Last Monday I had my own coaching session. It has been a while since I was last coached. I have a new coach who is quite brilliant, just like my previous coach. Obviously I choose well.
Monday was our contracting meeting. I set out my expectations of what I wanted from my coaching and set out an overarching goal for myself. We identified my inhibiting and enabling behaviours and values, and even managed to set a couple of short term actions. It was an excellent coaching session, and then direction it took really surprised me. I discovered the route of some of my inhibitors and managing to work out some strategies I will try to counter them. My coach gave me the space to explore these ideas providing the correct amount of challenge. I must admit at times I found it a little uncomfortable but necessary for me to articulate my goal and what the risks to not achieving it are. As with all great coaching sessions the coaching continues beyond the session. Some questions the coach poses do not find their target until after the session creating more ideas and questions long after the coach has left. When you are coached by someone that is invested in you, it is truly powerful. Thank you coach.
Nearly 2 weeks ago now I had my first supervision session in quite a while. Supervision is when a group of us coaches meet up with a supervisor of coaches and discuss parts of our coaching practice, that we may need help, support or clarification with. I discussed a coaching relationship I found it incredibly helpful in raising my own awareness of the role I was playing, and like the coaching session the supervision continued beyond the session, with me thinking about the impact my questions and responses to the client have on the client. I also found talking about relationships with clients quite exposing, for me. Being challenged about your responses is very exposing as it can reveal a lot about how work as a coach and what motivates you.
On Wednesday I met a client for our follow up coaching session following our contracting meeting. Having been coached and supervised I was conscious of the impact I may have on the client. The key is to be led by the client, but to ensure the session moves forward and does not stick in the storytelling stage. Once the client had a clear goal I encouraged them to look at possibilities by asking a series of questions. This then kept the agenda theirs but kept the momentum in the session, generating possibilities that can be turned into actions.
I find that a productive coaching session for the client energises and motivated me as much as the client.
Coaching is such a powerful experience for both the coach and coachee. I implore you all to get yourselves a coach whether formally or informally.
Connected Coaching 