CTC - Coaching FAQ

What is coaching?
Coaching is about you moving from where you are now to where you want to be. For that to happen you have to be honest about where you are now, be prepared to think carefully about what you really want and be open to trying out new things. The coach helps you find your own answers. Coaching is a structure that provides support and a framework for change. You can expect that coaching will lead you to insights and new ways of thinking and being, as well as introducing you to new and different behaviours and skills.

What is the role of a coach?
The role of the coach is to engage in a relationship with you in order to draw out your potential and help you overcome the roadblocks to change. The coach is there to encourage, motivate, support, challenge and guide, using a combination of analytical questions, constructive feedback and specially designed exercises and techniques.

CTC coaches will:

Draw out your wisdom and intuition
Ask thought provoking questions
Reveal your unfulfilled potential
Make suggestions and requests
Take you through specific exercises and techniques
Move you towards your goals
Support you by acknowledging your unique qualities
Challenge you to stretch yourself
Give you their honest opinion
Keep you on track
Give constructive feedback
Encourage you

What will I need to do?
You will get the most out of coaching if you are prepared to re-assess what is useful in your life and experiment with different ways of being. We ask you to commit to:

be honest and open to new ideas
hold yourself to your best
ask for what you want from your coach
call your coach for each of the sessions (or attend in person as appropriate)
pay monthly in advance
give at least 48 hours notice for a re-scheduled or cancelled session (except in cases of emergency)

How long will it take to get results?
Our coaching is tailor made, not pre-packaged, so the time required will depend on your individual circumstances. In general we recommend a minimum period of three months. We can advise you on what is likely to be most suitable for your particular circumstances.

How does coaching work?
We work either face to face or over the telephone.

The number of sessions will vary depending on what is needed. This offers flexibility to fit in with your lifestyle and to meet your needs, so there is no standard schedule. Usually you will arrange regular sessions with your coach either face to face or by telephone. Typically this would be 30 minutes by telephone once a week for a three month period. Telephone and e-mail support is available between sessions, as needed. Longer or shorter sessions are also available, as are one off sessions to address specific issues. You get to tailor the schedule to your requirements.

You work together with your personal coach to identify the changes you want to make and to design a plan for moving towards the future you want to create. Your personal coach supports and guides you to make that plan a reality. In all cases, we time and structure sessions to suit you.

How is coaching different from consulting?
Coaching is a partnership in which you work with your coach to create the coaching relationship that you want. You set the agenda for the coaching and you agree with your coach how he or she can best support you.

The main difference from consulting is that the coach does not give advice in the way that a consultant does. The basis of coaching is that the client is the expert. The coach may offer suggestions, but the coach is never the "expert" with the answer that they know to be right.

What is NLP and why do you use it in coaching?
NLP is about improving personal effectiveness. It is rooted in the study of excellence and includes many strategies for personal change and increased achievement. NLP has many powerful techniques for removing blocks and creating success in the future. The basis of NLP is identifying what we want and working out how to get it. All CTC coaches are qualified in NLP as well as in coaching. We believe that NLP coaching is a uniquely powerful process for creating significant and lasting change.

How can I find out more?
You can contact CTC by telephone or e-mail for an informal discussion.