Coaching Process (2)

Another phase in the coaching process is the 'honeymoon' phase, where everything is exciting and full of energy. It is laying the foundation before the hard stuff will be tackled. The real work begins after the honeymoon phase. So building trust is important and using the time to get to know the process. Also easy stuff and actions first.

There will be a shift in the balance of who is driving the sessions. After the honeymoon phase the client drives. A coach can tell her client that she expects him to drive more and more.

Challenges for the coach in the honeymoon phase:

• to get the relationship working
• to keep the phase short
• sometimes the honeymoon comes back every session first
  

Coaching Process (1)

The start of the coaching process is focused on:

• building a relationship and confidence,
  
• setting the foundation,
  
• creating trust and credibility,
  
• clarifying roles and responsibilities,
• exitement for the client, seeing opportunities ahead
• introduction of structure and method
• expectation setting.

For the coach the challenges in the beginning are:

• asking the right questions
• a client who doesn't know what to be coached on
• a client who describes his goal in terms of 'should' (red flag!)
• a client with a hidden agenda (possible with executive coaching)