While many people have heard of coaching, few have a clear understanding of exactly what a coach is and does. This prevents people from getting appropriate support for life changes. As a coach the most common thing I hear from people is, “I’m not really sure what a coach does or how they could help me.”

What is coaching?

Coaching is not the same as consulting nor the same as therapy, but it takes elements from each discipline to create its own unique method. A coach works with individuals who are focused on making changes in their lives. While a therapist may seek to diagnose and treat a client, coaches work under the assumption that their clients are whole, healthy individuals. Coaches ask thought-provoking questions that challenge clients. They create collaborative and individualized strategies, set goals, and keep the client focused on the future.

What happens when someone hires a coach?

While each coach has a unique style and approach, most expect clients to commit to working with them for a set period. This can vary from anywhere between 4-18 months – depending on the changes that the client intends to make. Some coaches meet with clients in person, but many hold coaching sessions over Zoom or the phone. During those sessions the coach will ask probing questions, serve as a sounding board, offer an outside perspective, help maintain motivation, provide strategies, set goals, and ensure accountability.

What can a coach help with?

Coaches help individuals move forward. They guide business owners as they strategize for growth. They partner with professionals seeking to develop their career path, manage a workplace environment, launch a new business, or find work-life balance. They help students discover career aspirations and plan educational paths. Coaches offer support to individuals seeking to improve relationships, focus on their health and well-being, change their mindset, or alter habits. Essentially, coaches help people create change – even if they don’t quite know what that change is yet.

Is coaching right for me?

Not everyone is a great fit for coaching. Coaches typically like to partner with individuals who have a desire to learn and grow. Ideal clients make a commitment to changing and arrive with some level of motivation to make that change. Since it’s a collaborative process, it’s also important that the coach and the client have good chemistry and feel like the partnership is a good fit.

At Bauman Consulting Group, we provide both individual and group coaching to help people achieve their personal and professional goals. Find out more at www.baumanconsultinggroup.com.

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has changed many things about the way we live and work. Many of us have been relegated to working remotely, which comes with a variety of challenges. Among those, being physically absent from your office makes it harder to be “seen” by your boss. This lack of visibility may make it more difficult to stay on track for key assignments and promotions or to stand out in performance reviews.

When bosses can’t see and monitor you, they may think you’re not being productive or less motivated than usual. Remote workers can easily fall off the radar of supervisors, themselves dealing with the challenges managing during a pandemic brings.

The following tips are good practices in general, but especially important when working from home.

Take initiative.

Don’t wait to be asked to contribute. Be proactive when it comes to problem solving and idea pitching. Volunteer to take on projects others may pass up or that keep ending up on the trash heap of forgotten ideas. Bosses love it when employees do things before being asked. Consistently deliver quality results that get noticed.

Communicate.

Make sure your physical absence doesn’t equate to a communication absence. If anything, over-communicate. Speak up and proactively participate in calls and online meetings rather than fading into the background. Make regular calls and emails to your supervisor. Initiating regular check-ins with your boss can open an ongoing dialogue that gives you the opportunity to highlight your work and successes.

Stretch yourself.

Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t pursue professional development. Whether it’s undertaking an industry certification or attending an online conference, there are ample opportunities to participate in virtual career training, networking and professional growth.

Take this time to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Learn a new skill – like a technology or process - that normally would fall outside of your area of interest of expertise. Volunteer to take on a difficult task such as leading a project or chairing a committee.

Demonstrate your ability to be a team player. Seek the opportunity to collaborate with others either in your department or across disciplines to meet a challenge or create an out-of-the box solution. Those who can successfully drive cooperative problem-solving tend to get recognized by organization leadership.

At Bauman Consulting Group, we provide both individual and group coaching to help people achieve their personal and professional goals. Find out more at www.baumanconsultinggroup.com.