This is the second in a series about coaching: the whys, the whats, and the hows of finding a coach.
So, what’s a coaching session like? Naturally, there are many variations, but I can tell you how I structure mine – roughly, because each session is different, But here’s a peek into how a conversation could go.
We start with setting a focus for the session, which is often tied to a longer-term goal. You tell me what you hope to achieve by the end of our time together, and, importantly, how you’ll know you’ve arrived at that point when our 60 minutes are done.
focus
You determining the focus is super important because coaching is client-centered and permission-based. I cannot emphasize that enough. It’s how I was trained, and it felt natural to me, probably because I have an aversion to being told what to do. And as I say on my website, hierarchical relationships give me a rash. Besides, who knows your own dreams better than you?
Another key component is that the coach does more listening than talking. Coaching is about helping you get to your own answers, which I believe you have. But sometimes it can take some digging to get to them. That’s where the questions come in. A good coach, in my view, is highly intuitive. So by listening mindfully, I can notice shifts in energy or mood, and these could inform my questions.
co-creating
There’s also the idea of coaching as a container, a safe and confidential space to explore dreams, whether it’s starting a business, pursuing a new creative venture, or dealing with an inner critic holding you back. So, yes, coaching can look like a conversation at times, but along with the exploration and the play are some tangible activities. We often do on-call exercises, and each session ends with at least one takeaway or practice that can move you toward that dream. This is your call – you and I co-create the practice, and you commit to following through.
That’s a broad outline of what a session could look like. Hope you find this helpful! Next time, I’ll give some suggestions for finding a coach.