Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is life coaching?

Life coaching is a process where the facilitator optimizes self-awareness around particular issues, with a view to positive change in behavior and advancement towards achieving objectives. It involves questioning techniques and exercises geared to having clients better understand their own values and approaches and how these impact on their actions and outputs. The process supports the client in making positive concrete progress towards attaining goals which they believe to be more fulfilling personally and/or for their organizations.

2. Why should I or my organization engage lilfe coaching sessions on values?

While technical and management competencies are the pillars on which an organization’s performance is built, its foundation of values are the driving force for the organization’s existence and the fulfillment of these values are the benchmarks against which its success is ultimately gauged.

It is the belief at Global Principles that values are of such an abstract and personal nature that awareness can be most effectively raised through processes that address the abstract and personal dimension, and within a framework that also advances concrete change. Coaching provides this framework, through personal-level work and exercises drawing upon imaginative and intuitive abilities, as well as promoting commitment to specific changes.

3. What is the difference between life coaching and training or counseling?

In training the assumption is that the trainer is an expert who is imparting expert knowledge, whereas in life coaching the facilitator assumes that you are the expert on yourself or your organization and is seeking to bring that understanding to your own awareness with the aim of acknowledging positive elements or making changes where you believe appropriate.

Counseling is essentially on the individual level and assumes that the person is in an unhealthy state, resolution of which involves a significant degree of investigation into the past and overcoming problems derived therefrom. Life coaching assumes a basically healthy person or organization seeking to optimize her/his/its functioning or fulfillment, and is a largely present-oriented or forward-looking process.

4. How do I know that coaching is right for me or my organization?

In general terms, Global Principles would be pleased to work with you if you can answer yes to the following:

(a) I work in the international community, that is, as a diplomat, staff member of the United Nations, its funds or organizations, or in a non-governmental organization working with the UN, or I am an academic studying with, or a member of the private sector having professional relations with, the international community

AND

(b) I am interested in developing for myself or my staff greater focus, performance, satisfaction and motivation, or sustained practices of accountability, integrity or other values-related competencies beyond one-off trainings.

We would be happy to discuss any possible services Global Principles can provide if you have any doubts or queries or additional comments on the above.

5. What is a life coaching session like?

During a one-on-one session the coach engages you in a conversation or exercises which apply listening and questioning techniques to bring relevant characteristics and issues to your conscious awareness, draw out realistic approaches to reaching your goals, and support you in making changes by keeping you accountable and acknowledged in your actions.

Group coaching sessions apply the same principles, but are more varied depending on the time available, the specific goals of the session and the numbers involved. They generally involve more interactive exercises and group-oriented work, interspersed with individual tasks.

6. What should I expect or not expect from life coaching?

Life coaching as practiced at Global Principles is not about us providing answers but providing an environment where you explore, discover and choose your own questions and answers on issues around values, goals, mission and purpose. We do not give advice as such, but facilitate a process in a non-directional, non-judgmental fashion.

You should be prepared to work on issues around which there are a number of assumptions and which you may need to challenge. You should be willing to relax, be open and play. You should be ready and willing to work towards, and commit to, change.