Police Interview Newsletter
Coaching: Are You Ready?

COACHING: ARE YOUR READY?
Volume 1, Issue 6
June, 2002

What Is Coaching?

"Coaching is an ongoing relationship which focuses on the client taking action toward the realization of their vision, goals or desires. Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build the client's level of awareness and responsibility and provides the client with structure, support, and feedback (College of Executive Coaching, 2000).”

Could You Benefit From Personal Coaching? Some helpful questions to consider:

•Are there areas of your work life or career that you want to change, enhance, or develop?

•Area there areas of your personal life that you would like to improve?

•Are you clear about your personal values? Do you allow your values to inform your decisions and life choices?

•Do you have a clear vision for your life?

•Do you have some bad habits or obstacles that might interfere with achieving your goals?

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Ready To Be Coached?

Name: _________________________________________

This questionnaire is designed to help you self-assess your readiness for a coaching relationship. Please circle “Yes” or “No” to each question:

I will keep appointments with myself to work on my coaching homework? Yes No

There is something I want to work on or achieve which I will focus on in my coaching ? Yes No

I am willing to stop or change behaviors that are interfering with my progress? Yes No

I am willing to try new approaches to help me achieve my goals? Yes No

Coaching is an appropriate approach to help me accomplish my goals, as opposed to therapy for an emotional issue, consulting for specific problem solving, or specific teaching? Yes No

I will take regular actions to help achieve my coaching goals, even if it progress takes time? Yes No

I will be open with my coach about what I like or don't like about how the coaching is going? Yes No

I will work collaboratively with my coach to design goals and action steps to move forward? Yes No

If you were able to answer “Yes” to all eight questions, you may want to seriously consider contacting Dr. Hart to discuss how he might help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

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COACHING: ARE YOU READY?

Coaching Benefits for Law Enforcement Officers & Applicants:

•Guide your application process
•Crystallize your career vision
•Set clear goals and objectives
•Prepare for Oral Interview appearance
• Prepare for Promotional Process
• Become a better communicator
•Improve interpersonal skills
•Increase your emotional intelligence
•Assess your strengths and developmental needs
•Collaborate to establish your action plan
•Keeps you focused and on schedule with action
•Problem solve potential obstacles to career advancement
•Receive Honest feedback from your coach
•Deal with procrastination and avoidance of tasks
•Manage conflicts with others

Structure of Coaching Arrangements

•Initial Assessment (phone interview, “New Client Questionnaire”, etc.)
•Complete written agreement (see “Coaching Contract”)
•Clarify nature of coaching services (not psychotherapy, consulting, or teaching)
•Regular contacts (telephone calls 2, 3, or 4 times monthly)
•Fees paid in advance on monthly basis
•Email support/followup for homework and action steps

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Good Next Steps

1. Contact Dr. Hart to discuss your coaching interest (phone: 804--353-6700, press #2).

2. Download the May 2002 issue of Police Interview entitled “Personal Coaching” for a good explanation of the coaching process.

3. Go to my web site (http://www.LawEnforcementCoaching.com) to download copies of the “Applicant Coaching Goals” Form and the “Coaching Contract”.

4. Email Dr. Hart with your name & address to receive a copy of the “New Client Questionnaire” (MacHart@PoliceInterview.com).

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ASK THE EXPERTS

In this regularly appearing column, Dr. Hart and local law enforcement officers respond to frequently asked questions.

Applicant: What type of individuals would be well-suited for the kinds of personal coaching services that you provide?

Dr. Hart: Thanks for asking for clarification. I am interested in working with two groups of people: (1) law enforcement applicants and (2) current law enforcement officers.

Highly motivated and well-adjusted law enforcement applicants can benefit from coaching in a variety of ways. A police applicant, for instance, may want to maximize his chances of getting hired at a top notch law enforcement agency. He may benefit greatly from coaching in the following areas: goal-setting, completing the pre-employment application, the job search, effective communication, stress management, and interview preparation. This type of coaching generally focuses on skill building and may be short-term and fairly specific in nature.

Veteran law enforcement officers, on the other hand, might be seeking “performance coaching” that focuses on helping them to function better in a current position or role, or “development coaching” that targets the individual who is preparing to take on new responsibilities or a higher level position at his police agency (eg. promotion to sergeant, lieutenant, or captain). Assessment tools are often employed with this type of coaching to evaluate personality traits, leadership strengths and developmental areas, and aspects of emotional intelligence. Police supervisors and managers need to acquire high level interpersonal relationship skills to be maximally effective.

In my coaching practice I find it is most helpful to attend to all aspects of the client's life, as we work together to clarify his/her values, and to develop a meaningful action plan. Jeffrey Auerbach, Ph.D., expresses this idea more succinctly. Coaching works best when it is “holistic, values-based, and action-oriented” (Personal and Executive Coaching, p.31).