourself.
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ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEURS' CLUB RULES
1) When can I visit the club?
Entrepreneurs' Silver Membership
The Entrepreneurs' Club opening hours vary from time to time. However, my online diary gives you the opening hours and the flexibility to book at your convenience. As a Silver member, you can book up to three telephone sessions of 30 minutes per month.
Entrepreneurs' Gold Gym Membership
The Entrepreneurs' Club opening hours vary from time to time. However, my online diary gives you the opening hours and the flexibility to book at your convenience. As a Gold Gym member, you can visit the Gold Gym as many times as you want whatever it is: have a coaching session, receive some feedback, request information...
2) How do I book a session?
Go onto my online diary and book yourself directly. It will save us both time, in getting back and forth to find a suitable available slot. You can also book one at the end of our coaching session, while we are on the phone together.
3) What is the cancellation policy?
For a session
You are free to postpone or cancel any session as long as you give a minimum of 24h notice. This is for the benefit of other clients as well as your coach. Should it not be the case, your session is lost and will not be replaced nor carried over.
For the Silver and Gold Gym Memberships
Both memberships are year-long memberships. Any cancellation will be granted at the coach discretion.
4) Can I upgrade from one programme to another during the year?
You can upgrade from the Silver to the Gold Gym at any given time. The new programme will then run for 12 months, and not for the remaining time.
5) Can I downgrade from one programme to another during the year?
This is not a standard policy and will need to be discussed and accepted at the discretion of your coach.
6) Why is it taking one year to complete?
You are well aware that setting up a business takes time, as well as making it successful to your own standards. An overnight success happens after a long, dedicated and consistent training. Considering the time required to set your goals so that you commit and address all the issues listed in the programme, one year appears to be well indicated.
7) Can I amend the given structure of the programme with my own plan?
The programme gives you a set up structure and is broad enough to allow you to address every important aspect of running a business. However, you may want to address certain issues at any given time, which we will tackle, while keeping your main objective in mind.
8) What I want to work on is not listed in any programme. Can I still use your services?
Why not? Book a consultation session to discuss your requirements. We will work something out, be it with me or someone else. Rest reassured that we will find a solution that suits you.
9) How do I proceed to my payment?
I am using Paypal to proceed to your initial payment. Click on the "Buy Now" button and follow the guiding instructions. With regards to the following 11 installments, I will ask that you set up a standing order (For overseas clients, we may want to discuss the easiest procedure together). All the details will be provided in your welcome pack at the time of getting started.
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Any further questions? Email me at geraldine@geraldinemorel.com | 