Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before we start working together.
What is executive coaching?
Executive coaching is a one-to-one partnership that helps a leader see clearly, choose deliberately and grow in the ways their role and their life are asking for. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) describes coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
It is not consulting, where an expert hands you answers, and it is not therapy. It is a structured conversation about your goals, your patterns and the way you want to lead, with practice between sessions so that insight becomes behavior.
Once reserved for CEOs, coaching is now used by leaders at every level, by founders and by nonprofit executives.
What does a coaching session look like?
Most sessions take place by video and last 50 to 60 minutes; the first few may run a little longer. You set the agenda. We usually begin with what has happened since we last met, go deep on what matters most right now, and close with clear commitments you will practice before the next session.
Between sessions, short check-ins by email or text can help you apply the work as situations arise, within the arrangements we agree together.
Can we work together in person?
Most coaching happens by video, which means we can work together wherever you are. In-person meetings can also be arranged. Clifton is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and you are welcome to ask about meeting in person during your Complimentary Conversation.
How long do clients usually work with a coach?
Most engagements run three to six months, and many clients choose to continue. The reason people start is often not the reason they stay: as one challenge shifts, a deeper question tends to come into view.
Interestingly, the largest meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that the number of sessions made little difference to how well coaching worked (de Haan and Nilsson, Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2023). The quality of the relationship and the practice you do between sessions matter more.
What are the benefits of coaching?
Coaching starts from the view that you are whole and capable, not broken. The relationship is one of equals, working together on whatever is getting in the way. The benefits depend on your goals, and often include:
- Greater self-awareness
- Clearer goals and better decisions
- Stronger performance and new skills
- A more grounded, confident leadership presence
- Healthier relationships and conversations
- More resilience under pressure
- A stronger sense of purpose and satisfaction
The research backs this up. The largest meta-analysis based only on randomized controlled trials, covering 37 trials and 2,528 participants, found a moderate and reliable positive effect of coaching (de Haan and Nilsson, 2023).
What is the investment, and what is the return?
Coaching asks for an investment of money, time and personal effort, so it is fair to ask what it gives back. The research is encouraging:
- Organizations report strong financial returns. In the ICF Global Coaching Client Study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the International Coaching Federation, 86% of companies that could calculate a return said they at least made their investment back, and the median company return was seven times the initial investment.
- The effect holds up in peer-reviewed research. A meta-analysis of 17 workplace studies found that coaching has a positive effect on organizational outcomes, with the strongest gains in individual-level results (Jones, Woods and Guillaume, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 2016).
- Leaders grow in the ways that matter most. A separate meta-analysis found significant positive effects on performance and skills, well-being, coping, work attitudes and goal-directed self-regulation (Theeboom, Beersma and van Vianen, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2014).
Most clients choose engagements of three to six months. Fees depend on the scope of our work, and we are happy to talk them through in a Complimentary Conversation.
There is one more investment: the real work between sessions. The more honestly you reflect and practice, the more you get back.
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
Coaching works best when you are ready to look honestly at yourself and practice something new. It is a strong fit if you are stepping into a bigger role, navigating a transition, trying to change a pattern that keeps repeating, or quietly asking whether your work still fits who you are.
Coaching is not a substitute for therapy. If mental health is at the center of what you are facing, the right care comes first. If you are unsure, start with a Complimentary Conversation and we can decide together.
Is Clifton certified, and does it matter?
Yes. Clifton is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and holds the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC). He has been ICF certified since 2020, has completed more than 2,500 coaching hours and has coached more than 130 leaders. He trained through an 18-month ICF-accredited coach training program and follows the ICF Code of Ethics.
Does it matter? Credentials are not everything: trust, fit and chemistry matter just as much. But an ICF credential tells you a coach has completed rigorous training, logged verified hours with real clients, passed an assessment of their skills and committed to a code of ethics. That is a meaningful baseline.
Where do I start?
Start with a Complimentary Conversation. It is a relaxed, 30-minute conversation about where you are, what you are facing and what you hope could change, with no pressure to commit.
If we both feel it is a good fit, we agree on goals, a meeting rhythm and ways to recognize progress, and then we begin. You can read more about how we work together.