Donna Wyland, Author/Coach dba freetobe, LLC

What is your approach to helping clients identify and solve key challenges? My “clients” are usually new writers who have a dream of writing their own book someday. We start at the beginning and work for 6 months or more to write and polish their manuscripts to prepare them for publication. It is a thrill to help others bring their own book writing dreams to life.

How do you tailor your coaching or consulting style to different industries? Whether coaching individuals on their daily challenges or writers searching for the next step to take toward their writing dreams, my approach is always personal and unique to the client I am working with. That’s the wonderful thing about being a coach/consultant. Each client is unique. They each have specific challenges, goals, and dreams. Helping them find a way to work toward the accomplishment of those goals and dreams is a privilege I greatly enjoy.

What are the most common misconceptions about consulting? Coaching and consulting are two different things. The most common misconception about coaching is having clients think I am going to tell them what to do. A good coach will never do that unless they indicate they are taking off their “coach hat” and putting on their “consulting hat” for that conversation. A consultant will tell clients what to do. A good coach will ask powerful questions to help the client discover their next steps toward their goals and dreams.

How do you measure the success of your client engagements? My success is measured by my client’s success. When a client is moving forward with their writing and working toward completion of a book or article or poem, I am being successful. When a client struggles for too long or has a demanding personal life that they allow to block their work toward a dream or goal, I sometimes need to have a difficult conversation and potentially let them go (until they are ready to recommit to working toward their goals and dreams).

What trends are influencing the future of consulting and coaching? AI is a huge issue right now for all of us, but the truth is, AI is only as good as the information being put into the system. Thousands of writers are hired to develop AI models and responses and conversations, so those writers/researchers are the ones whose input becomes what we read or hear from AI online. AI has no emotion and cannot duplicate the heart of a writer who employs nuance and feeling into what they write. I doubt AI would know a lot about the work of Jesus as well. AI could quote the Bible but there’s so much more to the story that is only revealed through spending time with God ourselves and being guided by Holy Spirit.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of my work is finishing a project, having readers respond positively to my work, and helping other writers bring their own book writing dreams to life.

What skills do you think are essential for future consultants or coaches? Most important are the skills of connection – the ability to actively listen to a client and respond in an appropriate manner with encouragement and hope. In addition, knowledge of the right questions to ask and knowing your client are important too.