Many executives and business people have never worked with a coach, or indeed, have never been coached or mentored. The number one question I encounter is, “What’s coaching like?” Other questions which follow closely are, “What do we do?’, “How long does it take?’, and “What’s the cost?”

Let’s discuss each question in order. First, “What’s coaching like?” Whenever I’m asked this question, I try to answer by relating coaching to some past experience the individual has known and for which he/she has a positive memory. An example might be a question, “How did you learn to ride a bicycle?” If the answer conjures up images of them on a bike with a father or mother running down a driveway shouting encouragement and advice, I’m home! I simply say a coach is your father/mother in a business environment. If no immediate example springs forth, I ask how he/she might explain the taste of peanut butter without having the person taste peanut butter. Hopefully, after some searching, he/she will say, “You have to experience it.” That’s when I say, “Yes, it’s the same with coaching.”

Another question which is popular is, “What do we do?” The short answer is we talk. But that’s like saying Seabiscuit was a racehorse. It doesn’t explain the half of it. We talk, for sure, but it’s what we talk about and it’s how you receive and process information where the power of coaching is found. It is a journey of self-examination upon which you willingly and courageously embark. You can’t be cajoled, tricked, or, prodded into the journey. You must acknowledge that the journey will be to your benefit, and that you accept and embrace the journey in order to discover growth and wisdom which are the products of such a journey.

Many ask, “How long does it take?” Again, the short answer is, “It takes as long as it takes.” But, again, that answer does not address the true question. My clients come to me, and stay for an average of 12-18 months. That said, however, I have my very first client still with me after 13 years of coaching. I have my second client with me after almost 13 years of coaching. I explain to incoming clients that it takes at least 6 months to understand the coaching relationship and to fully grasp the power available to them through coaching. For that reason, I implore each incoming client to begin with me if and only if they are prepared to stay a minimum of six months. I don’t take a contract as many coaches do, because I only wish to work with people who wish to work with me.

Another question I invariably receive during one of the first conversations is, “How much does it cost?” My answer is simple. I explain that I charge based on the amount of my time required. I have a number of venues for coaching: face-to-face, virtual, group, activity-based. Each venue requires varying amounts of my time, and inasmuch as I am like every other person on this planet, I only have a finite amount of time. It’s simple. The more of my time required, the more you will be charged. My goal is to serve you. If you require my presence in your office to discuss you and your company for two hours every week, that’s what you will get. If you can do with 30 minutes by telephone three times per month, that’s what we’ll do. It’s all up to you and your needs.