Coaching is a hot trend at a growing number of companies, from IBM and Dow Chemical to entrepreneurial start ups. According to a recent survey by The Hay Group, an international human resources consultancy, between 25 percent and 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies use executive coaches. A coach is defined as being “part advisory, part sounding board, part cheerleader, part manager and part strategist (Business Journal).”

Coaching can occur in one-on-one face-to-face meetings between coach and business person, over telephone, in small groups, and even in group conference calls. Recently, a client of mine, who owns an acoustical tile cleaning franchise, was so pleased with results of our coaching sessions, that she organized group telephone coaching sessions for her and other franchise owners. The benefits are enormous. Not only do franchise owners save time and money conferring in a group telephone session, they all receive same information at same time, there are networking and sharing opportunities, and a spirit of teamwork has evolved.

I attended a trade-show shortly after Desert Storm and met General Schwartzkoff and had my photograph taken with him. I was a vendor and was not suppose to be a part of photo op. But for some reason as they were setting up prop, General asked me to join him for a photo. I did; he signed photo (which was also not a part of deal); I returned to my booth. Each time I look at that picture I am struck as to how much I remember experience. No thought is given to what I was wearing, how my hair looked, smile, or those few extra pounds.