Mentor Coach Tips

Where are we going? Are we there yet??

Coaching takes time... and clear communication.

Often, I hear the same concern from new coaches: why does the client who, at first, seemed so eager to get started now seem to have lost interest, or perhaps has even returned to old behaviors? Perhaps, you think, the client isn't "coachable."

Before kicking the client out the door, check to see whether you -- the coach -- and the client are on the same page about your work together. Have you agreed upon a clear focus or goal? Exactly what does your client want to change?  Why have they hired you? What value do they expect to get from your work together? What is so important to them that they are eager and willing to try new approaches?

The International Coach Federation's Definition of Coaching states that the client chooses the coaching focus. But the ICF also says that it's the coach's responsibility to "discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve."  And that means this: do not move into problem-solving mode until both you and the client are crystal clear about where you are going, not only at the start of a coaching relationship but also at the start of each and every coaching conversation.

It's hard to get somewhere when you aren't even sure where you want to go. And if the destination seems more like a mirage or a mystery, you probably don't even want to get in the car!

Free -- Yes, Free -- Phone Conferencing

I don't understand how they do it, but they do it! There is no longer any need to pay annual rental fees -- sometimes upwards of $1,000 -- for a phone conference bridge line.

If you've been thinking of trying group coaching, leading a teleclass, or hosting a discussion group, do it now. Don't let worries about access to teleconference bridge lines get in your way. Both FreeAudioConferencing.com and FreeConference.com provide 100-person bridge lines at no cost to you. The fine print is this: Long distance charges do apply for your callers  unless, of course, your callers are lucky enough to be in the area code of the assigned phone number.

Callers will hear a short "commercial" for the provider when they dial in, but it's a small price to pay. You can get going with your ideas for group programs, and you don't have to worry about a high price tag. This will cost you, if you don't take advantage of it! Imagine the possibilities...

When you are ready to step up the pace, both services provide cost- effective ways to remove the commercial ($9.95 per month at FreeAudioConferencing.com), obtain a toll-free dial-in number (10 cents a minute per caller, charged to you, at FreeConference.com), or even download MP3 recordings of the call ($10 from FreeAudioConferencing.com).

My favorite? FreeAudioConferencing.com -- they assign a phone number and host/participant codes for use at any time, making it easy to provide the same dial-in instructions for each session of a program series. Go ahead and try it, and tell me what you think. Maybe we can even schedule a conference call to discuss these conference calls...