How to Maximize Coaching

Congratulations! You and/or your organization are committed to your personal and professional growth. So, how do you fully leverage this opportunity and investment?

Like any new tool, it takes some time to understand how to leverage the benefits fully. However, we hope that we can help expedite some of that today.

We like to let clients know that, in our experience, it can take multiple sessions before they fully understand how to maximize this investment. This is also why we require a minimum of a six-month commitment. This is not the fault of the client or the coach; it is just the reality of having a new resource and relationship. It takes time to understand how to navigate and optimize it. Just like anything that compounds in value, it takes time.

Here are some quick tips to accelerate the value of your coaching sessions.

1. Fully commit to the time.

Schedule all of the coaching sessions on your calendar and let your team know this is non-negotiable. You have committed to yourself and others to become your best self, and that benefits everyone. Pro tip: make sure to buffer time before and after the sessions. Presence and reflection are key to successful coaching.

Great coaches see when you've rushed into the session right from a meeting and will use the first part of the session to reclaim your presence for yourself.

2. Bring the topic.

Leadership and Executive Coaching isn't training. Nor is it programmatic. See here for the definition of coaching: ICF Coaching Definition. It is all about you, not about a preset topic by someone else, not about the coach, but you. The coach has one job. It is to fully focus on and be an expert on you, while your job is to bring something that you want to accomplish i.e., the topic. This might be a big vision of something ten years out or a hard conversation that you get to have ten minutes after the coaching session. While the topic might shift during the coaching session, depending on your needs, preparing an area you would like to explore allows your brain to deepen its thinking and begin to become more present for yourself.

3. Lean into the growth.

Coaching can be challenging, and challenges are usually uncomfortable. An experienced coach will have set expectations as they co-create the experience with the client by negotiating things like how hard to push in the sessions, ensuring confidentiality, and creating a safe place for you to reflect on exciting yet sometimes overwhelming emotions and actions.

4. Speak up.

If you need something, say something. Many clients might feel something is missing or that the coach is pushing them on something they should or should not. Coaching is a co-active, co-created relationship. It takes two to maximize the coaching engagement, so own it and say what comes to mind.

Next Steps

The value of coaching cannot exceed the energy and focus that you put into it; while that energy can compound, you have to invest in showing up and putting in the hard work.

• How might you show up more for yourself in your coaching session?

• Where might you be cheating yourself in maximizing your coaching session?

• What do you need to renegotiate with your coach?

• Where can you prepare for your session and ensure you get the most from it?

• What area of your life are you avoiding that you haven't brought into coaching?

• Where do you need to set boundaries for others and yourself to protect this investment?