What is coaching all about? 

Why should you consider hiring a coach?

Here are some frequently asked questions about the personal, executive, and career coaching that I do. If you are interested in scheduling a free one half-hour coaching session, please contact me at: marsha@marshaegan.com Thanks! Have an amazing day!

Regards, Marsha Marsha D. Egan, CPCU, API, CPIW, PCC ICF Certified Success and Executive Coach President, The Egan Group, Inc.

Marsha D. Egan, PCC, is certified by the International Coach Federation.  She has coached over 1000 hours.  She has taken over 350 hours of coaching courses. She has the Professional Certified Coach designation.  She is a graduate of CoachU, holds the CoachU Certified Graduate designation, and is a member of the Philadelphia Area Coaching Alliance. More about Marsha... See below for Coaching FAQs... What clients say...

Marsha has been very professional, helpful and supportive.  She is someone I trust in guiding me to achieve the things I want to achieve in life.  As a result of my shifts in thinking and what I have learned from Marsha, I'm happier, better adjusted, and more productive in my personal and professional life.  I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Marsha.  She is someone I would highly recommend as a professional coach.                                                   --Corporate Manager, DE
"Working with Marsha has made a dramatic difference in my life.  With her help, I have gotten to know myself better, identify and correct self-limiting thinking, and reach a level of personal and professional effectiveness that I never dreamed possible.  I continue to be amazed by the things I am accomplishing in my life right now (frequently with minimal effort!).  It is easy for me to trace much of my current successes back to things I learned from working with Marsha."                             ---Fortune 500 Corporate Manager More testimonials Marsha D. Egan, PCC, is certified by the International Coach Federation.  She has coached over 850 hours.  She has taken over 350 hours of coaching courses. She is a graduate of CoachU, and is a member of the Philadelphia Area Coaching Alliance. And for more information on Marsha's experience, click here. See the January 2008 New York Times article, "Coaches Wanted in the Game of Life." And for a Today Show segment on life coaching,  click here. Call Marsha today to find out more about coaching or for a FREE 1/2 hour telecoaching session. Toll free: 877-749-4036
Coaching FAQs
	What is coaching?
	How is coaching different from consulting, therapy, confiding in your best friend?
	Why should I hire a coach?
	Who hires a coach and why?
	Do you work on personal goals or business/professional goals?
	So, if I work with you, where will we focus our efforts?
	So, what happens in the first few sessions?  How do we start our coaching relationship with you, Marsha?
	Why does coaching work?
	When does coaching work best?
	Why is coaching becoming so popular?
	What are your fees?
	What do you expect of your clients?
	How do you coach?
	Please, give me some context about coaching...
	What about people who are already doing really well in their lives.
	Can a dependency be created between coach and client?
	Can coaching hurt someone?
	Can I hire a coach just for a short-term, special project?
	How long must I commit if I start working with a coach?

• Help people set better goals and then reach those goals.
• Ask their clients to do more than they would have done on their own.
• Help their client to focus so as to produce results more quickly.
• Provide clients with the tools, support and structure to accomplish more.
• Create accountability for achieving great result

• You want more, or less... of something.
• You want to work with a professional who can truly support you.
• You want to bridge a gap or overcome a hurdle.
• You want to advance in your career.
• You want to grow... even more.
• You want to do things more easily and effectively.
• You want to "get outa your own way..."
• You want to have more life balance.
• You want to have a life plan that excites you.
• You want to figure out "who you want to be when you grow up!"
• You want to be at the absolute top of your game!

• Discovering gaps between the current situation and your desired vision, or helping your clarify your vision.
• Getting your personal foundation strengthened, including building even more self confidence or self care.
• Helping you beef up your reserves, and make space for what is truly important to you.
• Coaching you to set goals based on your personal and/or career aspirations.
• Helping you navigate around or overcome obstacles.
• Building an energizing balance in your life.
• Identifying habits you want to change, and working consistently to evolve them into new, even more useful habits.
• Mastering attitude control and enhancing your personal and professional happiness.

Bottom line, our goal is to energize you to become even more successful -- however you define that success!   Isn't that what you want?!

While it depends on your focus, we may work on both. With the line between personal and business life blurring, I am trained to work with you, in total. Each client is different, has different challenges, and the paths will vary based on their individual backgrounds, visions, and passions. No two clients are all like, we will focus totally all and you and helping you reach your individual goals.

So, how does it all start ? How do we kick off our coaching relationship with you, Marsha?

Our month to month coaching program anticipates 90 minutes of coaching -- either two 45 minute tele -- sessions or three 30 minute tele -- sessions, plus unlimited brief e-mails and brief phone calls.

When we decide to work together, and once we receive your first month's payment, you will receive a "welcome pak" via e-mail.  This includes several questionnaires and background that will help us hit the ground running.  You will also receive a link for a DiSC personal profile assessment, valued at over $100, which is included in the first month coaching fee.

We usually spend the first session and part of the second going through the DiSC assessment together.  We can also start working on current challenges and opportunities.  Then, as we work together, the focus will "morph" in the direction(s) that serve you best... and at the pace of that works for you!

We do most of our coaching  on the telephone: it is called tele-coaching. You call at a pre-scheduled time. Most of our clients work on a monthly basis, and schedule calls with us. Calls last 30 or 45 minutes. Clients may meet with us, but most find the telephone to be most effective. Some clients prefer more frequent tele-meetings, and elect three 30 minute sessions; others prefer having more time per call--they elect the two 45 minute sessions.  We try to accommodate what works best for each client--sometimes preferences change from month to month.

It is important to remember that coaching is a process, not an event. It is about changing, for the better, and it takes time to change.  While some people understand concepts intellectually -- immediately, some attitudes and approaches require changing habits, and that just does not happen overnight. We recommend that clients view coaching as a valuable  investment in their long term success.  We recommend that our clients  commit to at least 3-6 months of focused attention to realize positive results.

Our fees range from $450 to $1,000 per month for individualized and executive coaching, which anticipates 90 minutes of telecoaching sessions.  Group coaching starts at $200 per month.  Hourly rates are also available.

• Fees are paid in advance, due on the 1st of each month.
• The monthly fee covers two or three sessions per month, plus unlimited brief e-mails and unlimited brief phone calls.
• We accept credit cards and personal or corporate checks.
• Payments must be current for coaching sessions to be conducted.

• I expect your best…
  If you are hiring me, then you're probably ready to do and be your best. And if you aren't doing your best, I'll ask you to. If you can't do that at the moment, I'll understand and do what you need to be heard, and helped back on to your path.
• I expect you to be open and honest with yourself (and me…!)
  I ask that you grant our relationship enough room so that you can reach your goals quickly. What that means is that you be willing to be brutally honest with yourself and me. It is important that you tell me all of what you are thinking and feeling and that you are willing to listen to what I have to say. And, you should take the time you want to develop the trust you need between us.
• I expect you to be willing to change...  Coaching is about changing-for the better.   The more you are open to change, the greater the possibilities for forward progress.
• I expect you to use me as a resource, not as a dependency…
  As your coach, I am a resource for you to use to your best advantage: I have an almost unlimited amount of love, compassion, forgiveness, strength for you and I can share many principles which will increase your success and add to the quality of your life. AND, I ask that my clients use me as this resource and friend that I am, but not to let themselves get into the position of needing me (or coaching) as a dependency thing or fix.

• I make direct requests…
  From time to time, I'll make a requests, like "Will you accomplish X by the end of the month? You may say yes, say no or offer another solution. It is your choice... But at the end of each call you will commit to what you intend to accomplish by our next call.
• I am straightforward…
  If I am sure of the situation, and you're open to it, I'll make specific suggestions on how to handle a problem or "go-for" an opportunity. If I am not sure, I'll say so. Honesty is one of my values--I am straight and expect the same from you. Regardless, use the best of what I say and use your own judgment.
• I don't step over much…
  When I hear a funny tone in your voice, or notice something amiss, I may ask you about it. Often, it is these small moments, which offer the chance to resolve something. However, I don't confront or push; I'll merely invite you to look at something.
• I request fieldwork…
  I usually ask that you come up with two or three goals, actions or shifts to have between one call and the next. If it is too much, say so. If you want more, just ask.
• I am unconditionally constructive…
  No matter what happens during our call, you can expect me to say only those things, which further your life and your goals. If you are disturbed, I do understand. If you are stuck, I will be patient. If you can't wait to share a victory, I will celebrate with you. I will not make you wrong, criticize you, complain to you or gossip about you.
• I want to hear from you when something great happens...  Send me an email or give me quick call when you want to share.  You don't have to wait for your next appointment!
• We never reveal who our coaching clients are... If you wish to tell others that you are working with us, that's great.  they'll never hear it from us.
• I'm "on your side!" Nuff said.

• Consulting.  Consultants are experts who advise clients.  With coaching, we recognize that you are the expert on YOUR hopes and dreams, and what "makes you tick."  Coaches are experts on the methods that will help you get there. Unlike consulting, the coach stays with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals, to make sure that they really happen.

• Therapy. Coaching is not therapy. Coaches don't work on "issues" or get into the past or deal much with understanding human behavior. Coaching is about moving forward, not necessarily delving into the past.   That knowledge may come as clients move forward toward personal and professional goals that will give them the life they really want, but it should not be the focus of a coaching relationship.

• Sports. Coaching includes several principles from sports coaching, like teamwork, going for the goal, being your best. Unlike sports coaching, most professional coaching is not competition or win/lose based. Coaches focus on strengthening their clients' skills, not on helping them beat the other team. Coaches look for win/win solutions.

• Best friend. A best friend is wonderful to have. But is your best friend a professional who you will trust to work with you on the most important aspects of your life and/or business? Is your best friend unbiased? Have both - a best friend and a coach. They are not one and the same.

For an interesting article reflecting these differences - "Coaching is Like Riding a Bike" by Michael Stratford, MCC , click here.

• You take yourself more seriously.
• You take more effective and focused actions immediately.
• You stop putting up with what is dragging you down.
• You build extreme self-confidence
• You learn to own your attitude
• You create momentum so that it's easier to get results.
• You set better goals that are more exactly what YOU want.
• You take action. You achieve results.
• You change. For good.

• Synergy between the coach and client creates momentum.
• Accountability to yourself for taking positive action
• Better goals are set-ones that naturally pull the client toward the goal rather than goals that require the client to push himself or herself to the goal.
• You develops new skills, and these skills translate into more success.

Coaching has been demonstrated to have very powerful results when three factors are present:

1. You have a strong desire to develop your potential
2. There is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, and
3. You are ready and willing to take action to achieve the results you want. In other words, you are willing to change.  For good.

That is all that is really necessary for you to fill those gaps, and create a more satisfying and successful work and personal life.

• Many people are tired of doing what they think they "should" do and are ready to do something special and meaningful for the rest of their lives. One problem is that many can't see what this is or, if they can, they can't find a way to reorient their life around it. A coach can help them do both.
• People are realizing how simple it can be to accomplish something that several years ago might have felt out of reach or like a pipedream. A coach is not a miracle worker (well, sometimes they are), but a coach does have a large tool kit to help the Big Idea become a Reality. Fortunately, people now have time and resources to invest in themselves in this kind of growth.
• People enjoy having an unbiased confidant, advisor, and cheerleader who has the client's best interests at heart.

Not really. The client may "need" the coach in order to maximize an opportunity or accelerate their growth, yet not be "dependent" on the coach. Anyone who's working on major changes "needs" structure, advice, support and a place to brag, so, in that sense, the coach is certainly helpful, but an emotional, psychological dependency is not created. The coach works with people who are just fine and strong enough on their own. Remember, we're not resolving issues here. The coach is helping the client to create a better future: More success, more money, more fulfillments, and a higher quality of life.

No. Remember, coaches aren't doing psychological work. They're not trying to control the client's thinking. They're not cattle prods; they're partners. They focus on the here and now, and the future.  Your future.  They are enablers.

Yes. Some clients hire a coach to help them accomplish specific goals or projects. Usually, however, the client keeps working with the coach after that because there are even more interesting things to accomplish.

More testimonials

Read the New York Times Article: I'd Like to Thank My Coach...