Session 14

Coaching Agreements 201

During this session we are revisiting the concept of Establishes and Maintains Agreements (International Coach Federation Core Competency 3). In the content below, we will explore some of the challenges in setting agreements as well as ideas and strategies to keep in mind to set more effective agreements with clients.

Before getting to the videos, please review and take note of the International Coach Federation’s language concerning Establishes and Maintains Agreements:

2. Establishes and Maintains Agreements—Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans and goals. Establishes agreements for the overall coaching engagement as well as those for each coaching session.

1. Explains what coaching is and is not and describes the process to the client and relevant stakeholders

2. Reaches agreement about what is and is not appropriate in the relationship, what is and is not being offered, and the responsibilities of the client and relevant stakeholders

3. Reaches agreement about the guidelines and specific parameters of the coaching relationship such as logistics, fees, scheduling, duration, termination, confidentiality and inclusion of others

4. Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to establish an overall coaching plan and goals

5. Partners with the client to determine client-coach compatibility

6. Partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what they want to accomplish in the session

7. Partners with the client to define what the client believes they need to address or resolve to achieve what they want to accomplish in the session

8. Partners with the client to define or reconfirm measures of success for what the client wants to accomplish in the coaching engagement or individual session

9. Partners with the client to manage the time and focus of the session

10. Continues coaching in the direction of the client’s desired outcome unless the client indicates otherwise

11. Partners with the client to end the coaching relationship in a way that honors the experience

https://coachfederation.org/core-competencies

It is very helpful to also be familiar with the 4 PCC markers of success for Establishing the Coaching Agreement, which focus more on an individual session agreement:

Competency 3: Establishes and Maintains Agreements

1. Coach partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what the client wants to accomplish in this session.

2. Coach partners with the client to define or reconfirm measure(s) of success for what the client wants to accomplish in this session.

3. Coach inquires about or explores what is important or meaningful to the client about what they want to accomplish in this session.

4. Coach partners with the client to define what the client believes they need to address to achieve what they want to accomplish in this session.

https://coachfederation.org/pcc-markers

Each of the markers of success listed above are expressed in the START model of agenda setting covered in our second session of training.

Now for some challenges and strategies!

Session 15: Active Listening 201

If you are not a participant in the Corporate Sponsored Coach Training Program, and you would like to learn more, consider exploring the information on the program here.