Statements with Partnership 101
“I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter.”
– Blaise Pascal
Human language has two primary functions: to communicate and to allow the communicator to reflect on their own ideas. This distinction is at the core of what makes direct, partnering statements so important in coaching.
A client pays a coach so that they (the client) can verbally process their ideas to help make better decisions. When a coach is at their best, every word spoken by the coach in a session are in service to the client. This, of course, is very challenging. It means that the coach’s role is to avoid verbal processing completely and paring their words down to only the most essential and impactful.
We are just in session 4, but I do want to highlight the importance of your statements as a coach. Take time (in the silence) to make it shorter.
As we step into the practice space again this week, be ready to take your time to create your questions and observations. Also, be ready to listen to the length of questions as you observe. Keep in mind: this is a long-term area of development. It takes time for coaches to become skilled in taking time with their partnering statements.
ICF Code of Ethics
This week’s content features the ICF’s Code of Ethics Standards 9-16.
Also, review the written form of standards 9-16 here.
Identifying and Contracting with Your Recording Practice Client
A key part of coach training is practicing outside the class setting with a client you work with over multiple sessions. You will need to begin working with your practice coaching client over the next 3 weeks in preparation for our initial assessment and mentor coaching sessions.
You will need to have a signed contract with this practice client in order to record the sessions. To build your contract, see the ICF’s sample coaching agreement. Make sure your contract includes a clear permission to record the sessions for training purposes (to be shared with Corporate Sponsored Coach Training).
FAQ
- How long should our engagement be with our first coachee?
- It is really up to you, but I would suggest no longer than the length of the 24 session first half of the course. Your skills will develop over time, and your client may be more comfortable/familiar with your early approach to coaching.
- Who should I work with?
- You will need to find a practice client outside of the training participants. It is best for this person to be at the acquaintance level at the closest (coaching a spouse or child, for instance, doesn’t provide good practice). However, if you find it hard to find a practice client, consider reaching out to other participants to see if they have a family member, friend or acquaintance who might be interested.
- What should I use to record the sessions? How do I get them to the mentor coach?
- I have found it best to use Zoom and record the sessions to the computer. You can then send over the audio file by uploading the file to Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. and sending me the link.
- How often should we meet (is this totally up to them?)
- It is up to them to a degree, but you may a bi-weekly cadence with your clients. This keeps things on a steady pace without things becoming overly tactical.
- How long should sessions be?
- 20-50 minutes. We’ll talk more about how to approach session length as you progress through the course.
- How many of these should I be recording?
- My suggestion is to have around 10-12 sessions recorded by the end of the 24 week program (or 20-24 by the end of the full training program). This serves two purposes: It helps you become more comfortable with the microphone being on, and it allows you to have multiple recording options to choose from.
- What are recordings used for? Is this for ICF already? Or just for you to review and instruct?
- Recordings are only used for development this early in the process. However, I do encourage coaches to stretch towards sessions that meet ICF criteria (First ACC, then PCC) throughout the program.
- Is there a best practice for documenting the number of hours we are coaching?
- Here is the ICF’s Documentation template. Details for what hours to count and track can be found here. Here’s my own google sheets tracking template if you would like to use it as well.
Be ready with any additional questions you might have about this part of the training experience as we get into our next session!