Together with the client I explore meaningful personal and business goals as well as alternative strategies that tap into strengths and unlock hidden potential. As coaching processes move towards closure the focus is very much on SMART objectives and targeted action to ensure that change really does take place. Coaching contracts have included life coaching and performance coaching for European, Asian and US executives. I have also supervised peer and team coaching sessions. If the contract is paid for by the coachee's organization, a general framework may be agreed in an initial meeting with all stakeholders. Thereafter, all content of the coaching is treated as strictly confidential. This is to protect the special relationship between coach and coachee.
A typical coaching approach would involve an initial agreement of four to six sessions, each lasting two hours. Coaching can be continued over extended periods, e.g. two years, if required. My aim for the coacheeis to become independent and self-reliant.
In the initial phase of coaching the alliance (preliminary goals, way of working together, how far to go, how much to challenge, etc) is the main focus. From this point, feelings, values, drivers, derailers, resources and options are explored. The final coaching phase focuses on developing a very specific action plan.