7 Steps of Coaching
During the first coach training session we discussed 7 steps important to the coaching process.
1. Setting a Goal. What is the issue the client wants to resolve during their coaching session, such as eating more nutritiously, starting an exercise routine, or addressing an ingrained habit like smoking.
2. Creating Emotion – For the most part, people use 2 main emotions to escalate change. They include moving towards pleasure and away from pain, with the latter being the more powerful for most. To encourage desire for change it helps to bring the emotions into play to enhance these 2 catalysts of change.
3. Discussing the Starting Point of the one being coached. In order to get from point A to point B, one needs to know where point A is.
4. Uncovering the block. What has kept the client from success in the past? What is it they can’t seem to get beyond that stimulates them to seek out the services of a coach.
5. Taking Baby Steps (Kaizen) What is one small step the person being coached can take in the direction of their goal? A step so small they have no doubts that they could accomplish it. (We’ll speak more on kaizen in later posts – it’s the foundation of my whole coaching practice)
6. Uncovering Support – does the coachee have the support from family and friends they’ll need to follow through with their commitment?
7. Holding Accountable – the coach needs to hold the person being coached accountable by asking the question, “When will you take the baby steps you agreed to and how will I know you did it?”
All during the process, the coach is expected to maintain a non-judgmental atmosphere of deep listening conducive to questioning and uncovering the hidden gems of possibility.