FAQ: Doug's Coaching

I have been coaching leaders for most of my career, and it has become the primary focus of my work. As a highly experienced professional, I am a Somatic Coach with Strozzi Institute, and have authored two coaching books, The Mindful Coach and Presence-Based Coaching, outlining my own approaches. Other significant influences on my work can be explored in depth on the links page. I’m also certified by the International Coach Federation.

I recommend two books to understand coaching and my own personal philosophy.  The best insight into my personal approach can be found in my book, Presence-Based Coaching. James Flaherty’s Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others is also an excellent overview of coaching and has informed my work. Sine you're here, you can discover  a lot about me by exploring this site, and view my letter to prospective clients.

Let’s talk. You can freely ask whatever questions you might have, and I’ll illustrate how my methods might fit your needs. Most importantly, I will tell you frankly if I’m not the right coach for you; good rapport and clear understanding are crucial if we are to be successful together.

I recently coached a talented CFO of a medical facility. Her workplace stress and anxiety, coupled with inefficient time and priority management, earned her a “high maintenance” reputation with her boss. Through our work, she learned to monitor her reactions to others, and to manage these reactions differently. Additional tools helped her manage priorities and subordinates with proficiency. By the end, she was much more effective and self-confident. Her boss, while initially skeptical, saw his CFO become a star on the management team.

Plenty! Through experience, I’ve learned to continually improve my own self-awareness as coach, and to expand my base of resources and tools. I’ve learned to assess clients more effectively, to identify early when client motivation may be an issue, and to more quickly recognize my own blind spots. Mostly, I’ve learned to be effective in a way that is both powerful and compassionate.

I have worked with four different coaches over the years, in periods ranging from seven to fifteen months, choosing each with a specific purpose and intention in relation to my own development. In each case, working with a new perspective and approach was a tremendously valuable experience.

I’m happy to provide client references. However, out of respect for their time, I provide references only after an initial conversation indicates that there’s a fit.

By spending time to understand the unique challenges you face, and to assess the ways you interpret and respond to those challenges. We will discuss assessment approaches, which sometimes include interviews with people who work with you, 360 degree reviews, and other formal tools. Based on this initial assessment, together we’ll develop a set of very specific, observable outcomes to guide the program design.

Your coaching outcomes will be defined very clearly, and customized to your situation. Based on these, we’ll design the coaching process. Our work together will be shaped by partnership, not by my agenda for you. You are the curriculum; your coaching program will be as unique and distinct as you are. See sample outcomes.

Given your commitment and motivation, you can expect to successfully achieve the outcomes we agree upon. Expect to learn about yourself, and become more and more skillful at guiding your own learning process. Also, the more you invest in developing your capacity and resilience, the more you’ll discover unexpected benefits in other areas of your life.

Things generally begin with a phone conversation to discuss your general goals and how we’ll work together. There’s no charge or commitment for this conversation. From there, we schedule regular phone or face-to-face meetings to further define your program.

Cost depends on several factors: the amount of upfront assessment work we do, the frequency and duration of meetings, whether our meetings are face-to-face vs. the phone, and a host of other parameters. After a good fit has been determined, we’ll identify a clear approach- with timeframe and costs - that works for you and your goals.

My accountability is to your outcomes, which will be defined at the outset. Obviously, if clients do not successfully reach their outcomes, I don’t have a business! That said, I have no control over your part of the relationship. I ask that you enter coaching with a commitment to stay with it for several months. It’s critical that you enter the process knowing it’s not a “quick fix,” and are prepared to commit to the time it takes to achieve your outcomes.

This situation arises frequently, but it comes with implications that need to be discussed by the three of us. Unless chosen otherwise, the content of our coaching conversations is confidential and your progress is not evaluated with your boss. My accountability is to my coaching client.

Generally, I contract for a set period of time rather than an open-ended relationship, making us both more accountable to achieving the specified outcomes. My commitment is to serve your effectiveness and your capacity to independently guide your development. At the end of this time, we can re-negotiate our agreement or finish as you choose.