The International Coach Federation (ICF) defines Coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential…”
What this generally means in practice is that the Client and Coach work together to create goals designed to close the gap between the Client’s current performance and the desired change. Then, they meet regularly to discuss the Client’s progress toward achieving those goals. At the conclusion of each meeting the Coach and Client agree to next steps.
During these interactions, the Coach’s primary function is to raise the Client’s awareness (i.e. consciousness) of internal and external issues that may be impacting the achievement of the goals. The Coach also provides guidance as the Client determines how best to address the issues. The Coach accomplishes this by posing powerful questions and providing value-added techniques and experiences aimed at accomplishing sustainable change.
While Coaching is therapeutic (i.e. having a good effect on the mind and body), it is not therapy. Therapy tends to focus more deeply on understanding the past, while Coaching focuses more specifically on accomplishing the goals that move the Client forward.
In ‘classic’ Coaching, the Client has all the answers – the Coach is the facilitator and guide to finding those answers, not a Consultant providing expert information.
What is Leadership Coaching with Patrice Hall?
Leadership Coaching with Patrice gives Clients an expert partner who is fiercely committed to their success. Patrice only works with small numbers of people at a time, so Clients receive a focused, personalized experience.
Patrice likens her work to that of a Personal Trainer who works with individuals to increase their physical fitness. In similar ways, she works with Clients to increase their fitness as Leaders. Like personal training, the partnership can take many forms and directions – completely determined by the Client’s goals and agenda. Together Patrice and the Client identify the obstacles that are in the way of the Client performing at peak potential and then devise a plan to overcome them.
Also like a personal trainer, Patrice brings a high level of knowledge and experience to the relationship. Her real-world leadership expertise enables her to provide her Clients with more direction and specific guidance than would typically occur in ‘classic’ Coaching.
Who are Ideal Leadership Coaching Clients?
Patrice works with Clients at all levels within an organization, and in organizations of different sizes that span many industries.
Her typical Client is a mid-career professional who has at least 5 years’ experience working in a corporate environment. The professional will have progressed well beyond entry-level (i.e. will have completed post-college assignments or training programs) but will not yet have reached the Executive ranks. The individual can operate in Sales, Customer Service, Operations, Strategy, IT, HR or any other functional area and may manage people or projects, or be an individual contributor with no direct reports. Good Leadership is not bound by organization charts.
The most important criteria in working with Patrice is a deep desire and commitment to become a better leader by pushing past whatever obstacles are standing in the way of optimal performance. Ideally, there is some precipitating event that sparks this desire and ignites a fire for change. For instance, the individual becomes frustrated enough with a lack of professional advancement or fulfillment to take action, or receives feedback that is difficult to understand or process, or is faced with some type of leadership challenge that feels overwhelming (new role, increased performance expectations, new boss, new team, etc.).
Before starting a Coaching engagement Patrice will work with the Client to determine whether Coaching is right for them and whether they are ready to commit to the process. If the Client is ready and the chemistry is right, the engagement begins. If not, Patrice will do her best to refer the Client to a more suitable option.
This is Patrice’s commitment to every potential Client: she will not take your time or money unless she is confident that she can make a real difference.
How Does the Process Work?
Individuals contact Patrice directly, or organizations identify individuals through their existing Talent Management processes and offer them the option of working with Patrice.
Patrice and the individual connect in person, or virtually, to determine mutual fit and benefit.
Based on the development needs and objectives, Patrice proposes a coaching schedule and Development Plan, with measurable goals. Once agreed to, one-on-one sessions begin.
Sessions are typically 1 hour and the overall number of sessions and frequency are dictated by the Client’s goals. As a rule of thumb, Clients should expect to engage in a minimum of 10 hours of Coaching in order to lay the groundwork for change regarding a specific issue, with additional sessions to fully integrate shifts in attitude and behavior. Goals and objectives that are broader and/or less defined may take more time. Likewise, many Clients find that maintaining an ongoing Coaching relationship serves them well as they navigate the various hurdles of their professional lives.
There are a range of pricing packages – please contact Patrice to discuss your specific needs. All engagements include periodic email interaction and tailored resource referrals at no additional cost. Clients reap the benefits of an expert ‘curator’ who culls through a myriad of sources to identify what is best and most pertinent for them.
At the conclusion of the engagement Patrice provides a formal evaluation, including go-forward resources and recommendations. She also provides a complimentary check-in 6 months after the final session, designed to support the Client’s continued progress and/or to determine the need for additional services.