Why does coaching work?
          Coaching creates a productive and supportive relationship helping clients achieve what they commit themselves to achieve. Here are five frequently mentioned reasons for the success of coaching relationships:

1. Through the magic of technology, coaching can be conducted across time and space, no matter where the client lives, works or travels. The same can be said for the coach. E-mail can supplement the coaching experience.
   

2. Coaching encourages clients to clarify their goals, make changes, make themselves accountable, take specific action, improve their skills. As a result, clients achieve faster. They discover what does work when working harder, then working smarter hasn't worked.
   

3. Clients value the outside perspective of a business coach and are confident that they will receive honest and truthful feedback, undiluted by politics inside the company or someone else's personal/ hidden agenda. They also come to appreciate the supportive environment in which the coaching conversations take place.
   

4. Broad knowledge, professional experience, and a wide range of resources are focused for the client's benefit. The outcome is acceleration toward goal accomplishment
   

5. Clients will be asked for more clarity. They will be listened to (when was the last time that happened to you?) with professional naiveté and sensitivity, inviting a fresh look at old problems and impediments. Since the coach can see beyond the real and self-imposed hindrances, clients will be asked to do more and achieve mightily. Often the client comes away with an "aha" as a fresh insight changes the perspective. The client often feels empowered within the confidential and supportive atmosphere of the relationship.

Group coaching works, too
          Group coaching takes the power of individual coaching and adds the resources of the group. Where a coach may add the individual knowledge, experience, and insights developed over his/ her lifetime, a committed and properly facilitated group can enrich and multiply that influence many-fold.

1. The communication gets well-clarified and the contribution of one is built upon by others in a group. Issues are focused and perspectives are balanced.
   

2. The area of concern that one group member has at hand is usually part of the experience for several other group members. One or more members can relate the "what worked, what didn't work" of almost any issue another member may have to contend with. The experience resource usually exceeds 10 years per participant, on average; often more.
   

3. Often, during group coaching, members can share what they have developed or have seen as a best practice. The group climate permits a more objective view, even of a practice that is undeniably, best. Groups find that even best practice can become better, when examined for improvement opportunities. Moving toward a best practice (read, change) is more confidently attempted when the success others have achieved can be used to bolster confidence. This is especially so when caution flags can be placed near the potholes on the road to success.
   

4. With the change process improved through constructive sharing and consideration of improved designs, the time spent retracing steps and re-doing practices can be minimized. Efficiency of the changes is improved by the collective, directed input from the group. Time is money. 
   

5. Current technology supports the delivery of focused training and education by way of telephone and internet combinations. These developments have made it possible then, to deliver training packages on-line and interactively, so all can benefit. It resembles a virtual university class room.