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How to Conduct Powerful Coaching Conversations (Examples and the Script Template)

Aug 17, 2022

The power of coaching conversations is a transformative leadership technique. Find out how to conduct an effective coaching discussion by following this template.

Nowadays, numerous companies are moving toward creating the so-called"coaching culture. The aim is to empower, encourage and teach through an open conversation between managers and employees.

A culture of coaching can help organizations to stop making decisions about what action needs to be implemented to resolve specific issues and challenges. And creates a culture that includes two-way conversations in order to establish goals and decide an appropriate plan of course of action.

It's thought that when the majority of employees within the organization begin to engage in meetings with coaches, the overall culture begins to shift. As a result, an environment is created where people are willing to share their ideas and suggestions for improvement openly. This in turn increases morale throughout the organization.

Whether you're a professional coach or an employee or manager, anyone can benefit from learning basic techniques for coaching. In this article we'll look at how you can conduct a successful coaching session as well as provide examples of scripts or questions to discuss during your own coaching sessions.

What are the characteristics of an effective coach-talking conversation?

Effective coaching sessions begin with asking questions that are relevant and pertinent. If you can ask the correct question to coach, you help others understand their issues or problems they're dealing with. Coaching conversations are a great opportunity to help people build their strengths as well as help others to assume accountability for their actions improvement, and overall achievement.

The coaching conversations may be conducted as a formal exchange such as a coach session or employee review. But, shorter and more informal meetings can be held in the elevator, during lunch or on the corridor.

One of the first steps to hold an effective conversation with a coach is to ensure that the person with whom you plan to engage in a discussion with is open to offering and getting feedback. Conversations aren't always conducive to coaching situations, which is why it's crucial to start by asking the following questions:

  •    "Can you please help me to understand the concept?"  
  •    "If you've got just an hour, I'd like to test something with the."  
  •    "Are you open to comments on X"  

By opening a coaching conversation using similar questions as those mentioned above, you are preparing yourself for receiving feedback on an idea you're about to discuss. Also, you prepare your team for scenarios where you'll likely be offering the feedback.

Three key elements to a successful coaching session

The three key ingredients to a successful coaching session is to approach the conversation from a position of positivity, collaboration and support. It is about entering into a conversation with a judgment-free mentality and knowing how to keep your attention on the bigger effect rather than the specific responses within the discussion.

  1. Positivity

It's important to go into each coaching session with a positive attitude. It allows you to remain open to new goals and results without having any assumptions about what the outcome will be. Be positive and you will avoid the human instinct to get defensive and take things personally within a conversation.

  2. Collaboration

Collaboration is essential to any coaching discussion because it allows learning opportunities for both parties by having a dialogue that is two-way. Collaboration is about being curious of what the other is asking for. Also, it means being present and attentive to what the other person has to say.

  3. Assistance

It is also crucial that coaching discussions come from a place of support. That means that you give to the person you're coaching your total concentration and attention that may need you to take just a couple of minutes prior to the coaching session to set aside your own stresses and challenges.

5 Tips for creating powerful coaching conversations

These 5 tips will help you have more impactful and powerful coaching discussions.

  1. Be attentive

In a discussion with coaches, it is important to pay attention. Beware of interruptions, and also our human habit of filling uncomfortable periods of silence or pauses by using phrases.

An excellent rule of thumb is the 90/10 rule, which implies that you spend 90 percent of the time listening, and less than 10% talking. Remember to just ask one or two questions at a given time, instead of putting a lot of questions. Also, it is important to start the discussion with an open heart and the ability to listen without thinking about what the conversation will be like.

  2. Take a moment to reflect

Reflecting back means summarizing what you heard to ensure that you've understood person you're speaking with. Consider reflecting on coaching sessions to gain clarity and insight into what the other person wants to convey. An excellent way to do this is to ask questions like:

  •    " What I've have heard from you is ......."  
  •    "Am I interpreting you correctly, you said ...."  
  •    "It sounds like you're saying you're not saying that ..."  

After that, stop and wait for the response of your partner. They'll either say yes or go on to tell you what they were saying.

  3. Be curious

Becoming genuinely interested in what others have to say allows them to share their thoughts more freely. When individuals are free to speak and openly, they usually reach their own conclusions about the best plan of decision making.

Try asking yourself simple but powerful questions like:

  •    "What would occur if you investigated that further?"  
  •    "Is something hindering you from trying it day-to-day?"  
  •    "What actions would you take in order to achieve that?"  

When you pose simple but powerful questions, it gets people thinking and problem-solving without feeling like you've handed an answer.

  3. Do not try to force your opinions on others.

Often when someone asks us for feedback, our instinct is to think of ways to solve the problem. Being able to hold a successful coaching session, you must get away from this human instinct. Instead, the focus lies on ensuring that the person in front of you feels valued. To do this, you must develop the ability to take your thoughts out of dialogue. Practice using phrases like:

  •    "Your smile indicates that you're really thrilled about this. Is that right?"  
  •    "How does that make your feel?"  
  •    "What does it bring up to you when you consider trying that?"  

  5. Take time for takeaways

In every conversation with a coach, make sure to set aside time to allow enough time for the coachee solidify what action steps they'll follow up on following the conversation. You can do this by setting aside 5 to 10 minutes after your discussion and asking questions such as:

  •    "What phase do you feel most eager to start on?"  
  •    "What three actions will you follow to reach your goal in the coming week?"  
  •    "What had the biggest effect on you in the last year?"  
  •    "What two ideas can you learn from this conversation today?"  

Making a coaching session template

This is a rough template for a one hour coaching session. Be aware that each coaching conversation is different. However, when you're first learning to hold coaching conversations, a rough template and timeline can be to help keep your coaching session focused.

  Step 1: Distinguishing the purpose of the conversation 5-10 minutes  

Ask questions like:

  •    "Does this still feel pertinent to the current conversation?"  
  •    "You mentioned wanting to speak about X Do you think that's the case?"  
  •    "Are you willing to receive feedback on X?"  

  Step 2: Discover the challenges and problems: 30-40 minutes  

Ask questions like:

  •    "What I hear you saying is ..."  
  •    "How do you feel? your think?"  
  •    "Is there any area that you think needs enhancement?"  

  Step 3: Set goals 5-10 minutes  

Ask questions like:

  •    "What would you alter if you could?"  
  •    "How could we improve the quality of X"  
  •    "Do do you have suggestions? "

  Step 4: Determine the key takeaways and actions to be taken 5-10 minutes  

Ask questions like:

  •    "What action step will you start with?"  
  •    "What three things can you learn from this conversation?"  
  •    What step are you looking forward to taking next week?"  

To gain more knowledge about how to hold strong coaching discussions We recommend Jerry Connor & Karim Hirani's book The Four Greatest Coaching Conversations .

Once you've mastered holding effective conversation with your coach and have mastered the art of coaching, why not make it a point to share that knowledge with the world. Make sure that more people are aware of how to conduct conversation with coaching by taking an online training course.

It makes it simple to create it easy to market, create, and market online coursesthat help coaches earn a steady passive income. Start for free today. No programming skills required.