The Coaching Process
A typical coaching partnership starts with a preparatory contact by phone or e-mail to establish what’s attracting you to coaching, what you’re looking for in a coach, and what Clear Coaching can offer.
If you decide you’d like to continue, we’ll arrange a time for a first meeting. This can, preferably, be face-to-face or, if this is impractical, on the phone. This first meeting whether face to face or on the phone is a completely free no obligation conversation we call a chemistry session. A coaching chemistry session is a one-off session right at the beginning of a coaching assignment when the coach and coachee meet to gauge their personal chemistry.
Coaching can be focused on professional or personal development, or a combination of both. Many clients also use coaching sessions as a space to brainstorm, strategise, or plan; using the coach as a sounding-board.
The intake session
The first(‘intake’) meeting is typically longer than subsequent sessions: between ninety minutes and three hours is normal. This meeting provides an opportunity for coach and client to get to know each other; understand clearly what the starting point is and what you’d like to achieve; and clarify the primary area(or areas) you’d like to focus on first.
The coach will structure this first appointment to make sure the key areas are covered, with enough time also to discuss any questions you might have. The coach will also provide some materials in advance which you can choose to use for preparation if you want to.
After the intake session
After the intake, subsequent face to face sessions are typically between 60 and 90 minutes long. Length and frequency vary according to the needs of each client. We also have a number of clients that make use of telephone or skype/facetime based coaching when face to face meetings aren't practical, this works very well.
Coaching is a partnership, and each one is different. We design them together according to your needs. The coach, a skilled listener and observer, will ask good questions that make you think; will challenge as well as support you; and will help you clarify what you want, and how to get there.
Progress Checks
Coaching will help you to clarify your thinking; and, if you want to use it in this way, to set appropriate goals and take effective action. Your coach will help you remain focused and on track. At agreed points, there can be more formal opportunities to review progress, and to adjust and refine your objectives.
At the end of an agreed period of coaching, the coach will suggest a ‘conclusion’ session. This provides an opportunity to look back, to reflect on what you’ve achieved in the context of the goals you started with, and to think about what you’d like to do next – whether or not you’re continuing coaching or taking a break from it.
