What are the best practices for productive coaching sessions?

1 Define the purpose

Before you schedule a coaching session, you need to have a clear goal and objective for it. What are you trying to achieve? What are the specific areas of improvement or feedback that you want to discuss? How will you measure the progress and outcomes? Having a well-defined purpose will help you prepare the agenda, the materials, and the questions for the session, as well as set the expectations and tone for the conversation.

2 Choose the right format

Depending on the purpose, the frequency, and the availability of the coach and the coachee, you may opt for different formats for your coaching sessions. For example, you may choose a one-on-one or a group session, a face-to-face or a virtual meeting, a formal or an informal setting, a structured or a flexible agenda, and so on. The key is to choose the format that best suits the needs and preferences of both parties, and that allows for a productive and engaging dialogue.

3 Establish rapport and trust

One of the most important factors for successful coaching is to build a rapport and trust with the coachee. This means that you need to show genuine interest, respect, and empathy for their situation, challenges, and goals. You also need to create a safe and comfortable environment, where the coachee feels free to express their thoughts and feelings, without fear of judgment or criticism. Additionally, you need to demonstrate your credibility and competence as a coach, by sharing your expertise, experience, and feedback in a constructive and supportive way.

5 Encourage reflection and action

The ultimate goal of coaching is to help the coachee achieve their desired results, and this requires reflection and action. As a coach, you need to encourage the coachee to reflect on their current situation, their goals, their challenges, their options, and their outcomes. You also need to motivate them to take action, by setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals, by assigning tasks and responsibilities, by monitoring and tracking their progress, and by celebrating their achievements and learning.

6 Follow up and provide support

A coaching session is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of learning and improvement. Therefore, you need to follow up and provide support to the coachee, after the session is over. You need to check in with them regularly, to see how they are doing, to provide feedback and encouragement, to address any issues or concerns, and to adjust the plan if needed. You also need to solicit feedback from them, to evaluate the effectiveness of the coaching session, to identify what worked well and what can be improved, and to plan for the next session.