What does coaching ask of an individual?
To be successful, coaching asks certain things, all of which begin with intention.
Additionally, clients should:
- focus on one’s self, the tough questions, the hard truths and one’s success
- observe the behaviors and communications of others
- listen to one’s intuition, assumptions, judgments, and to the way one sounds when one speaks
- leverage personal strengths and overcome limitations to develop a winning style
- take decisive actions, however uncomfortable and in spite of personal insecurities, to reach for the extraordinary
- maintain composure in the face of disappointment and unmet expectations, avoiding emotional reactivity
- have the courage to reach for more than before while engaging in continual self examination without fear
In all my professional endeavours I comply with the ICF Code of Ethics and The Coaching Academy Code of Conduct.
Individual coaching
Effective coaching is a process with a clear sequence:
- The initial (“intake”) session
The coaching process begins with the initial session (a meeting or telephone call), whose goal is to assess the Client?s current opportunities and challenges, his or her direction and priorities for the coaching process. The initial session is also an opportunity for both the Client and coach to meet and make the decision regarding future cooperation.
- The three-way meeting
During the three way meeting (the Client, Sponsor, Coach) that follows the initial session we define and calibrate the goals for the coaching process, its measurements and technicalities such as the process duration, frequency and length of coaching sessions etc.
The full coaching process usually takes 8-10 coaching sessions in the form of face-to-face meetings, telephone calls or via Skype. Between the sessions the Client takes specific agreed actions that contribute to achieving his or her goals. The standard coaching session lasts 60 minutes, the first session being slightly longer (approximately 90 minutes).
It is the Client’s responsibility to record and report progress. The Client is requested to prepare a short report after session 4 or 5 and after the last session. The reports are made available to the Sponsor and / or other individuals (e.g. HR Department) upon the Client’s written consent.
The recommended duration of the full coaching proces is between 3 and 6 months (depending on the Client?s goals and possibilities).
Team coaching
The stages of the team coaching process:
The starting point of the team coaching process. The team diagnosis gives the possibility of identifying the team’s strengths and areas needing change and preventing the team from achieving better results. The team diagnosis uses various tools to give the full picture of the situation:
– The analysis based on the theory of 5 dysfunctions of team work (Patrick Lencioni) and other tools and methods (e.g. The 360 degrees feedback)
– Individual interviews with all team members
– Observations, e.g. during meetings
Focused work with the team on implementing changes in the areas regarded as critical. The process typically takes 5-6 team sessions with 2-3 months between the sessions. Working with the team leader is an integral element of the coaching stage in the form of individual sessions – to develop the competencies and capabilities necessary for driving the desired changes.
The process ends with the diagnosis of the situation after its closing – reporting specific changes the team has implemented in its performance, conclusions and recommendations.
The full team coaching process usually takes around 12 months.
