February, 2004

Coaching Mastery News is a monthly newsletter for professionals committed to excellence in coaching. Each issue focuses on a theme that emerges in coaching relationships. What questions or issues would you like to see addressed in Coaching Mastery News? Email your suggestions to Lisa@livingwithintention.com. Your feedback and questions are greatly appreciated. If you wish to share this newsletter with your network, please pass it along! If you would like to unsubscribe, simply send me an email with unsubscribe CMN in the subject line.


 
Lisa Kramer

 

Boundaries in Coaching

Boundaries are the framework within which coaching relationships occur. They are the limits that allow for safe connections between individuals. A boundary is that defining space which clarifies “you” and “me”. A healthy boundary allows an individual to relate with genuineness to others. In coaching, there are professional boundaries set by the coaching profession as well as boundaries that are determined by each individual coach.

Professional boundaries set by the profession include:

Boundaries determined by each individual coach include:

  • Wearing multiple hats – How do we best honor the coaching boundary in a mentor-coaching or consulting-coaching relationship when it is not purely a coaching relationship, e.g. our client is interested in our professional expertise in addition to coaching? Consider your coaching relationships where you wear more than one hat. What works and what doesn’t?
  • Coaching and therapy – What happens when you find yourself walking that fine line between coaching and therapy with a client with whom you’ve established a coaching relationship?
  • Time – These include ending a call on time; spending time outside the regularly scheduled calls with a client or on client-related work; addressing a client who cancels and/or reschedules regularly, or calls within 24 hours to change an appointment. What challenges have you had with regard to time and boundaries?
  • Having a relationship with a client outside of coaching – This may include knowing the client prior to entering into a coaching relationship; collaborating on projects; meeting at a social gathering outside of the coaching relationship; attending a business event together. What challenges have you experienced in this area?
  • Fees - A coach’s fee structure typically evolves over time. It is important that the fee is clearly communicated in writing on the coaching agreement at the beginning of the coaching relationship. This includes when fees are expected to be paid by the client. What challenges have you experienced with setting and collecting fees?
  • Bartering agreements – There are situations where a coach and another professional, e.g. web designer, decide to barter their services. To preserve the integrity of the relationship, it is essential that both parties consent to a bartering agreement. What challenges have you experienced in this area?
  • Others – what other areas related to boundaries have you encountered in coaching?

In a recent Coaching Mastery group, Coach Joan presented the following scenario:

“I have been coaching my client, Bill, for approximately four months. Bill hired me to assist him in building his new IT consulting business. In the beginning of our relationship, Bill came to each coaching call prepared with an agenda and made excellent use of the coaching to move forward to meet his goals. During the past month, Bill cancelled two coaching calls, and he has called fifteen minutes late for the appointments that he hasn’t cancelled. I am aware of a change from the beginning, and it seems that Bill is no longer honoring the coaching relationship. While I would like to discuss this with him, I am afraid that I will come from a place of judgment as opposed to being in charge-neutral.”

In discussing the situation with the group, Joan recognized that her judgments about Bill were related to her own disappointment that the coaching was not progressing as it had in the beginning. Once she was able to set her disappointment aside, Joan decided to revisit the coaching agreement with Bill, particularly regarding her expectation that her clients call on time and not reschedule on a consistent basis. At the next call, Joan and Bill had a productive conversation that resulted in Bill recommitting to the coaching relationship.

In each coaching relationship, a boundary issue may arise for the coach where there is no clear or obvious answer. In the example above, Coach Joan’s boundary issue concerned her client’s pattern of rescheduling appointments and showing up late. To determine how to best proceed, consider the following questions*:

  • Does this honor the coaching relationship?
  • Does this negatively impact the service I am delivering? If so, in what way(s)?
  • Would it be helpful for me to discuss my concerns with a colleague?
  • Am I attached to keeping this client?
  • Am I treating this client differently (e.g., appointment length, time of appointments) than my other clients?
  • Does this client mean something ‘special’ to me?
  • Does this action benefit me rather than the client?
  • Does this breach the Standards of Professional Conduct or the Code of Ethics set by the International Coach Federation?
(*adapted from The Bulletin, an on-line publication from The College of Psychologists of Ontario)

COACHING MASTERY UPDATE

 

A masterful coach lives inside of you. You’ve experienced being ‘in the zone’ during a coaching conversation when time stands still, and you and your client connect on a deeper level. You’ve also had coaching conversations that require more effort. Perhaps you get distracted by something your client says, or an event in your own life interferes with your ability to be fully present with your client. You hang up the phone, and the masterful coach inside of you asks, “how could I handle that differently next time?”

Coaching Mastery™ explores important questions and challenges that arise for coaches in their coaching relationships. Coaching Mastery telegroups, facilitated by Lisa Kramer, an experienced coach and veteran coach training teleclass leader, provides coaches with a safe learning environment to further develop their coaching excellence.
You will leave with a clear affirmation of what you already know as well as creative ideas and strategies that will inspire you to try something new with your clients.

Here’s what one participant had to say about her recent group experience:
The Coaching Mastery Group was fabulous! It was a great opportunity to hang out and share with other coaches. I appreciated the unique perspectives that each coach brought to a situation and how we were able to build on each others strengths. Lisa's skillful facilitation and leadership skills gently invited everyone to participate while challenging all of us to step into the mastery of coaching."
Pat Kilgannon, PCC http://coaching4success.com

Coaching Mastery Level I and Level II telegroups for Winter/Spring, 2004:

Level I: This group is best suited for professionals who have been coaching for 18 months or less. You may currently be in a coach training program or recently completed one. Level I coaches are stepping into their professional identity as coach and are focused on gaining confidence and competence in their coaching skills and style of coaching.

The Level I group will meet on SIX Mondays beginning Mar 8 from 7-8pm EST.

Level II: Level II is for coaches who have been actively coaching for at least two years, who are working with several clients at a given time and have completed coach training. Level II coaches are confident in their coaching, and they are focused on being masterful at their craft.

The Level II group will meet on SIX Mondays beginning on Apr 5 from 2-3pm EST.

Investment - $250
Includes handouts, class notes and exercises

Curious about Coaching Mastery? Interested in a complimentary individual Coaching Mastery session? Contact Lisa Kramer at (610) 527-4511 or lisa@livingwithintention.com

Upcoming Events:

February 26, 2004: Introduction to Professional Coaching
(preconference workshop)
Led by Lisa Kramer with Mary Loiselle
Association for Women in Psychology 2004 Conference, Philadelphia, PA
Perspectives on Women's Well Being: Feminist Psychology, Science, & Practice

For more information, visit www.webmavens.org/awp2004

March 10 – April 28, 2004: Relationship Coaching with Couples
Led by Lisa Kramer
Institute for Life Coach Training Advanced Coaching Class
Do you coach couples or are you looking to expand your coaching practice to include couples? This eight-week telecourse will provide you with a coaching model and structure for working with couples who want to create more fulfilling relationships in their lives.

For more information visit: HERE

April 17, 2004: Business Success Partnerships – The Power of Two
Led by Lisa Kramer and Colleen Bracken
Philadelphia Area Coaches Alliance Coaching Expo, Gregg Conference Center, Bryn Mawr, PA

For more information, visit: http://www.coachingexpo.com/presenters.htm

 

Copyright © 2004. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute the Coaching Mastery™ News as long as nothing is added, changed, or deleted, and this copyright notice is attached. The author is Lisa Kramer, Living with Intention Coaching, Training and Coaching Mastery™ www.livingwithintention.com