The coaching process

The process of coaching is dynamic and unpredictable as are most interactions. But I believe it is important to see the process via an overview as detailed below.

Roughly, coaching beings with exploring ‘being’ and then moves to exploring options for ‘doing’.

Developing the Coaching Relationship

• Explain my coaching framework to the client
• Let the client express what might be their expectations of coaching
• Discuss the contract
  • Fees, relationship with organisation (If applicable),discuss confidentiality issues, schedule of meetings, ethics and boundaries
• Begin to listen to client's story

Predominantly Client speaking Inquiry

• How does the client see patterns in his/her performance or that of teams in the organisation?
• Exploration of being: who they are, what is their story, etc.

Shared speaking between coach and client

• What are the clients’ reflections from the last session?
• Any action taken?
• Probing questions and some education in Human Systems Dynamics
• Challenging assumptions
• Reflecting patterns
• Continue exploration of being

Shift from Being to explore Doing

• Coach engages clients with possible behaviour changes that may influence patterns
• Client begins to articulate what they might do to move
• Discuss possible opportunities and crises as various options are explored
• Client decides on an action
• Begin exploration of doing

Reflection on being and doing

• Did agreed action from previous session take place? If yes - how was that? If no - why not?
• Discuss with client what is being learned from behaviour changes as a result of the coaching process
• What is different? What is the same? How does that feel?

Endings

• Time for the client to review the coaching
• Can you make your learning explicit?
• What is the story about you now that is different from when we began coaching? If not different, how does that feel?
• Say good bye