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“They say that time changes things,
but you actually have to change them
yourself”
~ Andy Warhol
5: The Coaching Relationship Pathway
The life cycle of the coaching relationship begins
with the enrollment process when coach and client
agree to work together, and is formalized with a
signed coaching agreement or contract. It proceeds
to a Discovery Session, an exploratory session that
gathers a rich trove of information about the client,
the client’s life and the client’s desired outcomes, all
of which serves as a foundation for future coaching
sessions. Ongoing sessions, or Progressives Sessions, are
client centered and client driven in service to advancing
the client’s agenda toward their desire goals and
outcomes. The coaching relationship concludes when
coach and client feel the coaching relationship is
complete and is finalized with a Closing Session.
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T
he
Co
ac
hin
g R
ela
tion
ship
Tim
elin
e
Pha
se
Initi
al C
on
sult
Co
ntr
ac
ting
D
isc
ove
ry
Sess
ion
s Pr
og
ress
ive
Se
ssio
ns
Clo
sin
g
Sess
ion
Wha
t Occ
urs
Enro
llmen
t/Sal
es
proc
ess
Lega
l & Fi
nanc
ial
Asse
ssm
ents
/ Co
achi
ng
Plan
– Ba
selin
e fo
r Co
achi
ng S
essio
ns
Ongo
ing-
Sess
ions
to
ward
goa
l ac
hiev
emen
t
Tran
sitio
ning
&
Cele
brat
ing
Sess
ion
Desc
riptio
n Pr
eced
es th
e co
achi
ng
rela
tions
hip
and
focu
ses o
n co
nver
ting
pros
pect
to cl
ient
Cont
ractu
ally
sets
the
para
met
ers o
f the
co
achi
ng re
latio
nshi
p,
inclu
ding
cost
, du
ratio
n an
d di
stin
ction
s
Expl
orat
ory i
n na
ture
. La
ys th
e fo
unda
tion
for
futu
re co
achi
ng
sess
ions
and
bui
lds t
he
coac
hing
rela
tions
hip
Adva
nces
the
clien
t to
ward
des
ired
goal
. Ag
enda
and
ou
tcom
es a
re cl
ient
dr
iven
Fina
l ses
sion
that
re
flects
on
clien
t pr
ogre
ss a
nd
cele
brat
es th
eir
acco
mpl
ishm
ents
Time
(app
rox)
30
min
utes
15
min
utes
2-
4 ho
urs,
1 or
mor
e se
ssio
ns
30m
in-9
0min
, 6-
24 se
ssio
ns,
typi
cally
wee
kly
30-9
0 m
inut
es
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Initial Consultation / Enrollment Meeting
This is an optional, get-acquainted meeting you
may choose to offer potential clients as a means
of enrollment. Typically this initial consultation is
held over the phone, Skype or in-person with the
prospective client and/or a stakeholder such as a
parent, company manager or director who may be
hiring you to support their children or employees.
There are a number of ways in which to conduct
this meeting and a plethora of best practices and
proven strategies on how best to enroll someone into
the coaching process which we cover in detail in our
business courses.
Contracting Coaching is a professional relationship that is defined
by a coaching agreement that is signed by the cli-
ent prior to initiating coaching services. During the
contracting phase, the coach creates a clear under-
standing of how coaching can support the client and
draws the professional boundaries between coach-
ing and therapy or consulting. Coach and client then
co-design the parameters of the coaching relation-
ship in service to the client’s agenda. As a profes-
sional coach, your agreement or contract gives you
the framework for working with clients, covers finan-
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cial and legal matters, clearly states what the client
can expect and protects you from misunderstand-
ings.
Also during the contracting phase you request
the client’s participation and feedback to help
determine the best way to coach them so that you
can co-create a rich and valuable experience for
the client. (Contracting will be addressed in greater
detail in the Contracting & Ethics section.)
Discovery Session
The discovery session is a specialized coaching
session that is designed to set the tone and stage for
the coaching process to unfold. Inside this session
the coach supports the client to clearly articulate
what they’d like to accomplish inside the coaching
relationship. During this foundational meeting the
coach will explore both the clients life as a whole
and help them to create goals and actions steps
toward achieving their specific dreams and desired
outcomes. In addition a number of self-discovery
tools are explored to set the stage for success
optimizing the coaching process. Typically this session
will take two to four hours to complete and may be
delivered in one session or broken up into 2-4 sessions
and delivered over a couple weeks.
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Progressive Coaching Sessions
The progressive or ongoing coaching sessions
follow the Discovery Session – typically held three
times a month for 30-90 minutes. Each session
begins with the client determining the focus and
desired outcomes for that given session as the
coach supports the client to achieve their goals.
The coach may choose, with the client’s permission,
to use either freestyle coach or employ specific
coaching tools or processes or both during these
sessions. Most clients choose to remain in a coaching
relationship, consisting of regular coaching sessions,
for approximately four to six months. Thereafter it is
not uncommon that they work with a coach once a
month or as-per-need basis.
Closing Session
During this final, one-time session, the coach
and client review the client’s progress, look over
the various snapshots of their work together, and
celebrate the client’s accomplishments. The coach
may share one or more final self-assessments to
document the client’s progress comparing their
results in this final day with their first day inside the
Discovery Session. Finally, the coach may ask the
client to fill out a closing survey or performance form
to elicit feedback. This is also a great time to ask for
referrals since the coaching relationship is now over.
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Preparing to work with your Client
Creating the Coaching Environment
Coaching, whether in person or over the phone,
should always be conducted in an environment
designed for the comfort of the client and free of
visual and auditory distractions (noise, children, other
people, pets, personal electronics, etc.)
Phone coaching should be done free of background
noise, static and interruptions for both coach and
client.
In-person coaching should include a quiet space
with comfortable seating that is separate (as in not
sitting side by side on a single piece of furniture) and
each angled about 45 degrees towards the other
(think a V shape with the seats at the top points and
angling inwards but not directly facing each other.)
This creates a sense of intimacy without the coach
being in the client’s personal space or dominating
the client’s visual field.
The client should have enough comfortable open
space in front of them so that they don’t feel
cramped or confined, and because it creates a
sense of open spaciousness in which the client can
comfortably contemplate or visualize as desired.
The in-person environment should also include
access to a bathroom, tissues within reach of the
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client’s seat, and something available to drink such
as coffee, tea and water.
If the coach has a set of processes or tools that they
use from time to time (like the Web of Life), those
should be organized and within easy reach of the
coach.
Room temperature should be within a comfortable
range and additional thoughtful ideas like a throw
pillow or two are appreciated.
Lastly preparing yourself for the meeting such that
you can be present and in the moment with the
client in a grounded and centered state. We will
talk about more methods to support you to be able
to clearly focus on the client and be your best as a
coach during a future module.
Facilitating the Discovery Session
The discovery session provides an excellent
opportunity to better acquaint yourself with your
client, define a coaching focus, and learn more
about the client as a whole. During this session, you
may also share some information about yourself
in your role as a coach although the focus should
remain on the client and their agenda.
The discovery session is the foundational meeting
that sets the tone and the stage for the coaching
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relationship. Because the relationship will progress
based on this initial experience, spend the time to
establish a solid base of comfort and trust.
This session is unique in that you will be facilitating
a number of tools and assessments to create a
foundation from which the coaching process will
build. This is unlike the progressive coaching sessions,
where the client will drive the focus and outcome of
the coaching session.
Discovery Session Toolkit
• Web of Life Provides a snapshot of the client’s current satisfaction level. Identifies potential focal areas
• Vision into Action Maps the client’s various goals and dreams with action steps
• Coaching Plan Overview of coaching relationship goals and desired outcomes
• ValuesIdentification Uncovers what is most important to the client
• Resources Captures client resources including assets, people, talents, skills, etc.
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• Learning & Motivation Styles Assesses the client’s motivational preferences and learning styles
• Coaching Session Prep Form Helps the client prepare for their next sessions
• Additional Assessments as desired
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Discovery Session Delivery SequenceDiscovery Tool Delivery Sequence
Timing Tool or Assessment Suggestions Before Discovery Session
Discovery Questionnaire
Send to client via email along with your coaching agreement prior to your Discovery Coaching session. Best used as an icebreaker at the beginning of the session to build rapport and learn more about them.
30-40 minutes Web of Life Be mindful to focus on using this tool to gather information about the level of satisfaction they have in each area of their life and the changes they wish to make. Try to avoid coaching them beyond this informational gathering phase.
20 minutes Vision into Action Walk the client through one outcome using this tool so they can see how it’s done and let the rest of their outcomes be homework. Creating a well-formed outcome is very helpful to creating clarity for fast-track success.
20 minutes Coaching Plan This is a document that will be used throughout the coaching relationship to record goals, progress and wins. Transfer the information gathered through the Web of Life and Vision to Action into the appropriate spaces. Alternatively you may have the client do this on their own time, providing them with some initial instructions.
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Discovery Session Delivery Sequence Cont’d
*Please note that the times will widely vary for each of the
assessments and tools based on the coach, the client and the
tool it self. If you find yourself running out of time, you can
20-50 minutes Values Identification There are several ways to support your clients to identify their values. Depending on the person and the process you choose this exercise can widely vary in delivery time.
20 minutes Resources This tool may be delivered inside the Discover Session or given as homework and debriefed during a follow-up coaching session
20-40 minutes Learning & Motivational Styles
This tool requires that you give the client clear instructions and definitions and is recommended to be used inside the Discovery Session or as a follow-up session on its own.
N/A Additional Assessments
You may wish to incorporate additional assessments into the Discovery Session based on your Niche or particular way of working with the client.
5 minutes Coaching Session Prep Form
Share with the client at the end of the session and invite them to complete a coaching session prep form prior to each of their progressive sessions to get the most value from the coaching. You may want to send this to them digitally to print out on their own
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always extend this process into a future session. Give
a brief explaining of each tool to the client and
share the purpose for it. If a client isn’t interested in
performing a particular activity, then honor their
request.
Closing Techniques
At the close of the discovery session, check in with
your client. Are you a good match? Does this still feel
like a good fit for you both? If you don’t feel this client
is the right client for you, you may choose to refer
them at this time.
• Schedule your coaching sessions for the next two weeks
• Share the Coaching Session Prep Form with the client and make arrangements to get their Prep Form within 12 hours of their next appointment
• At the end of the discovery session, make sure the client has at least one action step to give them a boost of momentum.
• Acknowledge the client’s commitment to success and growth upon departure.
• Remind the client of their next appointment as the last thing you say, e.g. “Looking forward to seeing you next Monday at 2:00pm.”
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Sample Welcome Letter
Dear ________________________,
I am delighted you have committed yourself to the
coaching process!
As a team, we will create a coaching alliance that
will help you stay focused, empowered, inspired, and
moving forward with your chosen goals.
Our discovery appointment is scheduled for _____.
At that time, we will design a coaching relationship
that is best suited to meet your needs. You may
choose to fill out the assessment forms before our
appointment and fax/e-mail them back to me or we
can complete them during our first appointment.
For your convenience, I have also included our basic
coaching alliance agreement. Please take a minute
to review it and bring it to our first session along with
proper payment. We accept cash, check, money
order and Visa/MC.
Together we will forge a powerful relationship that
will empower you to create your ideal life. I admire
your commitment to yourself, your future, and your
dreams!
Your Signature
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Sample Discovery Questionnaire
Dear ________________________,
Thank you for the opportunity to create this powerful
alliance with you!
Each person has a unique way of thinking and
interacting with those around him or her. As a coach,
it is important for me to understand how you view the
world in general and yourself in particular.
Please answer each of these questions as clearly and
thoughtfully as possible, expressing the best of who
you are. These are pondering questions designed to
stimulate your thinking in a way that will make our
work together even more productive. I suggest that
you take several days to compose your responses to
these questions.
(Then choose 4-6 of these questions to incorporate in
your own Discovery Questionnaire) Your life, now and in the future • What has brought you to coaching?
• What would you like to accomplish as a result of working with a coach?
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• What would you like to be able to do in your life?
• How would you like to feel about your life? Or yourself?
• What is missing in your life?
• If you could step into a bigger role in your life, who would you like to be?
• What improvements or changes would you like to make in your life?
• What challenges are you facing?
• Do you have a secret passion in your life? What is it?
• What would be a fulfilling life for you?
• What is in balance or out of balance in your life?
• How would you like to feel about your life or yourself – mentally, physically, emotionally?
• If you could devote your life to serving others and still have the money and lifestyle you need, would you do it? If so, what would you do and how?
• Do you believe in God or in the concept of a Higher Power? If so, describe the most useful and empowering aspects of your relationship with God or your Higher Power. If not, what reference point, if any, do you use?
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The Coaching Relationship • If you trusted your coach enough to tell them
how to manage you most effectively, what tips would you give them?
• How do you want me to be as your coach? If I was to share something that I felt might be significant or surprising to you, how would you like to hear it?
• What do you want to make sure you get from the coaching relationship?
• If you had a five-year goal, and the continuing services of a coach to help you make it happen, and time and money were not an issue, what would that goal be? What difference do you think working with a coach would make?
Please email ([email protected]) or fax (XXX-XXX-XXXX)
your reply back to me before our initial intake session
scheduled on ____________________.
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Web of Life
The Web of Life is a tool that provides an assessment
of the relative balance and level of satisfaction of the
client in multiple dimensions of their life. Completion
of the Web of Life can be facilitated by the coach or
provided as homework.
The Whole Person Coaching web asks clients to
consider the following life categories:
• Career or Business – Vocation; work; your professional endeavors
• Environment – Home; physical setting; location
• Romance – Romantic partner; intimate connections
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• Social Life – Friends; communal or social activities
• Spirituality – Spiritual connection and practices
• Health & Fitness – Overall health; physical well-being; physical fitness
• Growth & Learning – Self-knowledge; inner strengths; self-understanding/ awareness; studies or areas of interest
• Family – Immediate community; loved ones; relatives; pets
• Wealth – Financial stability; gifts; what you have accumulated of value
• Enjoyment – What you do for fun; play; hobbies
Client Instructions (May be facilitated by a coach)
• Choose a category on the Web of Life. Spend 2-3 minutes reflecting on how you define that category for yourself, in your life. You may take notes on the back of the Web of Life if so desired.
• After you have defined the category within the context of your life, rate your current level of satisfaction or fulfillment. Use a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level of satisfaction. Enter this number in the box by each category title on the web and on then again on the second page where indicated.
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• Once you’ve gone through the entire 10 categories move to the second page.
• Using the space provided write down one or two things that, if accomplished/changed, in each area of your life that would increase your level of satisfaction in that category of your life. You may choose to consider all 10 aspects or just the areas of your life you want to focus on inside the coaching relationship
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