Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is coaching?

Professional coaching is an ongoing partnership that helps leaders realize fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. Through the process of coaching, busy administrators deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. Coaching involves regular interaction with the coach who listens, asks questions, introduces helpful resources and offers insights gained by experience, training and study. A skilled coach will often demand more of you than you would of yourself, while providing you with the encouragement and resources needed for you to take the next step forward. The discipline of regular coaching sessions will move you toward your goals more quickly than you would move on your own.

2. How does coaching differ from therapy and consulting?

Coaching Is Not Consulting. A consultant is paid to have the right answers. Coaches are more focused on asking the right questions. A consultant is paid to assess a problem, do some background research and then provide specific recommendations designed to address the problem. Coaches help you sort through options and assist you in choosing the best. The coach partners with you in identifying and processing options until the best path is clear. In a consulting relationship, you bear the responsibility to implement the consultant's recommendations. A coach, on the other hand, continues as your partner through the implementation stage until your desired outcomes are achieved. Consultants focus on the business or ministry and work with people to improve the organization's effectiveness. Coaches focus on you and as you grow, both you and your business or ministry benefit. Coaching Is Not Therapy Therapists help clients face the issues of the past so they can become more healthy, happy and productive in the future. Coaches work with highly functional, successful people who are ready for the next level of success or a new chapter in life. When counseling would be helpful and is desired, NexStep has highly effective counselors on its team of coaches who provide coaching plus a significant counseling or therapeutic component.

3. What is the philosophy of coaching?

We're all discovering what we really want and that we get what we want faster and easier by having a coach who's been there and who can help us.

4. What will a coach do for me?

My coach will provide a safe, confidential forum for discussing your ideas. Help me set better goals and then reach those goals. Ask me to do more than they would have done on my own. Focus me better to more quickly produce results. Provide the tools, support and structure to accomplish more.

5. Why do people hire a coach?

They recognize that a coach can help them achieve more in their life and career. They want more out of life than they are getting. They want to grow more than they are growing. They want to accomplish more.

6. How do I know if I need a coach?

You can use an professional coach if you have you ever… Thought, "I need someone I can trust as a 'sounding board.'" Wondered what others have done in similar circumstances. Felt you needed another perspective in order to make the best decision. Thought of a question you couldn't ask "just anyone." Doubted your instincts and wanted to test them with a "safe person." Longed for someone outside your staff or board with whom to process ideas.

7. What happens when you hire a coach?

You take yourself more seriously. You take more effective and focused actions immediately. You stop putting up with what is dragging you down. You create momentum so it's easier to get results. You set better goals that you might not have without the coach.

8. I've heard about coaching lately. Why is coaching so popular?

Many educators are tired of doing what they "should" do and are ready to do something special and meaningful for the rest of their lives. The problem is, many can't see it, or if they can, they can't see a way to reorient their life around it. A coach can help them do both. People are realizing how simple it can be to accomplish something that several years ago might have felt out of reach or lie a pipedream. A coach is not a miracle worker but a coach does have a large tool kit to help the Dream become a Reality. Fortunately, people now have time and resources to invest in themselves in this kind of growth. Spiritually. Many coaches are spiritually based. Our working definition of spirituality? How connected you are with yourself and God. The coach helps the clients to tune in better to themselves and their connection with God.

9. Tell me more about coaching.

Coaching Is Strategic. Coaching helps leaders who are contemplating significant change. Coaching helps leaders create more space for personal growth and satisfaction. Coaching helps busy executives achieve balance between their work and personal lives. Coaching helps busy executives define success, set and meet better goals and build better organizations . Coaching helps people be more effective in achieving objectives that are important to them . Coaching works because people who work with professional coaches are already successful . Because people who work with professional coaches are ready to go to another level and highly value having a partner in their journey. Because coaches have often taken the same journey the client wants to take and can offer insight, support and synergy . Because coaches are totally committed to their client's agenda and success.

10. What about people who are already doing great in their lives. Why would they need a coach?

They might need a coach. But it is helpful to find out: Are they doing what they most enjoy? Are they tolerating anything? Is life easy? Are they going to be financially independent within the next 15 years? Do they have what they most want? Some people need to expect more out of their lives. A coach can help in this process.

11. How long must I commit if I start working with a coach?

Most coaches ask for a three to six month commitment, but usually let you stop immediately if coaching is not working for you right now.