Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is coaching?

Essentially, coaching is a collaborative partnership that works to maximize the client’s potential, both professionally and personally. Through the coaching relationship, coaches use effective strategies that assist in empowering each client to set and reach career and life goals.

Coaching partnerships are a co-active effort, calling on both sides to support the achievement of individually relevant results. Truly effective coaching accelerates each individual's progress by providing greater focus and awareness of possibilities leading to more effective choices.

At ReFresh Your Step, we believe in the importance of looking inward to be successful in life. In doing so, we work with each client to identify his or her strengths and weaknesses and use both research-based and effective strategies to assist each individual in finding--or re-finding--the optimal career path.

Additionally, we identified that many coaching groups are aimed at the older working population, thereby leaving young professionals out in the cold. We cater to young professionals and students on the brink of entering the workforce. Especially given today's economic climate and outlook, it is increasingly important for people of all ages to take the necessary steps for finding the optimal career path--career coaching will aid in that process.

While college and graduate school is both a memorable and exciting time in life, for many people it is also fraught with uncertainty about the future—what do I want to do with my life? How do I get there?  Is there a right way to find a job and a right time to start a career? What if I have already started down one career path but now want to change? In reflecting on our own experiences, as well as talking with numerous young professionals from across several industries, we found that college and graduate students could greatly benefit from working with a coach.

Refresh U’s coaching techniques are often modified to fit a student’s needs (and wallet) but the goals are still the same: we work with our student clients to determine what they want to do in life, strategize on how to get there and work to make sure each client learn the techniques necessary for lifelong career and personal success.

Simply stated, it’s a tough market out there—unemployment is at its highest level in years and is expected to rise over the next several months. Furthermore, the economic uncertainty that primarily affected the financial world several months ago is now spilling over into an increasing number of industries. It is at this time, more than any other, that having a coach will aid in navigating the tumultuous career landscape.

All of the coaches at ReFresh Your Step are both young professionals and have personally experienced career difficulties in this market and therefore bring their own life lessons to the table. For this reason alone, we recognize the importance of young professionals and students having some additional guidance as they make their way into or through the current job market.

Additionally, while the economy and job market will eventually improve, the tools and strategies gained through an effective coaching relationship are immensely helpful, especially for those just beginning their careers and who will undoubtedly be confronted with various challenges and issues as they move forward in their career.  

Coaches believe that individuals have the capacity to achieve great success in life while balancing work, family and everything else that can distract one from staying on course. Coaches aid in helping clients identify what they truly wish to accomplish, strategize on how to get there as well as assist in utilizing resources to facilitate change and realize potential.

Those who work with coaches are often able to gain a refreshed perspective on what is they wish to accomplish, both professionally and personally. Additionally, they learn invaluable strategies for working through challenges and opportunities as well as improved interpersonal effectiveness and self-confidence.  

People who truly embrace the coach/client relationship report appreciable results in productivity, personal satisfaction with their careers and personal life, as well as attainment of personally relevant goals.

While a central idea to both therapy and coaching is that of wanting to help people, there are a few important distinctions. Firstly, psychotherapy and the related professions generally deal with emotional/behavioral issues and work with patients typically revolves around helping them resolve said issues. Additionally, therapists and their patients focus on the past and its relationship with the present.

Coaching, on the other hand, is best used by those people who are highly functioning and simply want to move to higher levels of success; therefore, coaching helps people move from their current position in life to a future they know is possible, though guidance and strategies will facilitate moving ahead.  

It is important to note, however, that at ReFresh Your Step, we recognize that previous life experiences have made our clients who they are today and that some of these events may have left a lasting mark. For this reason alone, we do believe in the importance of using the past to discuss the present and help in preparing for the most successful future possible.

**The process is unique for each client though the steps outlined below are a general guideline**

The Coaching Process: After determining which coach at ReFresh Your Step would best suit his or her needs, the coach and client set up a free Discovery Session—an initial meeting meant to establish the client’s needs, goals, challenges, life experiences, etc.  Following this first appointment, subsequent sessions will focus on the support and achievement of the client’s previously established/prioritized goals. Additionally, and depending on the client’s specific requirements, the individual may be asked to complete actions in an effort to facilitate goal achievement. Furthermore, the coach may provide relevant resources, such as articles, assessments, models, etc. in an effort to support the client’s goals actions and goals.

Assessments/Supplements: The coaches at ReFresh Your Step use an array of research-based assessments and tools to complement our coaching techniques. These include, but are not limited to, the current coaching methods, tools garnered from graduate education, etc.

The coach/client relationship is built around compatibility and trust—many clients report feeling that they just ‘clicked’ with their coach upon speaking with him or her for the first time and knew right away that they could trust their coach with guiding them to a more successful future.

When speaking with prospective coaches, we encourage prospective clients to ask at least a few of the following questions:

   ·   What is your coaching experience?

   ·   What is your particular area of coaching?

   ·   What specialized skills or experience do you bring to coaching?

   ·   Do you have a coach? If so, how has the experience been for you? If not, would you consider taking 

         one?

   ·   What is your specific process for coaching?

   ·   Do you have coaching success stories?

Coaching partnerships typically last 3-6 months but differ based on the needs of the individual client. Traditionally, there is at least a three month commitment simply because this is the minimum amount of time necessary for effective changes to take place in the client’s life. However, some coaching relationships can last less than three months though other clients will keep their coaches on retainer for extended periods of time. The length of a coaching partnership depends on the needs of the client.

Not at all—as most coaching takes place over the phone, it is not necessary to live anywhere near your coach. Although it sounds somewhat counter-intuitive, most clients find that phone coaching is more powerful than face-to-face coaching. The rationale is simple: coaches are taught to listen to both the clients' words as well as what is behind the words. A phone conversation helps coaches receive everything the client communicates.

However, the coaches at ReFresh Your Step have done in –person coaching and are always happy to do so if a client requests it. Additionally, we have webcam capabilities and are therefore able to speak face-to-face with all of our clients, so long as they are also set up with both internet and a webcam.

Our fees depend on the coach with whom you work, the length/type of a coaching partnership as well as a variety of other factors. Additionally, we know that students and those just starting out in their careers may not have an excess of funds; therefore, we work with each client to determine a suitable balance. We are happy to discuss cost information with you during the free Discovery Session.

People hire coach for a variety of reasons, though a major factor in doing so is to set oneself up for reaching one’s highest potential in work and life. Though coaching is an investment early on, many clients report finding that the techniques learned and experience gained pay off exponentially down the road.

To learn more information about our coaching services and to set up a FREE Discovery Session, please email Emily Schwartz Kapit at emily@refreshyourstep.com. We will get back to you within 48 hours.

If you have any additional questions that you would like for us to answer, please email us at emily@refreshyourstep.com.