CM: When did you complete the Transformative Coaching
WG: I finished TCE in January of 2021. I got so much out of the program as a human being – I learned a lot about myself and I grew a ton – but it also really helped me with my relationships. I learned where my biases and judgments are, how to really listen (rather than listening just to respond), and I learned how to ask questions in a way that fosters open communication. It completely transformed the way I parented my then-teenagers and how I deal with almost everyone in my life.
CM: Do you consider yourself a life coach? If no, how would you describe who you are professionally?
WG: Yes, but I’m not crazy about that title because of the way it has been portrayed in media and pop culture. When people hear “life coach” they often think I am just a cheerleader, chanting “you can do it” from the sidelines. While I do support and cheer on my clients (that’s my favorite part!), I also encourage them to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, hold them accountable for the results they achieve (or don’t achieve), and help them make the changes they want to make in their life. When coaching professionals, for example, I often describe myself as a performance coach because performance is often what professionals want to work on.
CM: What would you say to somebody who told you they were thinking about becoming a life coach?
WG: I would tell them to go for it but to make sure they get training from a substantive program like TCE. There are plenty of inexpensive and quick programs that boast training, but I would advise people to look into what training is actually provided to ensure they will learn the actual skills of a coach. Even if being a professional coach is not the end goal, the growth that happens during training and the skills learned translate into all areas of life, whether it is in parenting, in management, in training, in ambition, or any end goal that warrants effort.
CM: What is one misperception you believe people have about coaches (whether designated “life coach” or something else)?
WG: A lot of people think that coaches are consultants, that they are experts in a particular area and can provide advice and tell people what to do to accomplish their goals. A good coach does not tell their clients what to do and instead allows the client to figure it out by asking questions, noticing patterns, reflecting what the client says, and supporting the client through their doubts and struggles. A coach’s skill set is more about listening and reflecting than it is about providing advice.
CM: What is your coaching specialty?
WG: I coach attorneys and other professionals that tend to be in high-stress careers seeking harmony and balance in life so they do not burn out, and I coach people who are struggling with big transitions – going back to work after an extended period of unemployment, wanting to change careers but not knowing how to do it, retiring, moving to a new city. I love to watch people open their minds to possibility and helping them figure out what is possible for them.
CM: Are you a full-time coach?
WG: No. Right now coaching is a part-time vocation outside of my full-time professional career in a different field but my plan is to retire from my career and continue coaching as much or as little as I want.
CM: What do you do other than coaching?
WG: I am a civil litigator in the Sacramento area.
CM: Do you have a website dedicated to your coaching business?
WG:
CM: Do you have social media accounts that you use primarily for your coaching business?
WG: Yes, but I have not been good about updating it and using it to its full potential, in part because I am planning to rebrand this year. But people can learn a little about me by going to www.daringanddynamiccoaching.
