The coaching process

The process of coaching is dynamic, and is determined, in a large part, by the client. But I believe it is important to see the process via an overview as detailed below.

Roughly, coaching begins 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

• What does the client want to talk about?
• At the end of the session, what will success look like?
• Exploration of being: who they are, what is their story, etc.

Shared speaking between coach and client

• What does client want to talk about now?
• Any action taken?
• At the end of the session, what will success look like?
• Probing questions
• Challenging assumptions
• Reflecting patterns
• Continue exploration of being

Shift from Being to explore Doing

• Client begins to articulate what they might do to move
• Reflection from me about the choices
• Challenging reasons behind choice
• 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 coaching
• For the client - "How does what you are being affect your learning?"
• What is different? What is the same? How does that feel?

Endings

• Time for the client to review the coaching and the time in between 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