Frequently Asked Questions

• What is coaching? (answer...)
• What is the difference between: business coaching, corporate coaching, executive coaching, personal coaching, career coaching? (answer...)
• How is coaching different from consulting or counseling? (answer...)
• What kind of professionals do you typically work with? (answer...)
• Why do individuals and companies work with coaches? (answer...)
• How is coaching done? (answer...)
• How long do you usually work with people? (answer...)
• Does coaching REALLY work? (answer...)
• There are a lot of coaching companies out there. What makes ACT so special? (answer...)
• Who are some of the people and companies you have worked with before? (answer...)
• What do you do in our first complimentary coaching session? (answer...)
• Are there any guarantees for your coaching? (answer...)

What is coaching?

Coaching is a relatively new trend that finds its roots in diverse fields such as: business management, human resources, organization development, sports psychology, peak performance training, adult learning, and clinical psychology.

According to the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, coaching is a relationship between a Coach and a willing individual inside or outside of an organization that is built on respect, safety, challenge and accountability. The purpose of the relationship is to motivate the Coachee to be "their absolute best and to achieve extraordinary results in performance and in living." (from the WABC Registered Internal Corporate Coach Manual™)

What is the difference between: business coaching, corporate coaching, executive coaching, personal coaching, and career coaching?

As the field of coaching grows, some specialties are emerging:

• Small Business Coaches generally work with entrepreneurs, small business owners and their management teams on developing their vision and building a more profitable and efficient business.
• Midsize Business Coaches work with executives, managers, and owners of companies who have grown to the place where a stronger leadership focus is needed and the company is struggling with overcoming normal growth challenges.
• Corporate coaches often work within larger organizations to help managers and executives increase their productivity, strengthen their leadership abilities and achieve peak performance.
• Executive coaches usually specialize in working with mid to upper-level executives and owners of companies who desire to accomplish either corporate or personal goals more effectively and efficiently.
• Personal coaches work with individuals on making their personal life more successful and satisfying.
• Career coaching generally focuses exclusively on helping individuals make career decisions and transitions more effectively and strategically.

At Advantage Coaching & Training we have coaches in every specialty. We would be glad to talk with you to help you discover what kind of coaching would be meet your needs.

How is coaching different from consulting or counseling?

Coaching has become a very hot topic in the last 3 to 5 years. Now it seems like everyone is calling themselves a "coach". At Advantage Coaching & Training we take coaching very seriously and we do not lightly apply the term "coaching" to everything we do. Good coaches understand the difference between coaching, consulting and counseling.

Most counseling is centered around healing mental and psychological issues. Generally the patient comes into the counseling center or hospital to be treated for their "problem." The psychologist or therapist generally applies a diagnosis that identifies what the patient is struggling with and prescribes a treatment plan.

In coaching there is no diagnosis. There is no "doctor-patient" relationship. The coaching relationship is founded upon the belief that this is a partnership of equals.

A coach does not prescribe a treatment plan, instead you and your coach develop a plan together. The solution to your "problem," as defined in coaching, is not found in delving into your past, but focusing on your future. Great coaching helps you maximize your strengths while developing your growth areas.

Most consulting relationships are also based on the "expert-student" model. The consultant is the expert. The client is the student. Consulting is generally all about having the right answers.

Coaching is all about asking the right questions. In coaching, the coach is not seen as the expert, but as a partner. You are the expert on your life and business. The coach will focus on learning about you and will help you solve problems more effectively and efficiently by asking the right questions.

What kind of professionals do you typically work with?

All kinds--from front line managers to the highest levels of a company, from home business owners to doctors and lawyers and in all the major industries including: financial services, technology, manufacturing, publishing, airlines, consulting, hospitality, professional services, hospitals, oil, and many more.

Why do individuals and companies work with coaches?

There are a wide variety of reasons why individuals and companies work with coaches. One of our professional coaches can help you:

• Learn to be true to yourself, your vision and mission
• Eliminate the blocks that keep your from demonstrating your best performance
• Clearly define your vision and develop a strategy to effectively achieve your goals
• Improve your leadership skills
• Live life with purpose, passion and integrity
• Maximize your strengths and abilities
• Learn to make more money with less effort
• Cope with conflict in a healthy and beneficial way
• Create a business that complements and enhances your quality of life
• Rapidly accelerate your career growth
• Achieve a dynamic balance between your personal and professional life
• Focus your energy in the right direction
• Feel confident of making the right decisions for themselves, their business and their family
• Create sustainable change in your life and work

How is coaching done?

Coaching is generally held either in person or over the phone, but some coaches use fax, email, and even chat rooms. We prefer to hold our coaching in person, but this is difficult for some of our busy executives and many of our out-of-state clients. We have found no decrease in effectiveness in coaching using the telephone versus in person.

How long do you usually work with people?

At the beginning of the coaching relationship we strongly encourage you to consider working with us for at least 3 months to experience the full benefits of coaching. However, the overwhelming majority of our clients find coaching so beneficial they work with us for an average of 6-8 months. We have some clients who have been working with us for more than two years.

Does coaching REALLY work?

Absolutely! Our current and former clients have accomplished some amazing things through coaching. While we cannot guarantee similar things will happen with you or your company, more and more research is coming out demonstrating the effectiveness of coaching.

A recent survey measured the Return on Investment (ROI) of 100 managers and executives of Fortune 1000 companies who received customized Executive Coaching. The survey found customized corporate coaching to return an average of six times the cost of the coaching program.

Among the specific benefits to companies that provide coaching to their managers and executives are improvements in:

• Leadership effectiveness
• Bottom-line profitability
• Organizational strength
• Top-line sales
• Retaining executives who receive coaching
• Cost reductions
• Quality of products and service
• Overall Productivity

Among the benefits to managers and executives who receive coaching are improved:

• Leadership skills
• Conflict resolution techniques
• Working relationships with employees
• Job satisfaction
• Work and life balance
• Working relationships with peers
• Time management
• Organizational commitment
• Relationships with clients

A recent study cited in the prestigious Public Personnel Management Journal found a typical management training program increase the manager's productivity by a respectable 22%, but when combined with 8-weeks of intensive Executive Coaching, the manager's productivity exploded to more than 85%!

Coaching works, but it does take time, energy and a personal investment by the coachee.

There are a lot of coaching companies out there. What makes ACT so special?

There are many benefits of working with one of our coaches:

• We are one of the premier coaching and training firms in the United States.
• Most of our team members have advanced degrees in human development, business, leadership or psychology, along with nationally recognized coaching credentials.
• We have a nation-wide network of business coaches, executive coaches, personal coaches and corporate trainers.
• We regularly work with executives and leaders from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
• We are totally committed to assisting you create the life and business you desire and deserve.
• We are fully committed to helping you and your leaders achieve peak performance, increase your profitability, regain your work-life balance, and improve your level of success and satisfaction.

Who are some of the people and companies you have worked with before?

We work with many professionals, managers, directors, executives, and business owners in multiple industries.

Some of our more well-known clients include: Abbott Laboratories, Accenture, Ameritech, Andersen, BP Amoco, Commonwealth Edison, Getronics, IBM, Lucent Technologies, Merrill Lynch, Marriott, Motorola, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, Quaker Oats, Tellabs, Terminix, United Airlines, and Van Kampen Financials.

Why do you give a FREE COACHING SESSION and what do we do during that time?

Talking about coaching is one thing, but it doesn't become real until you personally experience the power of coaching.

What we discuss during our first free session varies from client to client and coach to coach. Usually we like to hear a little about your personal or professional background and what brings you to coaching at this time. Next we like to hear about some of the goals you would like to accomplish in coaching.

We try to spend most of the time actually letting you experience coaching firsthand by choosing a topic and coaching you around it. Near the end of the session we try to answer any other questions you may have about coaching.

• We do not "hard sell" you on coaching or try to convince you that you need coaching.
• We do not pressure you for a commitment--other than being committed to achieving your maximum success.
• We trust your judgment enough to know whether or not coaching is right for you.

Are you ready to experience the power of coaching firsthand?

Are there any guarantees for your coaching?

If you do not feel like the coaching is benefiting you in the first month, we will gladly refund all of your money. Our integrity and business philosophy stipulates that we only work with people who benefit from our services.