What is creative coaching? How to pick the right coach. What are coaching styles? What can you expect in a coaching session?
What is creative coaching? Creative coaching, coaching for creatives, creativity coaching - just some of the many terms used to describe coaching that is geared towards nurturing self-expression and dealing with the blockages and limiting beliefs that get in the way of enjoying success. Unlike a generic life coach, you would expect a coach working in this field to have a creative/craft background (writing, art, design, photography, performance) and / or experience of managing a creative business. (I tick both boxes.)
How to choose the right coach. First up, coaching is an investment, so you need to make sure that you are happy you’ve found the right coach. Do your research and due diligence. Check to see if your coach is certified and / or accredited. Certified just means they have done a course (and courses can literally be a matter of days). Accredited means they are certified and have passed the exacting training standards of a registered body. (That’s me.) Next look behind the platitudes and the freebies. A good coach will be happy to have a one-to-one chat with you, to see if you can work together. It really does work both ways. The chemistry has to be right. As does the style of coaching.
What styles of coaching are there? Each coach has their very own style. At one end of the spectrum there are coaches who are more like Therapists and have a ‘passive’ style that facilitates more of a ‘talking’ experience. At the other end of the spectrum you find coaches that are akin to Mentors / Advisors. My style tips closer towards the Mentor end. You can expect challenging questions, but with a focus on progressing to real action.
What can I expect on a Chemistry call? Some coaches refer to these as Discovery calls. This is your opportunity to ask questions and give the coach a bit of background as to why you are considering coaching. Use this time to gauge how comfortable you feel talking to this coach. Do they feel responsive and empathetic? Do you like the way they are talking to you? And here’s the big one, are THEY talking too much? Do you feel you are being just a little bit patronised or being sold to? You’re aiming to come away from the call having felt listened to and a little bit excited about the prospect of spending time and being coached by this person.
Read the small print When you find someone that’s a good fit take time to read and understand the terms of your professional agreement. I can’t stress enough how important it is to feel confident and comfortable. It’s all about integrity really, managing expectation (goals do change) committing to turning up and agreeing to payment terms
What’s a good goal? Get comfortable with really digging deep to find a goal that feels ‘yours’ and not a ‘catch all’ phrase. Make it ambitious, but realistic and attainable. The average coaching journey last around 2 months, so think carefully about where you want to be in that timeframe? How much time do you have to really invest in this journey? A coach will help you find clarity, but it’s you that will have to do the leg work. Don’t shy away from ideas that may scare you a little - change is not always a comfortable transition. Equally, it’s not unusual for goals to shift. As you progress you may find your priorities change and your goal becomes even clearer.
What to expect in a coaching session A good coach is experienced in the art of powerful questions. Some questions may take you by surprise, unnerve you even. You might not have been asked to look at things in such a different way. Expect moments of silence. And whilst these moments may feel like an eternity, a good coach will hold that space for you and gently allow you to think deeply and without judgement. Alongside moments of silence, it’s not unusual to feel and release emotion. Again, your coach is there for you. The space to think and release without judgement is what makes coaching such a profound experience and one that can’t be found by reading a self-help book.
How long is a coaching session? A typical session lasts 1 hour and, depending on your coach, can take place on the phone, online or in person. I tend not to encourage too much note taking in sessions, the aim is to stay present. After a session it may be useful to take a little bit of time to reflect and make any notes. I personally like to follow up sessions with a brief recap of anything I have observed along with homework that has been agreed. I may make further observations and suggestions. And when I say suggestions, I mean just that. A coach is not there to tell you what to do. You decide on your actions.
Is coaching a form of therapy? No. Coaching works in the here and now. You might be invited to look back to see what has worked (or not worked) for you in the past, or to discuss anything that could derail the process, but a coach is not trained to deal with underlying trauma. And whilst a coach is there for you unconditionally, coaching should not create co-dependency.
How many sessions will I need? Coaching is not about creating long term dependancy. Look at the programmes a coach has to offer. Do they feel flexible enough to accommodate your unique challenges? I run programmes that last anything from three hours to ten, but typically people invest in at least six 1-hour sessions. Plus around 3 hours to focus on homework between sessions. I mention the homework again as it’s important to factor this into your availability. Be honest about the time you have to really focus on your journey, it will impact on reaching your goal.
What should I expect from a coach? That’s a good question to ask any coach, but as you’re here, these are the five things I pledge to my clients >>>
I will continually motivate and inspire.
I am invested in finding the most creative ways to help.
I am a virtual hand to hold (& when appropriate, a gentle nudge).
I will only ever be an email away between sessions.
I am unconditionally committed to your success.
Am I the coach for you? Shall we find out?