Accountability Coach Massachusetts
Coaches are a valuable aid to businesspeople, helping them grow their organizations without sacrificing their health and happiness. Coaching, however, is not a “one size fits all” endeavor—there are business coaches and personal coaches, and now, accountability coaches. Is an accountability coach right for you? Let’s examine what they do, and some of their methods.
What do accountability coaches do?
As the name implies, these coaches hold people accountable for their actions. They help clients set reasonable, specific, measurable goals and then meet those objectives. They are a personal “cheerleader” who assists their client to remain focused on their objective.
When people are held to account, they perform better because they do not want to fail in front of someone else. In other words, they want to please the accountability coach, which translates into better performance on their part, which carries through to a better outcome for their organization.
Various aspects of accountability coaching
There are numerous approaches to accountability coaching, and a very brief overview of each may help you decide which one is right for you.
The first approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which deals with feelings. All feelings are valid, even if they are distressing or unpleasant. This approach focuses on encouraging the client to accept their feelings without judgment, and to abandon unhelpful ideas and view them simply as random thoughts, not absolute truths. Achieving clarity of thought will help the client meet their goals.
The second approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Sometimes called “talk therapy,” CBT focuses on helping the client change cognitive distortions (including attitudes, beliefs, and thoughts) and the behavior that accompanies them. This will enable them to regulate their emotions and develop coping strategies aimed at solving problems, an invaluable business skill.
Another method, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), helps clients learn to manage social relationships and intense emotions. Although many of these methods seem to be outside of the purview of coaching, companies, their leaders and employees are people who must interact successfully, and therapy may be helpful when interpersonal concerns arise.
The fourth technique is EMDR, which stands for “eye movement desensitization and processing.” EMDR is used almost exclusively to treat disorders related to trauma and emotional distress. Remember, trauma does not automatically mean the client has been in combat, or experienced a horrific accident. A mother whose child went missing for ten minutes in a shopping mall may well be dealing with trauma. People who are trying to process a traumatic event on their own are likely to be much less effective leaders than those receiving support.
The fifth method is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which allows people to become aware of their emotions and accept them, without labeling them as “harmful” or “negative.” The technique helps clients treat their emotions as information so they can control them, as well as the actions and thoughts that accompany them.
Accountability coaches might offer Humanistic Therapy, which looks beyond all the artificial labels, classifications, stereotypes, and archetypes to focus on the individual client and his or her qualities, needs, wants, and challenges. Each problem a client encounters is treated individually, since it is in fact unique to that person.
Coaches might also consider using Motivational Interviewing, a behavior modification technique that identifies factors unique to each individual that could cause a positive change in their behavior. It is heavily centered on the client.
A closely related concept is person-centered therapy. A coach using this technique remains neutral, and does not behave as if he or she is an expert. Instead, they present a non-judgmental, accepting sounding board for the client to undertake their own journey toward enhanced self-esteem and self-discovery.
Another technique is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, which, as indicated, focuses on a specific challenge that is presently causing distress, and ways to alleviate it. This technique posits that a great deal of success can occur in a short time.
The final method to consider is Strength-Based Therapy, in which the coach identifies the client’s strengths and encourages them to see themselves in terms of these positive qualities, rather than concentrating on their perceived faults. Strength-based therapy focuses on the successes a client has enjoyed in the past, and those personal qualities that enabled that success. It then encourages them to continue building on these qualities. It also identifies any barriers currently impeding their progress.
Your accountability coach Jim Crisafulli
Jim Crisafulli is your first choice when you are selecting an accountability coach. Jim has owned a business for 44 years, and been a coach and consultant for 28. He will help you build your business into an organization that is world-class.
If you have annual turnover from $8M to $30M, and between 15 and 100 employees, bring Jim Crisafulli aboard now.