FOR INDIVIDUALS
Why should I use a career coach or counselor in the first place?
Think of all the time and money you have invested thus far in your education and your career. If you are not satisfied with your progress or with some of the choices you have made, then it makes sense to step back and engage with a professional to assist you. It is a sign of strength to reach out for help. Many successful people have used coaches to improve their performance or situation. Think of world-class athletes, business leaders and others who all use some form of professional coaching, consulting or counseling.
How will I know if I am making progress?
There are several indicators. First, defining the issues and prioritizing the problems thoughtfully is a key step. Charles Kettering, a famous inventor and former head of research at GM, once said: “A problem well-stated is half solved.” After this critical first stage is completed specific plans, solutions and action steps are mutually developed. Ultimate success is defined based on reaching the objectives of the client. For some it may be choosing a specific career direction or changing course completely. Others may define success by securing a new position.
Why is the practice focused on young adults, the so-called millennials/Gen Y group?
The millennials/Gen Ys range in age from 18-32. Gen Xers range from 33-48 and the boomers are 49-67. Our philosophy is that the generation coming into the workforce needs the most assistance. They either don’t have or know how to take full advantage of coaching resources in their universities and companies. Well-intentioned parents often have their own agendas for their kids’ careers. Once the Gen Y folks enter their first jobs they are often lowest on the priority list and receive little formal coaching from their companies. The help they receive early in their careers will pay the most dividends down the road as they grow, develop and take on leadership roles.
Should I include trusted family members or others in the process?
There are times when it may be appropriate to have others included as part of the process. It is a case-by-case decision. Young adults often have close relationships with their parents and it may make sense to include them. Sometimes a spouse should be included. In a family business, for example, there will be career questions or other issues that can impact relatives.
Are the sessions confidential?
Yes. We do not discuss client issues outside of our sessions. In some cases a client may bring in a family member such as parent or spouse as part of the discussion. Confidentiality is expected from everyone.
What is the process and what methods are used?
Various tools and strategies are available. For a client working on career decisions we may use some tests. Structured interviews and information about interests, activities, education and skills are gathered and analyzed. We coach clients on job search strategies, resume writing, networking skills, interviewing and negotiating a job offer.
What are the definitions of consulting, coaching, and counseling and how are they different or the same?
The three terms are inter-related and there is some overlap among them. Consulting usually refers to a relationship where there is some type of expert advice or technical assistance being provided. The consultant has specialized skills, talents, information or experience that the client wants to learn from. Counseling is usually more of an interactive process where the client and counselor engage in a back-and-forth relationship designed to assist the client make a change (career, personal, etc.) or gain some personal insights around behaviors, motivations and emotions. Coaching borrows a little bit from both consulting and counseling. Coaching focuses on the client’s future behavioral changes, improvements, adjustments or enhancements to some area of life such as work, career, exercise, time management, etc.
How many sessions or hours are needed to solve my problem or create a plan?
It will depend on individual circumstances. However, somewhere between four to eight sessions are usually sufficient to cycle through the assessment, planning and action phases. The timing will also vary. For example, it may be that we should meet weekly for a few sessions and then meet monthly thereafter to monitor or adjust the action plans.
Where do we meet?
In today’s mobile and technological society we have many options: our Monte Sereno office, your office, a mutually convenient flex office and in some cases we can use the phone or video-conferencing for our work.
Do you guarantee to find me a job or a satisfying future?
No, not really. However, we can guarantee adherence to professional standards and an open and honest relationship. We maintain confidentiality and work hard to earn your trust so that you can focus on the things that matter most to you. Ultimately the choices you make and the success you achieve are yours.
What are the fees and how are they determined?
We have an hourly fee structure of $200 per hour for individual clients. We are happy to discuss our fee structure and rationale with you if you need more information. You can pay by check or credit card.
Can I reach you outside the session if I have occasional questions or a situation requiring guidance?
Yes. We consider ourselves your partner as a coach, consultant and counselor. Especially when you are in the middle of a period of change that raises questions and uncertainty. We are available through email, phone and texting and will respond within 24 hours or sooner if necessary.
FOR COMPANIES
Why should I use a coach or counselor in the first place?
If you are in a company, think of all the time and energy you have invested thus far your career and education. If you are not satisfied with your progress, effectiveness, productivity or with some of your choices, then it makes sense to step back and engage with a professional to assist you. Even if you are generally satisfied, but want to accelerate your growth, it is a sign of strength to reach out for help. Many successful people use coaches to improve their performance or situation. Think of world-class athletes, business leaders and others who all use some form of professional coaching, consulting or counseling. If you are a manager who is thinking of engaging a coach for one of your employees, think of this as an investment in your business and a way to improve both individual and team performance.
How will I know if I am making progress?
There are several indicators. First, defining the issues and prioritizing the problems thoughtfully is a key step. Charles Kettering, a famous inventor and former head of research at GM, once said: “A problem well-stated is half solved.” After this critical first stage is completed specific plans, solutions and action steps are mutually developed. Ultimate success is defined based on reaching the objectives of the client. For some it may be modifying workforce behavior to build upon existing strengths. For others it may be coaching in an existing job where they need help to become a more effective leader, manager or teammate.
Why is the practice focused on young adults, the so-called millennials/Gen Y group?
The millennials/Gen Ys range in age from 18-32. Gen Xers range from 33-48 and the boomers are 49-67. Our philosophy is that the generation coming into the workforce needs the most assistance. They either don’t have or know how to take full advantage of coaching resources in their companies. They may be receiving advice from well-intentioned friends, parents, colleagues or others who have their own agendas or perspective. We offer professional, external and client-focused expertise. Once the Gen Y folks enter their first jobs they are often lowest on the priority list and receive little formal coaching from their companies. The help they receive early in their careers will pay the most dividends down the road as they grow, develop and take on leadership roles.
Should I include trusted colleagues or others in the process?
There are times when it may be appropriate to have others included as part of the process. It is a case-by-case decision. New managers often have close relationships with their colleagues, peers and even certain family members. For individuals in a typical company, the boss, certain teammates and/or a human resources person may be included at appropriate points in the process. In a family business, for example, there will be career issues that might impact various relatives.
Are the sessions confidential?
Yes. We do not discuss client issues outside of our sessions. In cases where there is a team approach, the client may include his or her boss or other team members in some of the work. Confidentiality is expected from everyone in these cases.
What is the process and what methods are used?
Various tools and strategies are available. Structured interviews are used and background information is gathered about work experience, educational history, skills, talents, work style, etc. For individuals working on their management or leadership skills, we may use a multi-rater instrument (e.g. 360 degree) to obtain input from team members.
What are the definitions of consulting, coaching, and counseling and how are they different or the same?
The three terms are inter-related and there is some overlap among them. Consulting usually refers to a relationship where there is some type of expert advice or technical assistance being provided. The consultant has specialized skills, talents, information or experience that the client wants to learn from. Counseling is usually more of an interactive process where the client and counselor engage in a back-and-forth relationship designed to assist the client make a change (career, personal, etc.) or gain some personal insights around behaviors, motivations and emotions. Coaching borrows a little bit from both consulting and counseling. Coaching focuses on the client’s future behavioral changes, improvements, adjustments or enhancements to some area of life such as work, career, exercise, time management, etc.
How many sessions or hours are needed to solve my problem or create a plan?
It will depend on individual circumstances. However, somewhere between four to eight sessions are usually sufficient to cycle through the assessment, planning and action phases. The timing will also vary. For example, it may be that we should meet weekly for a few sessions and then meet monthly thereafter to monitor or adjust the action plans.
Where do we meet?
In today’s mobile and technological society we have many options: our Monte Sereno office, your office, a mutually convenient flex office and in some cases we can use the phone or video-conferencing for our work.
Do you guarantee me a satisfying future or increased effectiveness and productivity at work?
We guarantee adherence to professional standards and an open and honest relationship. We maintain confidentiality and work hard to earn your trust so that you can focus on the things that matter most to you. If we build a sound plan together with an agreed upon implementation strategy and outcome based measures, there is a high likelihood for success. Ultimately the choices you make and the success you achieve are yours.
What are the fees and how are they determined?
We have an hourly fee structure of $350 per hour for corporate clients. Some projects can be scoped and priced as a total program on a fixed-fee basis. Other arrangements might include a retainer with a client company who wants to use coaching or consulting on an “as-needed” or “on-call” basis.
Can I reach you outside the session if I have occasional questions or a situation requiring guidance?
Yes. We consider ourselves your partner as a coach, consultant and counselor. Especially when you are in the middle of a period of change that raises questions and uncertainty. We are available through email, phone and texting and will respond within 24 hours or sooner if necessary.
