Process Risk Management: Phases of Dependency and Autonomy

Recognizing Inherent Risks

As with any process aimed at change and personal development, coaching involves a number of risks that can jeopardize its effectiveness and continuity.

Being aware of these potential risks is fundamental for both the coach and the coachee, allowing them to be managed proactively and minimizing their negative impact.

One of the main risks arises precisely from the nature of coaching, which seeks to foster client empowerment and autonomy.

The Main Risk: False Autonomy and Premature Abandonment

The most significant risk, especially in the initial stages, is that the coachee, after the definition of objectives and the initial selection of tools, comes to the mistaken conclusion that he or she already knows how to address his or her objective on his or her own.

He or she may feel that, because he or she already has a plan drawn up jointly with the coach, putting it into action is something he or she can do exactly the same with or without outside help.

This premature sense of self-sufficiency may lead him to abandon the process, mistakenly believing that he no longer needs the coach's accompaniment, just when the deeper work of implementation and overcoming obstacles is about to begin.

Mitigation: Explaining the Typical Itinerary.

To prevent this from happening, it is very important for the coach to explain to the coachee the typical process that any coaching relationship usually goes through.

By knowing in advance the expected phases, the client will be able to identify where he/she is in the process and not jump to conclusions about his/her actual level of autonomy. This itinerary normally consists of four key phases:

Phase 1: Initial Dependence.

Initially, the coachee engages the coach because he/she perceives that he/she needs external help to improve his/her life or achieve his/her goals, seeking a broader perspective.

In this phase, the coach's role is to establish a relationship of trust and provide a clear frame of reference for the change being sought. There is a natural dependence of the client on the professional's guidance.

Phase 2: Anti-dependence (Risk)

After the first few sessions, once an initial action plan has been drawn up, the coachee may come to the conclusion that he/she is ready to continue on his/her own.

He feels that he already has the "map" and that the execution is simple. This is the anti-dependency phase, where the risk of premature abandonment arises.

It is crucial that the coach handles this stage with skill, reinforcing the value of continuous accompaniment.

Phase 3: Progressive Independence

If the previous phase is successfully passed, the hard work begins to develop the necessary competencies and carry out the plan. The coachee begins to experiment and apply what he/she has learned.

At this stage, the coach can propose less frequent sessions, encouraging the coachee to gradually acquire more real autonomy.

Stage 4: Consolidated Autonomy

At this final point, the coachee has already integrated new habits and competencies. He/she begins to see the tangible results of the process in his/her life and experiences a clear improvement in his/her personal and relational situation. He/she has reached a sustainable level of autonomy.

Key Elements to Avoid Risks<