It’s crucial for coaches to develop the ability to collaborate with clients to define a coachable result for each session, and it is important to remind that it is not the coach’s responsibility to determine that result. Understanding this distinction is essential for maintaining the integrity of the coaching process and ensuring that what transpires during the session is truly coaching—not something else.
So, let’s clarify what it means to facilitate a genuinely coachable session.
Understanding the Coachable Result
Let’s start by defining what we mean by a “coachable result.”
In the context of coaching, a coachable result is an outcome or goal that the client wants to achieve by the end of a session. It’s something specific, actionable, and meaningful to the client. This result provides direction for the session, ensuring that the conversation is purposeful and focused on creating value for the client.
However, the process of identifying this coachable result isn’t a one-sided effort. It’s a collaborative endeavor.
The coach and the client work together to clarify what the client wants to achieve. This partnership is crucial because the result needs to resonate deeply with the client—it needs to be something they genuinely care about and are motivated to work towards.
Now, here’s where the common misconception comes in: some coaches feel that it’s their responsibility to define or come up with this coachable result. But that’s not the case, and in fact, taking on that responsibility can undermine the coaching process.
The Coach’s Role in Facilitating, Not Directing
So, why isn’t it the coach’s responsibility to determine the coachable result?
At its core, coaching is about empowering the client. It’s about facilitating their thinking, their problem-solving, and their growth. When a coach steps in to decide what the session’s focus should be, it shifts the dynamic. The session can quickly become more about the coach’s agenda than the client’s needs. This turns what should be a coaching session into something more akin to consulting or advising.
The coach’s role is to create a space where the client can explore their thoughts and feelings, gain clarity, and decide on the focus for the session themselves. This requires the coach to be skilled in asking powerful questioning, listening actively, and reflecting back what they hear in a way that helps the client to crystallize their desired outcome.
By doing this, the coach honors the client’s autonomy and reinforces their role as the expert in their own life. It’s the client who ultimately decides what is most important to them in that moment, and what they want to work on. The coach’s job is to support them in making that decision—not to make it for them.
Why This Distinction Matters
Understanding this distinction—between partnering with a client to agree on a coachable result and taking responsibility for defining that result—is crucial for several reasons.
First, it ensures that the session remains client-centered. The power of coaching lies in its ability to draw out the client’s own wisdom and solutions. When the client identifies the coachable result, they are more invested in the process and more likely to take ownership of the outcomes.
Second, it preserves the integrity of the coaching relationship. Coaching is a partnership between equals. When the coach assumes responsibility for setting the agenda, it can create an imbalance in this relationship. It might even lead the client to become overly reliant on the coach for direction, which can stifle their growth.
Lastly, this approach helps prevent the session from veering into other forms of interaction, such as mentoring, advising, or therapy. These are valuable practices in their own right, but they are not coaching. By staying within the boundaries of coaching, both the client and the coach can be sure that the session remains focused on facilitating change and growth from within the client.
Practical Tips for Partnering on Coachable Results
Now that we’ve covered the theory, let’s talk about how you can apply this in your practice.
- Start with Open-Ended Questions: At the beginning of a session, invite the client to reflect on what they want to achieve. Questions like, “What result would make today’s session most valuable for you?” or “What’s the most important thing you’d like to achieve today?” can support them clarify their coachable result.
- Use Reflective Listening: As the client talks, listen deeply – to what the client says and to who the clients show to be – and reflect back what you hear and what you see. This is partnering with clients so that they can refine their thoughts and become clearer about their desired outcome.
- Stay Curious, Not Directive: Resist the urge to suggest or impose a direction for the session, even in a sublte Instead, stay curious and encourage the client to explore their thoughts and feelings more deeply. This helps them arrive at their own conclusion about what’s important. Sometimes, we may find ourselves not being intentional in guiding our conversations with clients, letting the dialogue drift without clear direction. While this might feel natural or even comfortable, it’s not conducive to effective coaching. Without intentionality and a focus on the ICF Competencies, the session can lose focus, diminishing its impact and straying from the client’s goals. As coaches, it’s crucial to maintain purpose and direction to ensure that each conversation is meaningful and aligned with the client’s desired outcomes.
- Confirm the Result: Once the client has identified what they want to focus on, confirm it with them. This not only reinforces their decision but also ensures that you’re both on the same page about the session’s direction.
Expanding your ability to effectively partner with clients is essential for delivering impactful and transformative coaching experiences.
When you cultivate strong partnership skills, you create a collaborative environment where clients feel empowered to explore their goals deeply and take ownership of their progress.
This collaborative approach ensures that coaching sessions are tailored to the client’s unique needs and aspirations, leading to more meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
By continuously enhancing your partnership abilities, you not only strengthen the coach-client relationship but also elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of your coaching practice.
To wrap up, developing the ability to partner with clients to agree on a coachable result is a fundamental skill for any coach. It’s a delicate balance of guiding the process while respecting the client’s autonomy and expertise in their own life. Remember, it’s not your responsibility to determine what is coachable—that’s for the client to decide. Your role is to facilitate, to support, and to create the conditions for the client to uncover what truly matters to them.
By mastering this skill, you ensure that each session remains a true coaching session—focused, client-centered, and deeply transformative.
If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it with your coaching peers. Together, we can elevate the coaching profession and create lasting impact for our clients. Until next time, keep coaching with integrity and purpose.
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