Corporate Coaching and Mentoring Process

Usually for coaching that triggers transformation, a minimum of 3 months is envisioned. Recommended minimum duration is 6 months. But depending on the needs, shorter coaching sessions can be planned by determining more specific focus. Depending on the growth objectives of the customer, sessions are either weekly or bi-weekly. The coaching process:

• It is important that the coach and the client have good chemistry. Therefore if they have not worked together before, an introduction meeting can be planned, prior to the start of the coaching process. Afterwards it can be decided whether or not to progress with the coaching.
• Usually growth targets of the customer are determined in a goal setting meeting with the coach, the customer, customer’s manager and a representative of the sponsor (often from human resources).
• The coaching engagement starts with a 2 hours discovery session, usually done face-to-face. In the discovery session, targets of the coaching process from customer point of view are determined and the method of working together is designed.
• The following sessions are one hour each and depending on the customer needs they are planned face-to-face or via Skype/telephone. Apart from the general goals of the coaching process, the topic of each session is separately determined and is the responsibility of the customer. It is important that the customer thinks about what he/she wants to talk about that day, prior to each session.
• At the end of each session, the customer will have homework that will be determined together by the coach and the customer. The homework may be different types, such as questions that need to be deeply reflected on, actions that trigger momentum or reading and researching on a topic. Homework ensures that the customer benefits as much as possible from the coaching and takes the responsibility of own transformation.
• If the coach has know-how and experience on the topic being discussed, she will mentor by asking permission and sharing recommendations and opinions.
• At the end of the coaching process, the coach, the customer, customer’s manager and a representative of the sponsor gather again at the completion meeting to evaluate the progress of the customer on growth targets. If necessary, an interim evaluation meeting can also be planned mid-way through the coaching process.