Phases of Session I II (Alliance, Practical Issues, Commitment, Initiation)

Designing the Coaching Alliance

The fifth phase of the initial session focuses on explicitly designing the coaching alliance. This alliance is the agreement on how the coach and coachee will work together.

A practical way to approach this is to provide the coachee with a sheet with two headings: "Coaching works for me when the coach does the following..." and "Coaching does not work for me when the coach does the following...".

This allows you to find out what specifically fits that client and tailor the intervention.

It is crucial to generate this partnership so that the coachee really takes responsibility for the outcomes of the process. Although the coach helps, success is always in the coachee's hands.

If the client does not internalize this, he/she may expect the coach to be the one to implement the changes or hold him/her responsible if the results are not as expected.

A good analogy is sports coaching: the coach trains, but it is the athlete (coachee) who finally gets on the podium, not the coach.

Dealing with Practical Issues

The sixth phase deals with the practical issues necessary for the smooth running of the process.

Logistical aspects such as the schedule of sessions, fees (cost and method of payment), the general methodology to be followed and the estimated timing of the process should be discussed and agreed upon.

It is essential to remember that coaching works only if both parties are committed to it.

At this point, the coach must also exercise his/her ethical responsibility: if he/she detects doubts or considers that there are deeper psychological issues that would be more suitable for therapy or psychological counseling, he/she must refer the coachee to a qualified therapist.

Committing to the Program

The seventh phase is dedicated to securing the coachee's commitment to the coaching program.

The coachee must be actively engaged in the process for it to be effective.

To strengthen this commitment, it is useful to explore the various obstacles and drawbacks that the program may encounter (lack of time, internal resistance, etc.).

It is vital to underline that commitment is not only an intellectual issue, but also a deeply emotional one.

Only if the coachee is emotionally engaged will he or she learn meaningfully and sustain the action necessary for change.

Intellectual commitment alone is rarely enough to overcome the difficulties inherent in a transformation process.

Begin the Process (Initiation)

Finally, the eighth phase marks the actual beginning of the actual coaching activities.

Work begins with the most important manifestations or objectives that have emerged during the session.

It is essential that, from this first work session, the coach establishes homework assignments.

Assigning concrete actions that the coachee will perform between sessions ensures that at the next meeting there will be progress to discuss and bu