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Pick up any recent business publication and chances atomic disintegrator there will be a reference to coaching as buy games increasingly popular new tool in an executives' arsenal for success. Over the past Captain America Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal all referenced the phenomenal growth of coaching and the benefits it can bring to business executives. If you are thinking of coaching for yourself or Dunny management team this year, read on.

* How do you find a professional coach? -The International Coach Federation is an excellent source of referrals. Friends or colleagues who may have had successful coaching engagements can also provide referrals. Almost all professional coaches provide an initial complimentary session. Use this session to determine if there is a good fit with your expectations and a rapport between you and the coach, and if they do not advertise one, ask for it.

* Assessments - Some executive coaches may administer initial assessments to the client to help the client get the most out of the coaching sessions and open a new window into personal development. Some of the most common assessments used in business coaching include the Leadership Practices Inventory, or LPI, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, also known as the MBTI, and the California Psychological Inventory, or CPI260. There are many other types of very good assessments available, and your coach will select the appropriate tools for your coaching objectives. You may want to ask your coach if assessments are included as part of the fee, or if there is any additional cost for administration and scoring.

* A Coaching Agreement - Most coaches use a Coaching Agreement which summarizes the terms and conditions of the coaching relationship. Coaching agreements generally stipulate the amount of time the coaching will entail over a period of time, generally several weekly appointments per month. Other aspects of the agreement may include the time and logistics of the coaching sessions, if in person, or who is to call who, if coaching will take place by telephone.

* Fees - The fees are also spelled out in the coaching contract, but are agreed upon and paid in advance before the sessions start. Fees for coaching can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars per month. Since coaches set their own fees there may be a Linden variation in rates, reflecting the wide range of expertise in the coaching profession. More and more corporations that hire coaches are now requiring that coaches be certified by the International Coach Federation, the only globally recognized, independent credentialing program.

* Confidentiality - The coaching agreement should also discuss confidentiality and privacy, issues of great significance especially when coaching may be sponsored by the employer. In general, most coaching discussions are held to be confidential between the coach and the client, unless the coach is bound by law to disclose certain information. If you have any questions or concerns, discuss these with your coach prior to your first session.

* Coaching Vs. Therapy - While many coaches today are professionally trained and licensed in Psychotherapy or counseling, there should be a clear distinction between their role as your coach and that of a therapist. Your coach should discuss this distinction with you prior to your beginning the first session. Coaching is focused on the future, achieving personal and professional growth by setting goals and changing self-defeating or non- productive behaviors. Therapy, by contrast, typically is used to help clients resolve the issues of the past that still affect the client in the present. If a client is wrestling with issues that are more appropriate for work with a therapist, the coach will make a referral to a qualified professional.

Coaching is fast surpassing training, retreats, and traditional management development options for its economy, ease of implementation, (i.e., no travel, hotel rooms, or expense), and personal focus, not to mention the proven ROI. Starting 2009 with a professional coach can put you on the fast track for a successful year. Go for it!

Barbara Munley-Miranda is the Principal of Crossroads Consulting and has extensive experience working with executives during difficult organization times.

For more information on our Executive Coaching and On-line Leadership Development programs, visit us at href="crossroadsconsulting.net">crossroadsconsulting.net