Once an individual has identified a coach with whom they are compatible, a coach and coachee meet regularly one-on-one. During these sessions, a coach will help you:
- figure out what you want (if you don’t already know) (purpose),
- create self-awareness about who you are (strengths/challenges),
- define or refine goals, and
- guide you through how to reach a goal (or goals) by creating a personal action plan with incremental steps that progress you forward.
This action-oriented process requires intention and constant practice, but every step of the way, a coach supports you in the way you need to be supported and gives you confidence in your direction.
While each engagement is unique, coaching relationships can be broken down into the following steps with a beginning and an end:
Step 1: Introduction
This is a mutual exploratory session to determine coach-coachee compatibility. During this 30-minute meet and greet, both the coach and coachee have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know each other. If they decide to work together, the coach will send a proposal, including a timeline, cadence, and fees.
Step 2: Creating an action plan
Once a coach and coachee decide they are compatible, they get to work. The coach, through question-led sessions, facilitates discussions and reflections that generate self-awareness, hones in on purpose and vision, and devises a plan for obtaining goals that align with that purpose and vision.
Step 3: Execution of the action plan
Through regular one-on-one sessions, the coach and coachee work together to realize the action plan. Throughout this process, the coachee learns about themselves in order to achieve their desired outcome.
Once a coachee has achieved the goals of the action plan, they may opt to continue to work on other goals.
While the goals of a coaching relationship vary, individuals frequently choose to work on those in one of three categories – personal, professional, or business-related. Some typical examples include:
- Life or career transitions: new job, new parent
- Leveling up: career promotion
- Leadership: executive presence, management
- Well-being: work-life balance, setting boundaries
- Communication: interpersonal, presentation