When does learning occur? When someone does a task for you or when you learn to do it yourself? The latter of course! A coach's role in the partnership is to empower you with tools that will allow you to continuously strive for excellence, to recognize when you are straying off course and to help you to be proactive in pursuing new life encounters.

In addition to bringing a wealth of experience obtained in corporate America and as a small business owner, I bring a road map for your growth and development. My twenty years of work experience and an advanced degree in Communications have helped me to work successfully with marketing, engineering, sales, information systems, and telecommunications personnel in areas such as, interpersonal relations, effective communications, career development and active listening skills.

I don't take on quick fixes. It took time for you to get where you are and a solid coaching partnership requires a time investment on your part to fix it. Maybe "putting out fires" is a pattern for you. If so, a quick fix won't prevent a reoccurrence.

Coaching is a non-intrusive process. It is not surgery. Resistance often masks fear. I guide the individual through the process and continuously provide reinforcement on progress being made. It is necessary to obtain the individual's personal commitment throughout the coaching relationship.

How much you change is up to you. You drive the process. There's no mind control or hocus-pocus. I can help you achieve positive change in your life based on your true commitment. If you want to reach higher heights in life and bring commitment, effort and desire, the change that you desire stands a great chance of occurring.

I prefer that our initial meeting take place in person, then we can conduct subsequent meetings via fax, telephone or e-mail. What's most important to me is that all my clients have support and feedback at the appointed times.

The coach assumes that you are healed in mind, body and spirit before you begin the coaching process. Coaching takes you from the present to the future. A coach is neither a physician nor a therapist.

Being stuck, fearing change, wanting to improve, feeling unfulfilled, wanting more out of life and lacking balance in life are human conditions. I work with anyone who is ready to make the necessary commitment to the coaching process.

Yes. I specialize in helping clients to:

• navigate change,
• move to the next level in their careers,
• achieve balance in life, and
• improve communications and interpersonal relationship skills.

I have coached management levels up to and including CEOs, plus small business owners. These individuals hold positions in the Federal government, investment banking, telecommunications, technology, and housing development. Issues included:

• improving communications skills,
• active listening,
• career transitioning,
• interpersonal relationships,
• maintaining balance in life,
• managing anger and
• dealing with power.

If your employees were more focused, balanced, and content with life, would they be more productive? Coaching can improve interpersonal relations and communications; enhance listening skills; smooth the transition for new managers; provide objective support for executives and make change more acceptable. Would that benefit your bottom line? You bet. Your company is as strong as its weakest link. A productive employee will work smarter and bring more passion to the work place. In addition, many managers see coaching as an additional company benefit. It shows a commitment to their development.

The level of work and the outcome have a direct relationship. If you pay lip service to wanting to change, you probably will be the same person (or possibly worst because you'lll have resentments about the time and/or money that you "wasted") that you were before coaching. That is why it is extremely important that you bring commitment to your coaching experience.

All discussions are confidential, unless you mention something illegal. We make it clear to all employers that the employee is the client. Trust and honesty are the foundation for a successful coaching encounter. However, I provide a final report to your employer that summarizes the salient areas of our work together while honoring your confidentiality.

We meet for 90 minutes once a month and "check-in" weekly for about 20 minutes. These meetings can be by phone, e-mail or fax. The initial meeting is conducted, preferably, in person and lasts two to four hours. I usually ask for at least a three-month commitment to the coaching process. Depending on the coaching requirements, six months is not unusual.

Coaching has been around for more than 20 years. When you choose a specialist in other areas of your life, you check their credentials. Please do the same when choosing a coach. The coach with a commitment to the profession will invest time and money in becoming certified and hold membership in coaching associations.

James Flagerty of New Ventures West, a coaching certification program that he founded more than 10 years ago in San Francisco, trained and certified me.

I will help you to constantly strive for excellence, to initiate solutions before you get stuck or overwhelmed and to continue to improve. That is, you won't have to bring me back in when the person(s) that I've coached reaches the same roadblock. I strive to leave people empowered to handle issues on their own.

There is no formal coach license. In fact, many coaches hang out their shingles with no formal training or certification. A coach can be certified through a formal coaching program and/or through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). I did both. I am a Master Certified Coach (MCC) through the ICF. Of the thousands of coaches in the world, only 600 have the MCC designation. I also am certified with New Ventures West, an ICF-approved coaching certification school. The ICF Guide to Choosing a Professional Coach provides additional information.