what can you expect with coaching?
If you’re new to coaching with Clare, this outlines how it works:
what is it?
Coaching is mostly asking questions to help you to steer yourself to a desired course of action, be it a decision or behaviour - usually a combination of both.
Often there’s a general intention and different topics come up in each session, directed by life events leading up to each session.
The key development takes place as the mind churns it over between sessions, as perception shifts and realisations occur.
By the end of a programme, the person being coached (the coachee) will usually find choices and take action between sessions, ending in a very different position to where they started.
A coach doesn’t do the work for you, is not prescriptive or responsible - they don’t provide answers, but help you find your own.
To want to embark on coaching, it makes sense to want a significant change - for yourself - for your agenda, even if the outcomes benefit others as a side-effect.
Sometimes those changes take place in very small incremental steps.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
The best thing is to have an introductory phone or video call - whichever is most comfortable/easy.
Sessions last around 90 minutes - because most ‘AHA’ moments (Clare worked out after a few hundred sessions) occur around 75 minutes and it allows proper exploring around the topic.
Afterwards you receive an email summary, with actions and further considerations.
Then, if it seems constructive and viable - and you’re keen to commit to a programme and make something happen, you’ll want to know….
What does a programme look like?
Clients usually arrange a 3-session programme to gain momentum for a specific issue - and can organise follow-ons, depending on aspirations and next goals. Some clients have a regular monthly support programme.
Sessions are 2 to 4 weeks apart, but usually 3 works best - giving time for life to interfere, ideas to settle, actions to be taken and ‘where next?’ to form.
It can be by phone, video-call, face-to-face and walk-the-talk, or a mixture of these.
Start times are 10am-2pm.
‘Prep’ emails send a ‘nudge’ to think in advance of sessions.
Follow up emails with summary, insights, considerations and actions are usually ‘same-day’.
Often the line manager and coachee set intentions together.
(Only) in agreement with the coachee, the line-manager can be de-briefed without citing sensitive specifics, and to make further recommendations as appropriate.
Unlimited extra quick-calls, emails, and messages (text or WhatsApp) are included for when surprises happen or a supportive nudge is needed - so there’s no reason for feeling stuck.
