Coaching FAQs

Before You Read the FAQs

Most of the questions below are practical. But the real question is often simpler: is something no longer working the way it used to, even if from the outside things still look fine? If that resonates, you're in the right place.

About the Work

Who do you typically work with?

Experienced leaders, often in their late 30s to mid-50s, carrying significant responsibility both professionally and personally. Many are business owners, executives, or senior leaders whose success has come with increasing pressure, complexity, and weight.

While I work with both men and women, a significant part of my executive coaching work is with men navigating this season, where leadership, identity, and responsibility start to intersect more deeply. This is sometimes described as midlife coaching for men, though in practice it's less about age and more about what that season demands of you as a leader.

They're not starting from scratch. Many are already performing well. But they want to lead with greater clarity, capacity, and consistency, without carrying the same load to get there.

How do I know if I need coaching?

Most of the leaders I work with aren't failing. But internally, something has shifted.

Decisions feel heavier than they used to
You're carrying more than your role should require
Your team isn't moving without you
Clarity has been replaced by constant pressure

That doesn't mean something is broken. It often means something is ready to be restored. If you're unsure, the Coaching Readiness Assessment is a short, structured way to pause and see what might be emerging.

Take the Coaching Readiness Assessment

Is this coaching, consulting, mentoring, or counselling?

At its core, this is coaching. That means the work isn't about giving you answers. It's about helping you see more clearly, think more effectively, and lead with greater intention.

Consulting involves an expert diagnosing a problem and recommending solutions. Mentoring draws on personal experience to guide someone along a similar path. Counselling focuses on healing past experiences or working through emotional difficulty. All have value in the right context.

Coaching is different. It's not about fixing something that's broken. It creates space to step back from the pressure, think more clearly, and lead more intentionally. Where appropriate, I do bring perspective as a strategic thinking partner. The distinction stays simple: I don't take over your thinking. I strengthen it.

What makes Aruka different from other coaching approaches?

Most coaching focuses on performance. Aruka focuses on restoration.

Restoring clarity where there is noise
Restoring capacity where there is pressure
Restoring alignment where things have drifted
Restoring leadership to something sustainable, not just effective

The work considers both the leader and the system they're responsible for. It's practical, reflective, and grounded in real-world leadership. For those who share it, Patrick's faith also shapes how he understands leadership, responsibility, and stewardship, though the work itself is accessible and relevant regardless of personal belief.

Practicalities

What does a coaching engagement look like?

Most engagements involve regular sessions (typically bi-weekly or monthly), held online or in person depending on location. Between sessions, the real work happens: in decisions, in conversations, in how you show up as a leader.

What happens in a typical session?

The focus is entirely on you: your context, your decisions, and how you're experiencing leadership. Each session begins by clarifying what would be most valuable to focus on. From there it typically involves clarifying what's really going on beneath the surface, challenging assumptions or patterns, exploring options and decisions, and identifying practical next steps.

Sessions are typically 60 minutes, with flexibility where needed. The aim isn't just insight. It's meaningful, applied change.

How long do engagements typically last?

Individual coaching engagements typically run between 3 and 12 months, with sessions held bi-weekly or monthly. Sessions are generally 60 minutes. Team and business engagements vary more widely, ranging from half-day workshops to ongoing monthly work depending on the scope.

The emphasis in both cases is on depth and sustainability, not speed.

Do you work with teams as well as individuals?

Yes. In addition to individual leadership coaching, I work with leadership teams to strengthen how they think, align, and execute together. This often includes leadership team coaching, strategic alignment sessions, and team development focused on trust, clarity, and accountability. The focus isn't just on improving team dynamics but on enabling the team to operate more independently, reducing unnecessary reliance on the leader.

Results and Investment

What kind of results can I expect?

Greater clarity in decision-making
Reduced leadership burden
More aligned and accountable teams
Improved consistency in execution
A renewed sense of direction and confidence

In many cases, the most important shift isn't what changes externally. It's how you experience leadership internally.

How much does coaching cost?

Because every engagement is tailored, there's no fixed pricing structure. Investment depends on whether the work is individual or team-based, session frequency and duration, in-person versus online, and geography. This is discussed openly during an initial conversation, where we align on scope and what would create the most value for you.

Do you offer once-off sessions or only longer engagements?

Both are possible. Some leaders begin with a once-off session to think through a specific challenge. That said, lasting shifts in leadership rarely happen in a single conversation. For that reason, most clients choose to commit to an initial block of 6 to 8 sessions, allowing enough time to build momentum and embed practical change. From there, we decide together what makes sense.

Is coaching paid for by me or my company?

Either is possible. Many clients are funded by their organisation, while others invest personally. This can be discussed based on your context.

Delivery and Confidentiality

Where are sessions held?

Sessions are typically held online. In-person sessions are available depending on location, particularly within South Africa or by arrangement for international clients.

Do you work internationally?

Yes. Patrick works with clients locally and internationally, with sessions conducted online as needed. Clients across Africa, the UK, the USA, and the Middle East are all within the regular working timezone.

Is coaching confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is a core part of the coaching relationship. As an ICF-accredited coach, Patrick abides by the professional standards and ethical guidelines set by the International Coaching Federation, including clear commitments around confidentiality, boundaries, and the integrity of the coaching relationship.

ICF Code of Ethics: https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics

Next Steps

What happens if I'm interested?

The first step is a conversation. A chance to understand your context, explore what you're looking for, and determine whether there's a good fit. No obligation. Just a chance to think clearly about what might be needed.

Book a Clarity Call

What if I'm not sure yet?

That's completely normal. Most leaders don't start with certainty. They start with a sense that something needs to shift. If you're not ready for a conversation, the Coaching Readiness Assessment is a good place to begin.