#90 How to Structure Your Coaching Programme: A Guide for New Coaches
Joanna Lott ACC
Helping Qualified Coaches Build Brilliant Businesses with Honesty not Hype | Business Coach | Business Mentor | Marketing | Author
One question I get asked frequently when selling a coaching programme is how to actually run the coaching sessions themselves. As we learn in coach training, it's about "What's important for you today?" and "What would you like to achieve by the end of the session?" rather than following a rigid programme structure. But how do we balance this with creating a viable coaching business?
Why Programme Structure Matters
As an ICF ACC coach, I've completed all the qualifications and hours. But there's a crucial gap in our training: nowhere do they address whether the market actually wants what we're selling.
I learned this lesson the hard way. A friend who needed career support declined my offer of coaching when I positioned it as 'confidence work'. Had I simply said, "Come work with me, I'll help you get a job you love," she might have said yes. Instead, she remains underpaid in a job she doesn't enjoy.
The 12-Week Coaching Framework
A 12-week programme with sessions every other week (six sessions total) is typically the most effective structure. Here's why: - Three months is long enough to work on meaningful goals - It's not so long that clients feel overwhelmed - It's easier to sell than longer programs - Perfect for new coaches building their practice
How to Structure Your Coaching Programme
1. Define your offer promise
2. Create a flexible roadmap
3. Identify 3-6 core areas for client work
4. Break content into clear phases
You might position this to clients as: "Over the next 12 weeks, we will work systematically towards your goal. Each session builds on the last, giving you the skills and insights you need. We'll address any challenges that come up along the way."
Your First Coaching Session
Essential elements to cover:
Anatomy of a 60-Minute Session
Here's how to structure each coaching session:
1. Check-in (5-10 minutes) - How are you feeling? - What's on your mind since last time?
2. Progress Review (10-15 minutes) - Review previous actions - Discuss learnings
3. Main Focus (30-35 minutes) - Address planned topic or urgent needs - Use powerful questions - Follow client's priority
4. Wrap-up (5-10 minutes) - Agree on specific actions - Discuss accountability - Capture key insights
Balancing Programme Goals with Client Needs
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Life isn't linear, and what clients sign up for usually isn't what they leave with. Use the 'parking lot' technique for managing multiple priorities:
Re-contracting As You Progress
The initial goal is often not the real goal. Clients might come wanting a career change but discover they just need a team change. Regular check-ins are crucial:
Wrapping Up Your Programme
Your final session should focus on:
From the start, be transparent about the possibility of extending the relationship: "If you want to stay on after our programme ends, we can discuss that near the time."
Final Thoughts
Offering a structured programme doesn't mean controlling your client's journey. They've chosen you as their guide for a particular goal.
Trust your coaching skills and the process you've created when you're thinking about how to structure your coaching programme. You can adapt everything to individual client needs while maintaining a framework that supports their success.
Remember: The key to successful coaching programmes is finding the balance between structure and flexibility, between what clients need and what they're willing to buy.
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Founder of Shake Up Talent ??| Leadership Coach for Women ?? | Talent Management Consultant ??| Partnering with progressive organisations to unlock the full potential of female talent ??
1 个月Excellent advice here Jo, thank you. This one has been a bit of a breakthrough for me xx
Helping professional services firms transform their new managers into coach-like leaders | Virtual and F2F Workshops | 1-2-1 Coaching | Author of Think Like A Coach
1 个月I loved this episode. Your example of how you tried to sell coaching to your friend and what you now know would ahve worked better finally helped the penny drop for me. I get it now.