What a Coaching Call Looks Like

Every coaching call is different, but this is a brief outline of what you can expect.

Logistics:

All calls will take place on the phone or on Skype. Please let me know your preference time zone prior to scheduling our first call.

You will call me at the scheduled time and calls will usually be around 45 minutes but may stretch to as long as 50 minutes. It is very important to call at the scheduled time. Please be aware that if you call late, the call will still end at the scheduled time.

Before our call:

Find a quiet place where you are relaxed and can focus. If privacy is important to you, take this into consideration when choosing your spot.

Have a way to take notes/jot down ideas available.

Unlike other coaches, I do not require the use of prep forms. If a prep form would be helpful to you, I would be happy to send you one.

It’s helpful to have a list of last weeks action steps and any notes or journal entries you made throughout the week handy.

Our call:

Check in. I like to begin each session with something called a “check-in”. This is a time to briefly talk about what is going on in your life in general and how you are coming to the call. A check in helps you to stop and take notice of where you are mentally, spirutially, professionally and personally. We will talk more about the check in during our first session.

Review the previous week and any action steps that we agreed on from our last call.

Establish what you want to focus on for this call. This is our agenda for the day. It may be something small, easily accomplished in a week, or it may be a step in part of a broader agenda or goal that you have set. If you are having trouble thinking of something specific, don’t worry. We can always brainstorm a bit to nail down what you would like to work on.

If this is your first call, I will ask if it is okay if I begin our work with prayer. If you are not comfortable with this, just say so and we will move on with the agenda.

Work on the agenda. I will use questions to help you think through your focus topic. As we begin discussing a topic the conversation might begin to head in a new direction as you gain more awareness and clarity. That’s completely normal. I will check in with you periodically to make sure that you are still okay with the current direction of the call or if you would like to refocus on your original agenda. Remember, you call the shots. If you want to change the focus of the conversation, you can do that at any time.

Focus you in on specific action steps that you want make. We will consider and brainstorm together, but you will establish what action you will take. You are free to modify the action plan at any time. Action steps can be anything from specific things you will do over the week, or certain questions or ideas you will think about. Finally we set up accountability both to yourself and perhaps involving other people. It is important that you use accountability that works for you.

Photo by Francesco Gallarotti.