About Coaching
What is Coaching?
How does Coaching differ from counselling,
training, mentoring, etc?
What are the benefits of Coaching?
What do coaches actually do?
How to find a coach
How do people usually find a coach?
What's different about HRM Coaching?
What's the process for helping me to find a coach?
How coaching programmes work
How will I be coached?
How long does a course of coaching usually last?
What if I achieve my goals before the end
of the programme?
About HRM Coaching's team and processes
How does HRM Coaching select its member coaches?
Who are your coaches?
Do your coaches have to follow any set
procedures or Code of Practice?
What types of clients have your coaches
worked with?
Why are there so many different coaching
qualifications?
What should I do if there's a problem?
Fees and payment methods
How much does Coaching usually cost?
Why do you charge those rates?
What is NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming?
Why do coaches charge different amounts?
How do I pay?
Miscellaneous Questions
Do you have a Newsletter?
How do I subscribe to the Newsletter?
How do I unsubscribe from the mailing list?
Do you run workshops or seminars?
Where do you operate?
I'm a coach myself, can I join
your organisation?
HRM Coaching Mission Statement
History of HRM Coaching
What is
Coaching?
Because Coaching is a relatively recent phenomenon, there is no 'industry
standard' definition. However, descriptions used by some of the major
coaching bodies and authors on coaching are:
"Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and
organisations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying
results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business,
career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching,
clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions,
and more fully use their natural strengths."
International Coach Federation
"..unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance.
It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them."
Sir John Whitmore
Author of 'Coaching for Performance'
"Coaching is an interactive process where the coach guides and
facilitates the client's progress towards defined goals. These may
concern relationships, career, self-confidence, financial matters
or, a more general uneasy feeling that life has 'drifted off course'.
Coaching is a one-to-one relationship between a client and their coach.
Regular sessions are held either face-to-face or over the telephone
with action taken by the client between each session."
The Coaching Academy
How does coaching
differ from counselling, training, mentoring, etc?
Coaching is very goal-orientated and deals with where you are right
here & now and the steps you will be taking to achieving your goals
(also look at "What
do coaches actually do?"
Coaching and Training work very well together. When Coaching and Training are used in conjunction, Coaching can significantly improve the long-term effectiveness of the Training. Coaching methods can be used within organisations to ensure that individuals set goals and action points for applying the skills learned in training.
To clarify the difference between Coaching and Mentoring, it's easiest to quote from "Everyone Needs a Mentor" by David Clutterbuck.
"…it has its origins in the concept of apprenticeship, when an older, more experienced individual passed down his knowledge of how the task was done and how to operate in the commercial world".
Coaching does share a lot of principles with Counselling, but it is not suitable for people with psychological issues, addictions or as a route to dealing with deep-seated trauma, although it may be appropriate as a tool later in the healing process.
Note: Business Coaching is slightly different from traditional Life or Corporate/ Executive Coaching in that the Coach may be required to wear several different hats. At some points he/she may act as Mentor, Trainer or Consultant as well as being a Coach, depending on the situation. It is important to discuss this with your coach so that you each are clear on your expectations from the relationship.
What
are the benefits of coaching?
A recent study by the International Coach Federation found a wide
range of benefits reported by individuals who part take in coaching.
These included:
- Increased self-awareness 68%
- Better goal setting 62%
- Lower stress levels 57%
- Increased confidence 52%
- Enhanced communication skills 40%
- Increased project completion 36%
What do coaches
actually do?
There are a few different coaching models. Many coaches follow what
is known as the GROW model. The GROW model is applied to all forms
of coaching, whether it be in a business or 'life' context. You book
a series of sessions in which you work through the GROW model and
continually review your progress towards achieving your goals.
G - Goal
Your coach will ask you lots of questions to establish specifically
what it is that you want to achieve.
R - Reality
You will work with your coach to identify where you are right now
in terms of meeting your goals, the progress you've made so far and
any obstacles that might be getting in the way.
O - Options
You will be challenged to look at all the options open to you. You
will look at things that you could do, but not necessarily should
do.
W - Will or Way Forward
This is where you turn your ideas into action points. You will agree
with your coach what you will do and when you will do it by. This
will be reviewed at your next session.
Throughout the discussions, the emphasis is on you. Coaching is designed to be non-directive, in other words, it is not the coach's responsibility to tell you what you should do. That said, the coach is there to ensure that you remain on track with meeting your objectives and will be tough on you if you need it!
With Corporate/Executive and Business Coaching you will be working on setting and achieving work-related targets to allow you to improve your performance at work.
How do people usually
find a coach?
Many professional coaches are self-employed and not all of them advertise
or have a website, so it can be hard to find them.
The internet is an obvious place to start, but you need to know exactly what you're looking for, otherwise you end up with hundreds of thousands of 'hits'. Most people find a coach or coaching organisation by accessing their network of contacts.
Coach training organisations and associations will be able to provide lists of people who have trained with them or are members.
What's different about
HRM Coaching?
Unlike many online 'find a coach' services, we don't put details of
our team of coaches on our website. In our experience, people are
interested in coaching because they want to interact with a person.
When you work with a coach, you have a series of structured conversations
with them. It can be difficult to judge what a person is actually
like from looking at their listing on a website and it doesn't allow
you to ask questions so that you can compare skills and experience
before you pick up the phone to start your coaching programme.
What's the process for helping
me to find the right coach?
We start by talking to you to find out a number of things:
- The issue that you would like help with
- Some idea of your end goals - you don't have to have it 'all worked out', but it helps if you can tell us roughly how you'd like things to be different
- What you're like and the type of coach you're looking for
- If you have a budget
Then we give you the opportunity to have a free, no obligation meeting on the phone with up to 3 suitable coaches.
We won't recommend unsuitable coaches to you - that would be a waste of your time and the coach's. This meeeting is so that you can find out more about the coach and for you both to judge whether you can work together; it is not a coaching session.
Once you've made a decision on which one you want to use, tell us and we'll let the coaches know.
We'll stay with you every step of the way to answer any questions you may have and we'll check in with you to make sure that everything's ok.
How
will I be coached?
You can choose to be coached either in person or over the telephone.
If you have a preference, you should make this clear to HRM Coaching
so that we can find you a coach who works in the way that you prefer.
How long does a course of
coaching usually last?
This will depend very much on the type of coaching you choose. Executive
Coaching typically takes up to 6 months to experience long-lasting
results and to achieve your performance targets. You should discuss
this with your coach before you begin the coaching.
What if I achieve
my goals before the end of the programme?
Whilst people come to coaching with a particular goal in mind, many
find that once they have built a good relationship with their coach,
they are able to tackle many different issues with them, so you may
wish to continue with the programme. Again, you should discuss this
with your coach.
How does HRM Coaching
select its member coaches?
All member coaches go through a rigorous screening procedure, including
an in-depth interview, checks on qualifications, background & experience
and follow-ups on all references given. We keep copies of their qualification
certificates and professional indemnity insurance on file.
Perhaps even more importantly, we have spent the time getting to know each coach, how they work and the types of people they prefer to coach. Just as you have a 'profile' of the type of coach you're looking for, the coaches have a profile of their ideal client and it's just as crucial that we match them with clients who they want to coach.
All member coaches adhere to our Code of Professional Conduct.
Who are your
coaches?
We will send you a full profile of the coach(es) we match you to.
Do your coaches
have to follow any set procedures or Code of Practice?
All member coaches adhere to our Code of Professional Conduct.
What types
of clients have your coaches worked with?
We have a wide client-base including individuals, small business owners
and large organisations. The full list of previous clients is on the
coach profile which you will be sent once you have had your initial
assessment.
Our coaches have worked with individuals in companies such as Bayer, Clifford Chance, Coutts, Craik Jones, Cranfield University, Dairylea, Diageo, Hobbs, London Underground, Manning Selvage & Lee, Natural Environmental Research Council, Nortel, Norwich Union Life, Reuters, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sony Ericsson, The Greater London Law Society, Twentieth Century Fox, Unilever, Xerox, plus a large number of SME business owners and entrepreneurs.
Why are there
so many different coaching qualifications?
Currently, there is no central body in the UK regulating coaching.
There are various organisations offering many types of training. These
range from one-day courses to part-time courses which can take a couple
of years to complete. There are also many books and home-study courses
on coaching.
When we select member coaches, we look carefully at the training that they have gone through. We select coaches who have had practical experience in coaching and have had both their written work and practical work assessed and moderated.
What should I do if there's
a problem?
If you have problems regarding payments or you need to re-schedule
your coaching appointments, these should be directed to your coach.
In the unlikely event that you are unhappy with the way that you are being coached or your rate of progress, you should raise the issue with your coach to give him or her the opportunity to address the way that you are working together.
If you are still unable to resolve the problem, please contact Hannah McNamara, Managing Director of HRM Coaching on 020 7939 9910.
How much does Coaching
usually cost?
Our usual fees depend on a number of factors, some of which are listed
below. Our packages for organisations, including small and medium
sized businesses, are tailored to the needs of the organisation. Therefore
it is impossible for us to give an exact rate here. We would be pleased
to send you a copy of our credentials document and discuss our rates
with you when you enquire.
Individuals who are investing in Career Coaching or Personal Coaching themselves can expect to pay £150+VAT per hour of coaching. Packages from £200 are available.
Prices valid from 28th February 2008
Special packages can be agreed when a series of sessions are booked and paid for together.
I know a coach who
charges less per session. Why are you charging more?
Many newly trained coaches charge a lower amount to gain experience.
Our coaches are professionals who have worked in business for a number
of years before retraining as coaches. They have also trained in other
self-development techniques such as NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming
(see What is NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming?) which gives them
many tools that they can use to speed up your development. Their years
of experience help you identify the root of the problem much faster
so you can get on with living the life you really want to lead.
With a cheaper, inexperienced coach, you may find that it takes you much longer to achieve the results you're hoping for. So you would probably end up paying the same amount but over a longer period of time.
It's worth remembering the old saying:
"If you think hiring professionals is expensive, try hiring amateurs"
What is NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming?
There are various definitions:
"This set of techniques works on almost a hypnotic level to change unconscious patterns of thought, behavior and language. NLP practitioners look for clues in a person's set speech and behavior patterns and then provide the mental tools that clients can use to alter that behavior."
"NLP is a technique used to determine the thought patterns of an individual by analyzing the individual's body language. NLP is employed to reprogram unconscious negative, harmful beliefs using visualization techniques. NLP has been used to treat addictive behavior, learning disabilities and phobias, as well as in the development of more desirable and constructive patterns of behavior."
Why do
coaches charge different amounts?
Fees charged by coaches vary according to their area of expertise
and their level of experience. Factors influencing the prices are:
- The Type of Coaching - Life Coaching is priced differently from Business Coaching, for example. The main differences are in the level of input from the coach. For instance, a Business Coach may be doing work for the company outside of the 'coaching sessions' an example would be helping with project management, but with Life Coaching the coach does most of the work during the coaching session.
- The skills and experience of the coach.
- Whether the coaching is conducted face-to-face or on the telephone. You can expect to pay more for face-to-face coaching.
- The length of the sessions. Some coaches work on 45 minute sessions, others on 60 minutes, some are even longer. Particularly with Business Coaching, coaches charge their time by the day or on a monthly basis, rather than by the hour.
- How much support is provided between sessions, e.g. 'top-up' sessions by phone, e-mail, etc.
One of the questions you will be asked when you discuss your requirements with HRM Coaching is "Do you have a budget in mind?". This is to ensure that we are better equipped to match you with a coach that is at an affordable price for you.
How do I pay?
Businesses: You will be invoiced by HRM Coaching
Ltd. With business coaching it is standard practice to pay monthly
in advance of coaching sessions. If you operate a Purchase Order system,
you need to set HRM Coaching up as a new supplier and raise a purchase
order number before the coaching begins.
Individuals: Payments are made directly to your coach. It is standard practice for you to pay in advance for your coaching sessions. This is usually on a monthly Standing Order. Your coach will be able to advise you on acceptable payment methods.
Do you have a Newsletter?
Yes, it is e-mailed to subscribers every 2-3 weeks. It includes hints
and tips on how you can use coaching techniques to enhance your personal
and work life. There are also details of events and workshops.
How do I subscribe to the Newsletter? Go to the Contact Us page and enter your details. You will be sent an e-mail to confirm your e-mail address and to confirm that you wish to subscribe. The details you enter will only be used within HRM Coaching and you are free to opt out at any time. Also have a look at our Privacy Policy.
How do I unsubscribe
from the mailing list?
Each time you receive an e-mailed Newsletter, Press Release or other
update, you are given the opportunity to unsubscribe.
Do you run workshops or
seminars?
We are currently planning our programme of workshops and seminars
for the rest of the year. If you subscribe to the Newsletter, you
will receive details of them when they are announced.
Where do you operate?
Our Head Office is in central London, but you can visit our coaches
at one of our eight coaching centres across the capital.
For business clients, our coaches can visit your premises in either London or the Home Counties. For larger projects, our coaches will travel nationally and internationally. Travel time and expenses are charged to the client.
Telephone coaching can be conducted from anywhere, so coaching can done internationally - of course it is useful if coaching sessions can be booked during UK working hours so that our coaches don't have sessions at 3am to accommodate international clients!
I'm
a coach myself, can I join your organisation?
We are not currently recruiting coaches, however we do Mentor
and Coach other coaches on how to build a new coaching practice.
Simply visit www.marketinghelpforcoaches.com
for more information.
HRM Coaching
Mission Statement
HRM Coaching enables companies and individuals to select a life coach,
executive coach or business coach suitable to their needs from a network
of member coaches.
By working with professional, qualified and experienced coaches, we aim to ensure that all of the coaches we recommend are of the highest calibre. We will only refer people to coaches who we would happily recommend to our closest friends and family.
HRM Coaching is committed to increasing public awareness of coaching and to making it accessible to a wider group of people.
History of HRM Coaching
HRM Coaching Limited started in 2004 in response to a need within
the market place for a single point of contact for people looking
for coaches.
The coaches on our team had been working as independent professional coaches for a number of years before joining HRM Coaching.
Thank You
We hope that this answers your questions, so when you're ready to take the next step, please do not hesitate to call Hannah McNamara, Managing Director on 020 7939 9910 or e-mail on info@hrmcoaching.com