Leading Solutions, Inc. provides a customized coaching experience for each client. Business Coaching is not a “one size fits all” environment. Our coaches work hard to develop a Coaching Plan that fits each clients needs. While each Coaching Plan is tailored to fit each organization’s and each individual’s specific needs, the process our coaches use is systematic. The Business Coaching process generally follows these five phases:

Phase 1: Introduction Phase

Agree Upon Expectations.
The Introduction Phase is when the individual to be coached, a senior representative of the organization (sponsor) and the Coach all meet to identify goals and agree upon realistic expectations. Coaching can help individuals reach and often exceed their full potential in a shorter time span than many realize is possible. Coaching can help you successfully navigate new and unusual issues within your organization. Coaching can help you unleash the leader with in you that might be hindered by old habits. Coaching can help you realize your full potential. If it is within your full potential to be the next Superstar CEO, Coaching can help you get there.

Establish Confidentiality.
During the Introduction Phase we establish rules of confidentiality within the coaching relationship and rules of responsibility back to the sponsor. The sponsor will not be privy to any specifics that the individual being coached does not want revealed. The coaching relationship requires confidentiality to be successful. The sponsor deserves to understand if progress is being made and the investment in Coaching is worthwhile. Periodic reports to the sponsor will be made. But more importantly than progress reports from the Coach, the sponsor and the individual being coached should see improvement in performance.

Ensure Connection Between Client and Coach.
We also will check for a good fit between the individual being coached and the Coach. Not every Coach is right for every individual. The coaching relationship requires a great deal of trust and the ability to connect with each other. If this connection is not there, we will refer the individual to another Coach.

Phase 2: Assessment Phase

The Assessment Phase.
The coach conducts a series of assessments and interviews to complete a 360-degree evaluation of the client’s working relationships. At the end of the Assessment Phase the client will be delivered a package that will provide honest feedback about his or her strengths and weaknesses. There is a great deal of difficult growth that occurs during the review of this assessment. Becoming aware of previously unrecognized behaviors can lead to immediate improvement in performance. At this point the coach/client team agrees on a general goal for the coaching relationship. This phase of the coaching process is where a great deal of growth can occur. Follow this growth with honest feedback, practicing of new behaviors and other coaching and permanent growth is possible.

Phase 3: Develop Specialized Coaching Plan

The coach and client together develop specific objectives and timelines. The objectives will vary greatly from client to client. Some clients may wish to develop specific skills in order to fill an immediate on-the-job need; others may need to improve their general job performance in the near term; clients with managerial experience may need to develop further in order to move into a truly executive leadership position in a year or more; and some executive-level clients may wish to use the coach to provide objective feedback as they develop their long-term business agenda. This may require two 2 hour-long meetings.

Phase 4: Implement Specialized Coaching Plan

The coach and client work in partnership to meet the planned objectives, generally meeting face to face for an hour each week at the beginning of the Implementation Phase. Later this may be accomplished over the phone or via other electronic means. Using journals, observations and direct feedback, role-playing, and various other techniques, the coach guides the client through a continuous, positive, highly-personalized process of making specific changes in the direction of the goals. This phase may take weeks, months, or longer depending upon the client’s objectives and generally requires one hour a week.

Phase 5: Post Specialized Coaching Plan