Unlocking Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to the Coaching Experience

So – What is ‘Coaching’?

Coaching gives the client the opportunity to discuss openly and understand how to think through, how the client could approach things and also, to accept things they may have no control over. It is a really good opportunity to give themselves some headspace to really think deeply, with no judgement in a safe environment – to really be in the moment.

The coach will listen to the client and challenge thinking by questioning and provide another ‘lense’ to view perceived issues and how to overcome them. The client must be willing to seek what is in the realms of possibility. With interesting questioning, this can be a real opportunity for the client to obtain more than their initial goals.

So what should the coachee expect?

Firstly, the coach, such as myself, will have a chemistry session with the potential client (coachee). This is to determine what the client hopes to gain out of the coaching and what coaching is. The coach would explain how coaching works and dependent on the hopes of the client, how many sessions they could offer and over what period and the cost. For example, 6 sessions over a 6-12 month period. This discussion would be part of my 30 minute complementary consultation that I currently offer.

If both parties agree that the relationship works for them, a mutually convenient time will be arranged for the first formal coaching session. At this point, I would normally send out a form for the client to complete, which would give details about what the client would want to achieve, their goals/outcomes at the end of the coaching period etc. So outcomes may be, for example, to gain more confidence, to improve work performance, to be able to deal with difficult conversations with less emotion, to improve their leadership skills or to work on that promotion they’ve been working towards all their career life. You can be coached around any area of your life. A coaching agreement/contract will also be agreed by both and signed.

At the end of the coaching relationship, your coach may ask you for feedback. Gaining critical feedback is important for the coach to ensure they are improving their skills for their future clients.

Confidentiality

A coach should abide by a Code of Ethics, such as the European Mentoring Coaching Council (EMCC). All conversations and records are strictly confidential and these will not be shared unless release of information is required by law.

Advice to Managers/Referrers of Coachees

I have had many clients come to me after being asked to attend coaching from their manager. They turn up and sometimes have no idea what coaching is, feel quite defensive, because they feel they are being forced to do something they are unsure about. It’s so important that if you send a member of your team to be coached, that you explain to them what it is and what to expect. If you don’t do this, the coach is on the back foot and it then takes more time to create the trusting environment required for a coaching relationship to succeed.

So please be open and honest with your team member. This may help with their confidence if they see that you want to invest in them having coaching.