High-performing athletes have coaches to help them identify areas for improvement and figure out how to do it.
Top executives have coaches to help them work through tough issues and keep their eye on the high-level goals they want to accomplish instead of the little details that threaten to drown them.
A career coach can help you set goals, land a different job, or switch careers – or all of the above.
6 Things You Get From Coaching
You get accountability. No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, coaching helps you commit out loud to someone who will notice if things don’t get done – and if things aren’t getting done I’ll help you figure out why and how to do it differently next time. (No recriminations or shame. Ever.)
You get problem-solving. How do you get from here to there? What can you do to improve your chances at an interview? Coaching helps you find the answers by giving you someone to think with.
You get goal-setting. What do you really want? What are your long-term goals? What are your short-term goals? A coach helps you define your goals and narrow them down so they’re achievable.
You get a second set of eyes. Are your accomplishments described in the most effective way for this job? Does this format work? A coach helps you review your materials and identify any room for improvement.
You get a sounding board. Whether you’re figuring out how to apply for a job, thinking through whether you should apply for a job, practicing interview questions, or thinking about how to ask for a raise, a coach can provide feedback, suggestions, and a safe space for thinking out loud.
You get objectivity. To a certain extent, a trusted friend or partner can provide all of the things I listed above. But they have a stake in the decisions you make, because they love you. A coach, on the other hand, can help you figure out what you want and how to do it before you have to negotiate the specifics with the people in your life.
Me as a coach
You can read more about my history here. But let me outline what I bring to the table as your coach.
I don’t have all the answers. Hell, I don’t have any of the answers. You do. But I’m really good at helping you strip away all of the things that are getting in the way so you can access the answers you have for your own life.
I don’t have a dog in this hunt. In other words, I don’t have a stake in what you do next or how you configure your life — unlike your friends, your colleagues, your partner, your adviser, or your parents. My job is to support you while you figure out what will be most life-giving for you, and that gives you the freedom to dream big without limiting yourself by the supposedly practical.
I believe your pain is real. I’m not going to tell you to buck up, or get over it, or push on through. Sometimes we need to grieve the lives we haven’t chosen or acknowledge that this point in transition kind of sucks. We aren’t going to ignore the emotional in favor of the practical.
Neither are we going to ignore the practical in favor of the emotional. Your emotions are real, but so are your goals.
I’ve worked hard to develop cultural competence in a pretty wide variety of areas, which means that no matter who you are or what your life situation, I’m unlikely to think it’s strange.
And this probably goes without saying, but all one-on-one coaching is confidential. If someone knows about our coaching, it will be because you shared that with them. Even if we’re Facebook friends, I’m not going to let on that you’re a client. And that means you can share anything without fear of it going anywhere it shouldn’t.
Kinds of coaching available
I offer two different forms of one on one coaching: twice-monthly phone sessions or ongoing email sessions. How do you know which you should choose?
Phone sessions will work best if:
- You can set aside regular time to talk without interruption, with additional time on either side to think about where you are.
- You process information better by speaking than by writing.
- You need a regular, scheduled meeting time to help you set aside time to work on this.
Email sessions will work best if:
- Your schedule or your responsibilities make it difficult to set aside regular, uninterrupted phone time.
- You process information better by writing than speaking.
- You tend to be self-motivated or you prefer a slow-and-steady ongoing pace.
Rates
My current rates for phone sessions are $175 for one hour-long session, $630 for four sessions, or $840 for six. For most people, two sessions a month are enough to help them reach their goals without experiencing too much overwhelm.
Email rates are $150 a month for unlimited email. That is, you’re welcome to email me as often and at whatever length you’d like. I pledge to respond within 72 hours (although it’s usually much faster).
How do we get started?
I like to start any coaching with a free half-hour information session to define our goals and determine the right kind of coaching for you.
You can sign up for a free session though my online scheduling system by clicking here.
I’ve still got some questions
If you’ve still got questions, please email me using the form below. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
If you've got questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you! Just fill out the form below and hit submit and I'll get back to you within 48 hours.