What Is Coaching?

Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths.

Professional coaches are trained to listen and observe, to customize their approach to the individual client's needs, and to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. They believe that the client is naturally creative and resourceful and that the coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has. While the coach provides feedback and an objective perspective, the client is responsible for taking the steps to produce the results he or she desires.

People hire a coach when they are starting a new business, making a career transition, reevaluating their life choices, or simply feeling ready for a personal or professional breakthrough. Most coaches working with individuals charge between $200 to $500 per month for one half-hour call per week. Executive coaches charge more and have clients who work with them for an hour or two a week. Average hourly fees range from $100 to $200 per hour. Corporate coaching or other coaching related programs are substantially higher.

Three Silicon Valley Coach Federation coaches and one client sat down with Indu Jayakuma of San Jose Community Television to talk about coaching. View the short video (six minutes) to the right to see what they had to say!

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