Sandra Swenson Scott, a professional certified coach, talks with LAsThePlace.com about life as a coach and the expansion of the coaching industry. With many certified coaches in the market today, Sandra has developed her own unique style of coaching and has excelled with coaching of women.

LATP:  What struggles in life and business does the ‘baby boomer’ generation woman face today and how does your coaching technique help them?

Sandra Swenson Scott:  The clients I work with that are "baby boomers" have been successful at creating a life where they are strong, independent, and successful in their career. Quite often, they have also put their own personal sense of purpose and passion aside. This means they have often spent many years in a profession where they excelled, but were not fulfilled. As women move into their ’50s they are more aware that they want to create a life that energizes, motivates, and inspires them — a life that represents their core values. By starting with clearly defining what the vision is for their life, my coaching technique can help them bravely step into their true identity as a unique woman, and to focus on the "Being" part of their lives instead of just the "Doing”.

LATP:  How do you see the future of coaching and its need in business?

SSS:  Coaching is the next great step in helping leaders and managers align the goals and mission of their organizations with those of all the employees. Each individual needs a mission statement, just as each corporation needs one. The more closely these two are aligned the more successful the individuals and the corporations will be. Coaching within a business setting can help everyone in the organization define and align their mission, set goals, and manage their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy for the benefit of all. Coaching can help focus on the development of every employee to add value and richness to the entire business setting. When employees are showing up at work feeling motivated, connected, and respected they are more likely to contribute in a creative and meaningful way. What an amazing difference that could make in the bottom line of any organization!

LATP:  Do you think the system of coaching should be implemented in the public school system?

SSS:  I started out many years ago teaching school, and I have had two sons go through the public school systems. From my perspective, Coaching within the school system is a MUST. When we start helping children understand their inner values, motivators, and emotions, and how to connect those to their outer tasks, the school environment will become a positive, creative, enjoyable experience for every child. Coaching is all about understanding yourself as a unique individual, and how to make choices that help you show up every day as your "best" self. If children from the age of 6-18 could work with a coach it would change their lives, and our society!

LATP:  What has been your greatest success story?

SSS:  Every client is a success story. My approach is to assist them in discovering who they truly are, to step into their power, and to connect their purpose/passion/values to every day life. When they can look at life with a new perspective, feel they are capable of steering their own course and can make powerful decisions they are successful!

LATP:  What advice would you give to a new coach just starting their practice?

SSS:  New coaches usually come into the industry because they want to be of service to people….they want to assist others to be the best they can be. They often don’t think about the fact that starting a new business requires a different set of skills than coaching.  So, I tell new coaches I work with to: 1) be patient with themselves, 2) work on being happy, confident, powerful, and energetically attractive, 3) know who their ideal client is and only work with those who fit the profile, 4) find a new business development/marketing process that helps them tap into their strengths, 5) trust that the Universe is abundant and the money will follow. When a coach loves what they do, is good at what they do, and brings their own passion and purpose to their work, they will attract those clients who are looking to create the next level of joy and success in their own lives, and are willing to pay well to achieve it.

LATP:  How would you describe the difference between coaching and therapy and which produces better results?

SSS:  Both therapy and coaching are incredibly valuable within our society. The very simple answer regarding the difference is that a therapist helps clients go from dysfunctional to functional, and helps them deal with clinically defined disorders and diseases.  Coaches help clients go from functional to optional. The emphasis is on how to make positive, powerful choices in the present that help the client move forward in their life’s journey and achieve their goals.

LATP:  What is the hardest thing about being a coach and is this industry well known?

SSS:  Every coach faces different challenges when they start out. The industry is now fairly well known, and even portrayed in the media (TV, radio, magazines, etc.). Unfortunately, there is also some misinformation about coaches floating around.  The challenge that faces most coaches is differentiating who they are as a coach. In other words, figuring out how to describe what they do, how they do it, and why someone would benefit from working with them as their coach, rather than the thousands of other coaches out there. The most successful coaches I have met are those who are clear on their goals and intentions, confident, passionate, and thereby energetically attracting their ideal clients;

LATP:  Since you are mentor coach for the iPEC School, what have you learned from your students and what is their most common mistake?

My coach training helped me understand that there are no mistakes, only opportunities for learning and growth. However I do think there is some "unlearning" that often has to be done on the part of "coaches in training". They typically are the people that family, friends, & co-workers have gone to for help or answers. The biggest tendency I see is the students wanting to tell the client what to do, to give advice, and to give opinions. None of these fit with the coach approach iPEC teaches. So, much of what I help students do is learn how to trust that the client has the answer, keep to the client’s agenda, listen deeply, be present, learn how to ask empowering questions that open up the choices the client can make, and stop giving opinions, advice and suggestions.

Sandra is a Member of the International Coach Federation, Member of the National Association of Female Executives and a Member of the American Society for Training and Development. Sandra is also known as a “coach’s coach” as she was personally chosen by IPEC to be one of their mentor coaches for new coaching students. Sandra offers a complimentary session through her website at www.Clear-Vision-Coaching.com. 

Read our article on Sandra Swenson-Scott here…