As I’ve shared my entrepreneurial story, coaching has played a big role in my life over the past 18 months. It gave me the clarity to identify my calling and the courage to pursue it, and for that I’ll always be grateful. Since coaching isn’t something many people are familiar with (besides, say, coaching on The Voice!), today’s post will cover many common questions including what coaching entails, why you need a life coach, and more.
To answer these questions, we’ll be going straight to the source. I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing with you an interview with my coach, Tammy Faulds of Inner Travel Coaching.
Some Background
To provide some context, I began working with Tammy in late August 2016.
For my 30th birthday, my parents gifted me with coaching sessions, and I wanted to be sure to find a coach that would be a great fit. I used the Credentialed Coach Finder on the International Coach Federation’s website and browsed the websites of female coaches based in Toronto.
Tammy’s website immediately stood out. I felt like she was able to articulate exactly where I was and what I needed. Everything from the language she used to her incredible brand and approachable nature just felt right.
We set up an introductory call and immediately hit it off. I felt like Tammy got me and I felt both comfortable and empowered. The rest is history! We’ve had many 1:1 coaching sessions and I also took The Daring Way™ course. It’s a group coaching based on work by Brené Brown and it was fantastic.
I could go on and on about how incredible Tammy is, but I’ll save that for a future post. For now, let’s get into some of the most common questions about life coaching.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself including how you got into coaching?
I found life coaching rather organically actually. At the time I was working as an Event Planner and even though I loved my job, the signs of burn out were creeping up on me again (it was a pattern with me). The exhaustion, helplessness, and just feeling supremely stuck meant this career wasn’t going to be sustainable for much longer.
I started looking at what else I was naturally good at and then paired them with my core values. All signs pointed to Life Coaching, which at the time was a fairly ‘fringe’ career. I didn’t even know what a Life Coach was! But as I researched it more I realized this career path absolutely reeked of me. So I started my coaching studies part-time while I continued to work full-time in events.
From your perspective, what is coaching?
Coaching takes you from where you are to where you want to be (vs. therapy which is more focused on your past). We show you different perspectives, challenge limiting belief systems, and definitely hold you accountable through the process. We’re non-judgmental and active listeners who operate with complete confidentiality and trust so you’re able to be more open and honest with yourself.
I definitely don’t profess to have all the answers. But I do ask a lot of annoying questions that force you to up level your life. So if you’re feeling stuck, hire a coach!
Who may need a life coach or benefit from coaching?
Anyone really since we all need that support system who can cheer us on, reel us in, or challenge us when we need it. Sometimes we just need a safe sounding board to sort through some of the cloudier parts of life and a coach can definitely hold that space for you.
What are the benefits of coaching?
Almost too long to list. But my intention with all my clients is to get them ‘unstuck’ so that they can move forward with confidence and clarity. That may look like leaving your job or a relationship that is no longer serving you. Or, perhaps it’s overcoming the feeling of not being good/smart/pretty/powerful enough to go after what you really want in life.
I personally love having a coach because I need the accountability and perspective slaps from time to time…otherwise I end up spinning my wheels for days (or months…or even years!)
How would you suggest someone go about finding a coach?
DO YOUR RESEARCH. I’d suggest going with someone who is accredited with The International Coaching Federation and scheduling a clarity/discovery session with them to ensure there’s great chemistry between you. Trust your instincts and only go with someone who you feel will challenge and support you so that you can get where you need to go.
What should a new client expect from their first few sessions?
A lot of challenging questions! My process always begins with a Core Values Assessment and a detailed questionnaire to determine where you are and what’s holding you back. From there we’ll dive into your vision for the future and how best to get there in a way that’s sustainable and dare I say – fun! So during the first few sessions we start that process. My motto is ‘if you’re comfortable, I’m not coaching’…so prepare to be pushed out of your comfort zone but not into the deep end.
Where are coaching sessions held?
Most of my coaching sessions are held online via the video conferencing tool Zoom. This allows for greater flexibility AND comfort since you can do it from home or the office. In-person sessions are more for yoga and/or meditation sessions.
What type of time commitment is required?
This will vary from coach to coach, but since my coaching is holistic and individualized (no cookie cutter coaching here!) we always start with a 3-month time commitment. This is because it takes time to get to the root of the issues and build up from there.
I just loved The Daring Way™ course! Can you talk a bit about group coaching?
I also offer small group coaching programs! Not to be confused with a “lesser than” experience, these power players also provide ample space for exploration and ah-ha moments. One of my favourite online groups featured a Broadway actress and a doctor, and in the first session they couldn’t believe how even though they had wildly different careers they shared a lot of the same fears. Just goes to show we’re all more alike than we are different.
How can readers learn more about working with you?
They can head on over to innertravelcoaching.com or follow me on Facebook.
You can also read my post The Benefits of Coaching: My Top 5 Lessons for more on my key takeaways from working with Tammy.
I’m so thrilled Tammy was able to do this interview, and will be sharing more coaching-related posts in the future. In the meantime, please leave any questions or comments down below!
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