Frequently Asked Questions

The International Coaching Federation (ICF ) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential. Coaches honour the client as the expert in their life and work.

Coaching provides a number of benefits. At Tallawah Coaching, we have seen clients gain greater confidence, take positive career steps, gain greater clarity on their personal goals and improve their personal and professional relationships. The ICF Global Coaching Client Study shows that most coaching clients report improve work performance, better business management, more efficient time management, increased team effectiveness, and more growth and opportunities. The same study found that coaching clients developed greater self-confidence, enhanced relationships, more effective communications skills, better work-and-life balance and an improvement in wellness.

Coaching, therapy, mentoring and consulting all involve confidential conversations, however they each have unique qualities. Therapy is focused on healing pain or resolving difficulties from the past that may be impacting on the present. Coaching, on the other hand, supports personal and professional growth by focusing on the future. There may be moments in coaching to reflect on the past in an effort to learn from it in order to achieve the stated future goal. A Mentor is an expert in their field who provides wisdom and guidance based on their lived experience. Mentors offer advice. Coaching, however, is an equitable partnership. Coaching is based on the principle that you are the expert in your life and business, coaching does not offer advise, the process of coaching empowers the individual to generate their own solutions by raising awareness to different perspectives. Consultants may be retained by individuals and organisations for their expertise. Consultants diagnose problems, advise, and at times implement solutions. Coaching assumes that the individuals or the teams are capable of generating their own solutions, whilst the coach offers support to enable the discovery and execution of those solutions.

Coaching is very different than talking to a good friend. Whilst good friends are an invaluable part of life, they may offer advise and may provide more support than challenge.  Your Tallawah Coach will support and challenge you without offering advise. Your coach knows that you are creative and resourceful and works with you to achieve your goals.

Not necessarily.  A good coach will be able to provide high quality and effective coaching with or without shared experiences.

Shared experiences provide unique understanding and connection which is helpful in coaching, however this could also hinder the process. Both client and coach need discipline to avoid becoming mentor/ mentee.

Where experiences differ, the coach is able to respond with curiosity, from a place of fewer assumptions, and may be better able to bring awareness to blind spots. However, building that connection could take a little longer.

When considering a coach, consider the profile of the coach that may be most helpful for your current goals. To what extent is shared experience essential here? Speak to a number of coaches before making a decision.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a coach. Importantly, it is advised to choose a coach who belongs to a professional membership organisation such as the ICF or EMCC. This assures you that the coach has been trained by a reputable body and is committed to continuous development. The rapport that you build with a coach is important to the process, remember, this may take time to build. You should be able to book a complimentary call to learn more about your coach. The coach should be curious about you and your goals, working together is a mutual decision.  It is advised to speak with several coaches to find the right 'fit'. Your coach should be professional at all times and should provide clarity on pricing, cancellations, refunds etc. You should never feel forced to start working with or to continue working with a coach.

On booking a 30 min discovery call with Tallawah Coaching, you can expect a no obligation conversation with Shereen to discuss your coaching goals. If there is no well defined goal at this stage, do not be concerned. Sometimes, the process of coaching helps to clarify the goal. The call will be focused on understanding your experiences and expectations around coaching and on discovering what may be helpful for you. Towards the end of the conversation, you are likely to be asked if you would like to work together. It is okay to say 'no, not this time' or to take time to think about it, or even to wholeheartedly and excitedly say 'Yes, I can't wait to start'.

We realise that coaching is an investment in your personal development and we want you to be satisfied with your choice. You always have a choice to cancel the coaching agreement if your priorities have changed or your coaching experience is different from what is expected. We always encourage you to openly discuss what may or may not be working with your coach as there may be opportunities for adjustment or realignment. However for our multi-session programme, you are welcome to cancel with one week's notice and will only be expected to pay for completed sessions. For single session bookings please cancel at least 72hrs in advance for a full refund. Sample agreements for Tallawah Coaching can be found here