FAQs Archive - The Active Leader

Q: How do I know if the leadership coaching is working?

You should know from the very first session if the coach you are working with is providing solid feedback. Every session you have should be valuable and the value should be easy to identify. However, it takes time to "work" because it takes time for people to change. As long as you see the value in each session and your coach helps you learn to apply that value into real-life application, then it's working. If you don't see value in the coaching sessions or you aren't taught how to apply that value, then it is probably best to find a different coach. Or maybe getting coaching isn't right for you.

Q: How do I find the right leadership coach?

Coaches, like everyone else, vary in personality and experience. It is extremely important to find a coach that you feel fits well with who you are and has experience helping others reach similar goals as your own. You also want a coach with high levels of personal character. All of this can be hard to gauge from what you see on their business profiles and websites. Reach out to several coaches, ask questions, and continue to engage the one you connect with the most.

Q: Is leadership coaching right for me?

Coaching certainly isn't for everyone. If you are happy with where you are in life and in your career, getting a coach doesn't make much sense. But, if you are looking to grow in your career, build better relationships in your personal or professional life, or eager to achieve goals that seem to be just out of reach, coaching will be effective for you. Coaching is most profitable to those who are open to honest feedback and willing to learn.

Q: What is the Birkman®?

The Birkman® is a highly effective behavioral tool that uncovers motivational needs and stress patterns in order to help an individual better understand the forces that drive his or her behavior. It is one of the most comprehensive assessments in the world, identifying personal motivators, styles of behavior, passions and values, communication styles, blind spots, and more. And, it is the only assessment that uncovers underlying needs within an individual. This allows a person to understand what is most needed within an environment for him or her to be highly effective and successful.

Q: How does the Birkman® compare to other assessments?

Most personality assessments are generalized, putting individuals into a “type” or “category” with some pre-determined sets of behaviors or strengths. This can be helpful on a broad spectrum, but not always sufficient to gauge the depth of an individual for personal growth and development. The Birkman®, instead, realizes that each individual has a bit of every “type” or “category” within them. Some are just more dominant than others. So instead of being a “type” or “category”, you are just you, a unique individual that isn’t contained within a box.

Q: How often should I meet with a consultant in order to see results?

The regularity of meetings is completely on a case by case basis and often depends on the level of needs. Our general rule of thumb is to have sessions twice a month for the first three months. However, we have had some clients who have desired to meet weekly. Our long-term goal is to progress to an “as-needed” basis. So, the usual structure is twice a month, then once a month until it starts to become an only as-needed relationship.

Q: How long does it usually take to see results and start seeing success?

Most of our clients see significant results within the first three months. However, this is 100% dependent on the individual. We cannot force learning. Each person learns at their own pace. Generally, our clients are coming to us because they are open and ready to learn and change, so they see results relatively quickly.

Q: Are conversations with consultants confidential?

While we are not bound by legal rules of confidentiality, we do abide by them. Details that individuals share are held in strict confidence. However, when hired by organizations for leadership development of individuals, we must remain loyal to the organization that hires us. While we do not share details from individual conversations, we do give reports on progress. And we must report to the organization or superior that hires us, anything told to us by an individual that will cause the organization or other individuals harm.

Q: What areas of life does The Active Leader impact?

We have worked with individuals in a range of areas. People have come to us because they want to rise in their career and get promoted. They have come to us because their marriage is on the rocks and they want to understand each other better in order to repair their relationship. Some people have come to us to help their children identify a college track and career path that best suits their strengths. The majority of time, people come to us because they want to reach greater levels of professional or relational success. However, our methodology applies to achieving almost any type of goal.