Question everything!
1. How do you keep our conversations private and safe?
As a certified coach, I am a professional. Your conversations with me are 100% confidential. In family meetings you are the one expressing your intentions. I facilitate a safe and respectful meeting place. I do not condone profanity or disrespectful behaviour. Everyone gets a voice and I use a talking stick to help dissuade interruptions. I also don’t relay messages between family members. The intention of our sessions is to help you feel safe and respected so you can share openly and honestly to get to the heart of the issue.
2. What does coaching require time wise?
Each family is unique. I first ask every member of the family, farm and non-farm, spouses included, to complete a personal profile and key challenge audit. Then we set up private couple coaching sessions to uncover expectations, intentions, and conflict issues that need resolution. These calls take 60 to 90 minutes per couple and can be done on the phone or preferably via zoom. Recordings of the sessions are sent to you. Then the family meets via zoom for 2 hours to unpack our discoveries and create a plan for next action steps. A family of parents, 3 adult children would take about 7 hours of coaching time. In the following months, I book time with you to check-in, schedule more meetings if needed, and act as your accountability partner.
3. How do you bill for your expertise?
My coaching agreement asks for a $1500 retainer to hold your spot for coaching. I then have a billable hourly rate comparable to what your accountant charges you, about half the price of a bag of seed canola ($350). You are billed for the hours spent on your file plus GST, and the retainer is part of your payment. Conflict profile assessments and personal style indicators are billed as extra per person costs, about $55 each.
4. How can I get better at understanding my conflict behaviour?
I use an online Conflict Dynamic profile that can help you see what you are good at doing, and the not so helpful habits you have. It also outlines your hot buttons. This self awareness costs $55 per person and gives you a report and guide to make improvements to your conflict resolution skills. It’s a highly valuable tool. If you would like to better understand your results and what to do about them, we can schedule coaching time to go over it. Note: this assessment is optional, according to your needs.
5. Do we have to take your online course first before we engage you in private coaching?
No, it’s not mandatory, but I highly advise that you do it. The online course will give you more skills in seeing the emotional factors affecting your planning and create family discussions. I hope you would see the value of the investment for the long-term success of your family harmony. If you’re not sure which solution is the best for you, schedule a discovery call (link to the form on the “Contact” page) and let’s start the conversation.
6. What happens during the discovery call and is there a charge?
This 15 minute call is free of charge. You can use this time with me to clarify your main desires for coaching, draw out the family dynamic map, and assess the next steps.
7. Why do you want to speak with my accountant and lawyer?
The coaching agreement asks for permission to speak with your other advisors. As professionals we follow a code of ethics for confidentiality. Sharing insights speeds up understanding for creating solutions for your plan. I am a team player so sharing expertise and client history helps us all serve you better.
8. What guarantee do you have that coaching will help our family?
Short answer, none. You are responsible for doing the work and let the conversations do the heavy lifting. My role as coach is to facilitate courageous conversations and lead from behind. Many farm families find the greatest value being able to talk to someone who truly understands agriculture and who has seen many workable family situations.
9. Do you have references for your work?
Due to the confidential nature of coaching I do not share names of other clients unless they expressly allow me to do so. You can get a good sense of where I am coming from by reading my blog. I have worked with farm families in transition for decades. I am a member of good standing with the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors. I have won the Wilson Loree Award for Excellence in Farm Management as well as the Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazers award.
10. Do you enjoy working with highly conflicted families?
My training as a conflict resolution specialist has given me maps and tools to help farm families get more comfortable with talking about tough issues. I think about solutions often when I work with challenging issues. I am wired for communication, empathy, life-long learning, positivity, and winning others over. I always have hope for positive change and good outcomes.
Different is not wrong. It’s just different.
Let’s talk about creating solutions for your differences.
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