The first coaching session is generally about developing a good rapport and relationship with your coach and exploring your overall goal for the coaching programme. You decide where and how often to meet, and for how long, depending on the time you have and what you’re hoping to achieve. Face-to-face, telephone and online coaching (eg by Skype) are all options.
Be assured that coaching conversations are confidential. The coaching relationship is based on trust and each coaching session is a safe space to explore any issue that may be holding you back.
A coach will generally guide and structure each coaching session using a model such as GROW.
Each conversation will explore:
- Goal – What do you want to achieve by the end of the session? What would be the best use of our time today?
- Reality – What is happening now? How often? What have you tried so far?
- Options – What options do you have? What else?
- Will – What option most appeals to you? What are you going to do? When?
By the end of the session you should have arrived at concrete actions you can take to move you forwards towards your goal. The coach will hold you accountable for completing these and ask you to update at the next session.
Your coach will regularly review where you are with your goals and how the coaching is going to make any adjustments to your programme.