Reiter Coaching Supporting Success in Academe
Visit My New Site SuccessInAcademe About coaching Who I coach What Clients are Saying Is coaching for me? About Steve Reiter Frequently Asked Questions Resources Coaching Letter Archives Books, tapes, etc. Other resources Inspirational Quotes and Stories Buy Local, Buy Small Communicate Send Suggestions and Comments Request a Consultation		Frequently Asked Questions How is coaching different from therapy or counseling? How do coaching and consulting differ? Is coaching always done on the phone? Is a toll-free number available? How is e-mail used? How long do people tend to be in coaching? How does the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee work? How is coaching different from therapy or counseling? First, let me say that coaching deals with whole people, and whole people have emotions. Emotional aspects of a person are witnessed, just as an athletic coach would surely be with the athelete who has experienced a setback. But the focus does not remain on the emotional experience; it moves back to the vision and goals, and the actions that will yield the desired results. Unlike therapy, coaching is specifically designed to get you into action and support you in staying on track toward your goals. While therapy may spend some time on getting a client into action, its main focus is to offer healing to relieve the individual's pain. Back to FAQ Index How do coaching and consulting differ? In general, consulting is based on the assumption that the consultant has the expertise to solve the problems or issues presented by the client. Coaching does not start with this assumption. Rather, it is assumed that the coach brings skills that help the client create a vision based on values and "purpose." Actions are identified and support is provided to help the client achieve that goal. It might be that one of the actions would be to obtain the services of a consultant who could provide the special expertise the client requires. Back to FAQ Index Is coaching always done on the phone? Most frequently, coaching is done over the phone. Some coaches who have had offices (e.g., such as many consultants or therapists, in which face-to-face work has been the norm) continue to see coaching clients in an office setting. Others, who work in corporate settings, may also coach on-site. But for the rest of us, the phone is the preferred method. Why? Coaching by phone saves the client travel time, and offers the convenience of being able have sessions during scheduled times during the work day, while on the road, or while on vacation. It also allows a client the choice of working with a coach either in the same town or around the world! My coach, for example, lives in California, while I live in New York State. Obviously, the convenience and cost-effectiveness of using the phone for sessions offers a great deal of flexibility for the coach, as well. Many work out of offices in their homes, which holds down expenses (and cost). And, like the client, the coach can work while travelling. Back to FAQ Index Is a toll-free number available? Reiter Coaching maintains a toll-free number for the convenience of current clients who may wish to call from locations where billing would be inappropriate or prohibitively expensive, or just an inconvenience. For regular users, there is an additional fee to cover the cost for your calls; in most cases, it is the least expensive alternative. Back to FAQ Index How is e-mail used? Some coaches, including Reiter Coaching, add e-mail contact as a regular feature of their coaching. Clients frequently check in between scheduled sessions to report on items of accountability, send in call agendas, ask questions, forward journalling or "homework" items, among other reasons. In addition, there are some coaches who offer e-mail-only coaching. Back to FAQ Index How long do people tend to coach? As you might expect, that varies considerably. Some people enter coaching with a very specific time-limited goal (e.g., choosing their next employment, or perhaps dealing with a decision to move their home). These people may stay for just a couple of months. For most of us, though, change is more than making a decision. It's an ongoing process of learning, growing, and, to some extent, redefining who we are and how we relate to others, organizations, and... well, everything. Coaching provides more than learning. Some important aspects are structure, support, and accountability. Simply put, the coach is someone who will "be there" when the going gets rough, who will cheer you on when the successes show up, and who will keep you focussed toward achieving your goals. There's more... but it's easier to understand this by experience than by explanation. The bottom line is, a coaching relationship of a year or more (often, much more) is a good indicator that the coach is doing a good job of supporting the client's forward movement. Back to FAQ Index How does the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee work? If you are not 100% satisfied with your coaching experience, you can receive a full refund of the fee for your most recent month's coaching, as well as any pre-payments you have made. All I ask is that you talk with me about what wasn't up to your expectations. Back to FAQ Index Your turn: If you're ready to explore whether coaching is for you, or simply want to know what the next step would offer you, Click here.