FAQs - Melanie Ferguson

FAQ's

Do you have questions about how working with a coach like me could help you? If you do, here are some answers!

Answers to some more often asked questions…

What is coaching?

At the core of coaching is a belief that you’re able to make changes and take control of your life. A coach’s role is to help you tap into your strengths, resources and experience, so you can work towards your full potential and reach your goals. Coaching is normally six sessions of one-to-one conversations, where I may introduce you to tools and activities designed to help you grow in awareness and confidence.

Who uses a coach?

If you’re a woman in leadership who wants to become more self-aware, develop your skills, reach your goals, and improve your life, then you’d be the type of woman who’d benefit from working with a coach. When leading a busy life, consistency is one of the most challenging habits needed for change to develop. Part of my role as your coach would be to offer support and accountability to help you stay on track to reaching your goals.

What happens in a coaching session?

We’d start every session with a check-in to talk about your progress, highlight any challenges, and of course, celebrate your wins! After we’ve spent some time looking back, we’ll identify what you’d like to get from your session, before getting into the next steps you feel most confident to take towards your goals. To help you get to that point, we’ll have a conversation, where I’ll ask you questions and create space, for you to explore your needs and decide what’s best for you.

How can I find the right coach for me?

Finding the right coach is important, so I’d encourage you to speak to at least three before deciding who to work with.

Alongside qualifications and experience, a good connection is one of the most important aspects of the coaching process.

When looking at websites and social media, which is also helpful, consider where you can relate to them, their experiences and what insights they share.

As the relational connection is so key to coaching, if possible, request an initial conversation to see how you feel.

Because I believe this is so important, if you’re considering working with me, I invite you to book a consultation call to see how we connect.

How long do people work with a coach?

It depends on you. For lasting change, you’ll probably find it’s better to have six sessions, as we’d have more time and space to work at a deeper level. But that said, you might be a woman who’s got a clearer picture of what you want to achieve and how to get there, so could see progress with just one to three conversations. However, if you see the value in ongoing support and accountability, you might be better off having six sessions, or as some of my clients have done, coming to work with me again on a new goal.

How do I know if coaching is working?

Like most things, your best bet is to look for small signs of progress.

So, to answer this question, which we could do together, it helps to consider things like where you’ve become more self-aware, what you’ve learned, how much more confident you feel, and whether you’re taking more action.

Progress is always the result of taking action and accepting responsibility, so your growth will depend on you.

What about confidentiality?

What we discuss in our sessions stays between us. Trust is key to the coaching relationship, so the only time I may discuss our work is during coaching supervision, which I have on a regular basis, with an independent supervisor, whose role is to help me maintain good practice.

How often would we meet?

This will be down to your commitments and our availability, but I usually meet my clients monthly.

This timeframe seems to work well, as it’ll give you enough time to reflect on your learning, complete your actions, and see the impact of your efforts.

That said, depending on the number of sessions you want, there may be times when you think you’d benefit from meeting more frequently.

What relevant qualifications do you have?

In addition to my continued professional development (CPD), I’ve also gained qualifications in the following:

ILM Level 5 Diploma in Effective Coaching and Mentoring (8588-31)
Level 1 Certificate in Nonviolent Communication
BTEC Level 3 Award in Education and Training

Are coaching sessions face-to-face or online?

For convenience, all coaching sessions are done remotely via Zoom.