Four Essential Elements of a Successful Coaching Session

What makes coaching successful?

Success is often attributed to mutual chemistry, technique, and readiness to learn. I agree that those are important ingredients in the process. But in reality, they are steps to achieving results. And that's what we're looking for, right?

How do we reach the movement and momentum we want?

Yesterday I was discussing performance management on the HR.COM webinar. Managers are often concerned about how to use  performance data to really help employees.

That thought popped into mind when, a little while ago, I was in the midst of a coaching session and realized that we were on a roll. So I started paying attention to what was happening--like watching a movie where you are one of the actors. When I looked at the plot, it revealed four components that I think are essential for a coaching session to be successful.

1. Clarity

Ultimately, nothing will happen until you gain laser-like clarity on the issue or goal. The client in this case needed to put a lot of information out there before I could start to ask the right questions after hearing overlapping themes. Finally, he uttered a single phrase that summed up his goal. What was the take away?:

Total clarity before continuing.

2. Confirmation

When I repeated the phrase and asked him if that's where he wanted to go he smiled and his energy level went up noticeably. As a coach or client, ask the question: Is the excitement increasing because you've hit upon the real thing or an exciting thing?

Confirm the real deal or go back to step 1.

3. Communicate it

When we keep a goal or an issue to ourselves, there's no accountability for action. Once we state our desires or intentions to other people, we have a much greater chance of success. It's human nature. Tell someone else that you are planning on doing something and the likelihood of you doing it increases. Ask "Who else will you tell about this?" "Who else needs to be involved to help you accomplish this?"

Communicate to motivate.

4. Commitment

Create an immediate action--something that will happen today. Too often we become satisfied with the "Aha" and ignore the "Ah, when?" I ask for an action that can be taken before the end of the day. It  creates momentum, makes something happen (we both get paid to make something happen), and shows genuine commitment. It also provides a specific action that allows for follow up. "What was the outcome of your phone call to the customer?" "How did your team react to your initial meeting about the new software integration?

If the coach hears about how things went, then it opens the door to identify next steps. If the action didn't happen, it's a signal for both to examine what is happening and to get quickly on track. That could ultimately lead to a return to Clarity. Without a commitment and follow-up, it's easy to feel good about the session and still have nothing happen. (I hate when nothing happens!)

Commit to an action that will happen today.

Whether you're a coach--or someone being coached--you may have your own take on "Essentials." If so, click on the Comments link below and share with others what they are. I'll collect them and offer them as "Coaching Essentials from Real Life" in a later post.

Photo Source: iStockPhoto.com

Comments

[Dan McCarthy]

Steve -
Great post! You've nailed this one pretty good. I agree, understanding – and buying into the need – is where it all starts, and without that, the rest is a waste of time.
The only essential I’d add to your list is giving the person some ideas on how to improve – or directing them to the right resources. But we’d need to figure out what to call this that starts with a “C”. (:

[Steve Roesler]

Dan,

Yep, those would surely be part of the whole deal. At the airport. Maybe by the time I reach the destination I'll figure out a way to put a C heading on your additions.

Thanks for joining in . . .

[Mary Jo Asmus]

Steve,

Great post, and wonderful insight. There is no doubt that you are coaching within the CONTEXT of the client's world, and you and the client are COLLABORATING on outcomes. You must be very good at CREATING a CONFIDENTIAL environment. (Couldn't resist - but isn't it interesting that COACHING embodies so many "C" words?).

[Steve Roesler]

Mary Jo,

I think you've unselfishly CONTRIBUTED to some CORRESPONDING CONTENT!