As a newsletter publisher and member of many advertising cooperatives, I see all kinds of offers and advertisements.
One trend I have noticed both on the internet and in “real life” is a movement towards a holistic approach to health care as well as career and life fulfillment issues. I had been corresponding with a personal/professional development coach to arrange offering coaching services to my subscribers when I received from my employer a corporate communiqu “talking up” the use of coaching in career development. This really piqued my interest.
I decided to do an interview with Personal/Professional Coach Steve Pilkington, to find out more about the coaching profession and the benefits of employing a coach. Below is a transcript of that interview:
Cathy:
Steve, Tell me a little bit about yourself —
– Where you live
– Your educational background/degrees/licenses
– Your family situation
Steve:
My wife Ellen and I live in East Central Alabama. We have a son who is installation manager for a landscape company and a daughter in college who wants to study veterinary medicine.
Ellen and I are enjoying the “empty nest” syndrome and “feel” no ill effects at all.
I hold a Masters Degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
Cathy:
What IS a personal/professional coach?
Steve:
A personal development coach is someone who is by nature a curious “creature” and is interested in the success of others. I work with people to develop systematic strategies to move them either personally or professionally from point a to point b.
A development coach usually works with a client who is emotionally healthy but just needs a “nudge” in the right direction.
For me coaching is a Divine “calling.”
Cathy:
What was the most important factor in your decision to become a coach?
Steve:
I, personally, needed more out of life. I became a coach in order to be of more service to humankind. I derive joy and fulfillment from coaching and watching the personal development in the people I work with.
Coaching can truly make a difference in people’s lives… I’ve seen it.
Cathy:
Do you offer your services strictly online and over the phone or do you also offer face-to-face coaching services?
Steve:
At present I offer coaching over the phone…it’s convenient and private.
Cathy:
In your experience, what type of challenge does the typical client face?
Steve:
The most common comment I hear is “I feel like I should be doing more with my life.” This, to me, indicates a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the way one’s life is at present… a longing for more.
Coaching will help a person get clearly focused on what they truly need and want out of life and will help a client develop the strategies to get there. Coaching offers support, structure and accountability.
Cathy:
How long do you typically work with an individual client?
Steve:
That totally depends on the individual situation, but usually coaching is short term from one to six months
Cathy:
These days there are so many people facing what I like to refer to as “involuntary career changes”. Many of these people worked decades to build a solid career and are now faced with starting over in their 40’s and beyond. What advice can you offer these people in planning their next career?
Steve:
This is a tough one. Being 40 doesn’t mean you are “over the hill.” Sometimes what looks like a closed door is an opportunity to bigger and better things.
People, like corporations, also have to re-tool from time to time. We live in a world where change is a rapid and fairly constant thing.
Never stop sharpening your skills, always be on the “lookout” for opportunity and never become comfortable where you are.
Unfortunately, in today’s world there is no loyalty in corporate America towards its employees.
Cathy:
What about those just starting out? They’re sure to be somewhat jaded by what they see their parents’ generation going through right now. On one hand they have the advantage of being younger, cheaper labor themselves, but even the younger generation in the US is being “pushed out” of jobs in the off shoring trend. What advice would you offer the younger generation in choosing a career path?
Steve:
To those who are just starting out I would say that the best way for you to make it in the corporate world is to constantly be increasing the value of your “personal stock.” By that I mean when you go to work for a company hit the ground “running.” Learn all that you can about the company you work for in all departments and make sure your boss knows what you are learning.
Become the “go-to” person in the company when someone needs to know something. Strive towards becoming a company info “broker.”
The higher your personal stock is in a company the more difficult it will be for them to “downsize” you.
Cathy:
As with any other industry on the internet, it’s easy for people to claim to be a coach when they’re really not qualified. How can the internet client be sure that the coach they select is “for real”?
Steve:
Talk to the person and trust your instincts…if what that person says doesn’t resonate with you, then move on.
If you’ve already hired a coach and after a short period of time you feel you are not progressing simply terminate the relationship.
If a coach pressures you to sign up for coaching this is usually a sign of desperation on the coach’s part…steer clear.
Use your own good sense and judgment. If it doesn’t “feel” right…it usually isn’t.
Cathy:
There are tons of self-help books out there that claim to help with personal and professional goal setting. How would someone benefit more from having a personal coach than from reading books and taking the “do-it-yourself” approach?
Steve:
There is nothing like live one-on-one interaction. There are books that I recommend to my clients from time to time, but self-help books are never a substitute for that one-on-one coach/client relationship.
A coach can support you, challenge you and hold you accountable, a book cannot.
Cathy:
With all the qualified coaches available, what do you feel you offer that would make you “THE” choice for a prospective client?
Steve:
I coach the whole person. We human beings are mind, body and spirit. I coach all three.
For example. I once had a client who ran his own business. He was “stuck” at a certain level and couldn’t figure why he wasn’t making progress.
The issue was not “know-how.” He knew how to run a business but he wasn’t aware that he had some personal/spiritual (and I don’t mean religious) issues that were tremendously hampering his ability to perform at a certain level.
Once I was able to help remove his “blinders” and enable him to reconnect spiritually and personally he was able to move ahead with great rapidity.
In my opinion, coaching should deal with the whole person and should never become just an exercise in goal setting.
Cathy:
If someone is interested in your services, how can they find out more about you and the services you offer?
Steve:
You can visit my website: http://www.lifecoachpro.net
If you are thinking about coaching I offer a FREE 30 minute no obligation, no pressure session…more info can be found at the website above. Simply mention this interview to get your free session.
Cathy:
Steve, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. You have offered a great deal of insight into yourself, your practice and the coaching field in general.
Readers, I hope this interview helps you understand the purpose of coaching and helps you make a decision if you’ve been “on the fence” about enlisting the services of a personal coach.
Some people may feel that using coaching services is a sign of weakness or that it’s just too “touchy, feely”. In my opinion, it takes guts and strength to reach for help.
Remember, your coach isn’t there to judge or analyze you, but to provide guidance and direction. Don’t let a little discomfort keep you from achieving a lifetime of success and happiness.
Here’s to your personal and business success!
Cathy Carlton publishes Carlton’s Corner, a weekly web-based newsletter featuring topics such as internet marketing, website building, e-business, motivational and family issues and now features Steve Pilkington in “Coaches Corner”. You can join Carlton’s Corner by sending a blank email to: join-carltonscorner@pro.netatlantic.com or visit http://www.carltonscorner.com/
