Finding a Coach for Others
“very knowledgeable… a genuine interest in the challenges facing his clients.”
“I so appreciate Geoff’s care, compassion, deep presence and wisdom. His ability to gently help me see what was previously not visible is remarkable. Being coached by Geoff is to be understood and honored for being just who I am – while being challenged and carefully supported in my evolution, transformation and integration.”
“Geoff has a very full toolbox of management, coaching, and leadership development techniques. He offered these as resources in an unobtrusive way that didn’t get in the way of the flow of work we had set out for ourselves, but allowed for greater focus and perspective on the present, where I was emotionally and how I conceptualized my situation.”
Coaching is an essential, highly effective tool for improving capacity of key leaders, addressing performance shortfalls, and supporting high-potential execs to move to the next level of capability. Executive coaching is a practical, direct and powerful process whereby the client is supported and challenged to achieve long-term fulfillment, meaning, and accomplishment in work and life.
What to look for: a coaching model that is rich and deep, grounded in both practical realities and powerful theories and practices for developing as a leader and as a human being; the ability to create an open, trusting relationship between the client and the coach; a capable, seasoned coach that has both the skills and the practical wisdom to know what can most effectively address the needs of the client; and the willingness of the client to engage in the process and apply the learning in real-time action.
The coaching approach I use is integral and embodied, which in its simplest means it incorporates all of the executive’s reality and all of his or her being into the process. It is based on a broad range of theories and practices of change that include philosophical, psychological, social, organizational, spiritual and physical dimensions, integrated with wisdom gained in over 25 years of leadership, coaching, teaching, and learning.
Coaching is not just a set of tools and techniques. At its essence it is a transformative relationship, based on trust, which develops over time. To be honest, not all coaching relationships develop the trust to be truly transforming. As you may have noticed, relationships can be fickle and seem to have a mind of their own. The client and the coach are human; we mess up; we misunderstand each other. In recommending coaches, pay attention to intangibles like chemistry and fit and be willing to let the relationship take its own course once coaching starts.
One thing you can count on from me is that I will always be accountable for the trust in our relationship and that of the executives I coach. I will always strive to deepen the trust. I will always be committed to truthfulness, compassion, and to your and my client’s deepest intentions.
What you can expect
- increased leadership capacity and agility
- dramatically improved relationships among team members
- managers bringing greater clarity, focus and intention
- less reported stress and overwhelm
- greater sense of alignment and job satisfcation
- resolving and moving beyond situations that seem stuck
- greater ability to lead others toward outcomes
- improved team morale and engagement
- emotional balance and ease with difficult emotions
- deeper sense of connection and meaning
Practical Details
My coaching programs begin with an assessment and inquiry process that sheds light on the client’s strengths and challenges, his or her current reality, and identifies specific outcomes that provide an orienting compass for our work. Although we continually adjust and refine these directions as we work together, these outcomes provide a reference for accountability and assessment of the coaching process.
I typically meet with my clients 2-5 times per month, usually for an hour. Every four to six weeks we will have a longer, more in-depth meeting. Most meetings occur by phone, but may also occur at your offices, my office, or another location. Outside of scheduled meetings, I am available to coaching clients by email or phone for urgent consultations.
Our work together will include feedback, reflection and practice. In addition, clients will likely get reading assignments, practices to apply between the sessions, and specific strategies and tactics to address immediate challenges.
Although most work is one-on-one, a client and I occasionally decide to include others. We may do this when there are particularly challenging relationships or situations, to solicit feedback from colleagues, or to work with the client in real-time in a specific context. I may also occasionally suggest that we include another coach or consultant if I feel a client has a specific need that they would be best suited to address.
Price: $499 – 1499 / month
If you decide to engage me for coaching the engagement can be stopped at any time. I will, however, likely ask the client to make an initial commitment to the process. Coaching will yield immediate benefits, but the most important results come with the client’s engagement and commitment to his or her own growth and vision, as well as the relationship and understanding we develop together over time. Typically I suggest an initial commitment of six to 12 months for new clients.
To get started, simply contact me to have an initial conversation to talk about your situation and needs.
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