What happens during the coaching process? What are the general themes of the coaching conversation?
The coaching process is a system of assessment and intervention directed towards specific results. The cyclical process of coaching can be broken down in five simple phases:
Contracting and Contemplation > Planning > Action > Debriefing > Monitoring and Termination
Contracting and Contemplation
During the contracting phase, we’ll get to know each other better and define what key issues need to be addressed as we define measurable goals.
Establishing The Coaching Alliance
During this part of phase one, we’ll get to know each other as people. Discover our attitudes and establish a foundation of mutual respect.
I will help you instill an attitude of self trust and confidence in your competencies and resources to handle and resolve issues.
Familiarize
During this part, I’ll listen to you as you share your story and the specific issues you’re dealing with. At this point, we’ll see how we can turn big, overall ideas into attainable objectives.
Establishing Our Relationship
This is the point where I specifically ask you make a commitment and define expectations towards your success. We’ll define specific goals and make plans of action.
Mirroring
I will identify any inconsistencies between your thoughts, words, and actions that are keeping you from success. I’ll make sure to synthesize what you’re saying to be sure we’re on the same page.
Testing Your Motivation
You can be sure that I’ll always test your motivation. I will not ask you to do anything you don’t want to do. I will verify your motivation to change your thoughts, motivations, and actions. In doing so, you will begin to hold yourself accountable for your decisions and actions.
Feedback
I’ll be present in the moment with you, observing and clarifying everything that you say throughout the entire process. You can expect honest, frank, and objective feedback probing into your motivations and how you’re experiencing the world around you in the present moment.
Planning
This is when we take general ideas and goals and turn them into attainable objectives. Through identifying objectives, we’ll break down a plan of action and break down the steps to reach them.
Research
Two-thirds of the coaching process relies on research and planning. We’ll spend time assessing your capacities, researching resources and looking for opportunities. You’ll also be challenged to observe and reflect on topics before you act.
Identifying Patterns
There will be times that I’ll recognize patterns in your behaviors that you might not easily see. I’ll help you break them down and find new ways of responding to situations that seem to constantly show up.
Defining Roles and Boundaries
Relationships are key to success. Defining roles and boundaries is often a big theme in the coaching process. We’ll find opportunities to strengthen relationships and clarify social expectations throughout our work together.
Preparing For Failure
Sometimes, our strategies might not work or there are last minute changes to our plans. You might even face resistance from others. We’ll work together in finding back up plans and creating “margins of error” to ensure you don’t lose faith and motivation.
Action
This is the stage that demands you to turn your thoughts, ideas, and plans into action. You’ll be encouraged and challenged by me to act on your own in between sessions. This is when you’ll take control and responsibility for your actions.
Take Notes
I recommend my clients to keep a journal of their coaching sessions and to record their progress and accomplishments throughout the week. You’ll realize how much progress you’re actually making through the coaching process.
Pre-Session Preparation/Reflection
Take a day before our session to reflect on what you’ve accomplished and the challenges you have faced in the past week. Complete a pre-session preparation form and submit it to Leslie 24 hours before your session. We’ll use the Reflection Questions as a guide for our sessions, building on the success you’ve made.
Debriefing
During this phase, you’ll give me a summary of your progress and your own analysis of your previous week.
Assessment
We’ll access your effectiveness throughout each situation and find new ways to maximize your current skills and improve weak ones. During this time, you’ll get my feedback and get a fresh perspective on recurring patterns that affect your performance.
Celebrate Achievements
We’ll celebrate your accomplishments and keep you motivated. Together, we’ll identify the key reasons why you were successful and reinforce healthy behaviors.
Preparing For The Next Step
At this point, we’ll prioritize and break down the steps to conquer the next challenge. Focused on your goal, we’ll keep objectives manageable and simple.
Evaluate Coaching Process
We’ll take a look at the coaching process and see what’s working and what isn’t. You’ll give me feedback as we observe the process from an objective viewpoint to determine if changes to the coaching process must be made to maximize your performance.
Maintenance and Termination
The coaching process can last anywhere from six months to a year, and more in some cases.
Maintenance
The coaching relationship has been effective for a long enough time to create new habits thereby integrating them into other areas of your life. During the coaching process, your new habits will be monitored.
Termination
There comes a point when you no longer need a programmatic approach to the behaviors that needed changing. Once coaching no longer focuses on specific goals, the focus has been terminated.
