Here's how you can showcase ongoing support and accountability to clients during an interview.

A haiku on defining roles: Roles well-defined, clear, Facilitator, guide, partner, Client's goals forefront. When an executive coach works with people to help them get better at things, they're like a helper, a guide, and a person who makes sure they stay on track. They give them a plan to follow, tell them how they're doing, and cheer them on. But most importantly, they always remember what the person wants to achieve, and they help them reach those goals together. It's like teamwork! An executive coaching plan includes strategies, objectives, and timelines tailored to the client's needs. The plan serves as a guide for the coaching sessions, ensuring focus and progress towards desired outcomes.

I talk openly with prospective clients about where they are and what they are and have experienced. As coaches, we are ethically obligated to explain the differences between coaching and therapy, consulting, and mentorship. I explain that if at any point it becomes clear that therapy would be a better fit than coaching, I’m happy to provide some options for referral.

This multifaceted role demonstrates your adaptability and commitment to client success. Emphasizing collaboration ensures that clients see you as a partner in their journey, enhancing trust and effectiveness in achieving their goals.

While setting clear expectations is standard, integrating an "expectation evolution" process is a novel approach that can add significant value. By designing the coaching journey to include checkpoints where expectations are deliberately revisited and potentially recalibrated, clients and coaches can adapt to changing circumstances more fluidly. This method encourages a dynamic interaction where goals can evolve, mirroring the agile methodologies used in software development, thus keeping the coaching relevant and aligned with real-time personal or professional growth.

When establishing a new relationship with a client, it's critical to create a coaching agreement both at the beginning of a contract as well as at the beginning of a session. These are ICF (International Coaching Federation)-defined best practices. I provide a schedule for clients (I work in 3 or 6 month blocks) that include regularly scheduled checkins; for situations where there's a financial sponsor, that checkin includes both the sponsor and the coaching client to make sure we are all on the same page and comfortable about where we are and where we are headed.

Establishing clear expectations from the start fosters transparency and trust in the coaching relationship. By collaboratively setting goals and defining success metrics, you create a shared vision for progress. Regular updates and check-ins reinforce this structure, ensuring continuous alignment and support. This proactive approach underscores your dedication to mutual accountability and sustained client success.

Everybody wants clarity and predictability. When setting expectations, not only focus on the goals, also mention what the client can expect from you, and what you expect from the client. In coaching, commitment and involvement from the client is essential. They need to do the work, go through the transformation. You need to be clear on that. And go first. When you expect accountability, be accountable. When you expect open communication, communicate openly. Etcetera….

The tools, worksheets, and exercises that I use in coaching really vary depending on the client as much as the circumstance. I have some clients who strongly dislike written homework; others get very excited when they receive a worksheet. At the end of the day, it’s about meeting clients where they are.

Providing customized resources ensures clients have continuous support and practical tools to implement their learning. These materials reinforce session insights and foster ongoing engagement, demonstrating your commitment to their sustained development and success.

Clients often are not even aware of their own inner resources (especially under duress)…intuiting strengths and hidden talents they already have powerfully adds to their confidence and creativity…often leading to some surprisingly good developments and results.

Encouraging reflection is common; however, promoting "structured daydreaming" sessions where clients are guided through imaginative exercises to envision their future successes or potential challenges can provide unique insights. This practice, similar to mental contrasting in psychology, not only aids in solidifying goals but also enhances problem-solving skills by preemptively tackling potential obstacles, thereby embedding a stronger sense of purpose and direction in clients’ professional journeys.

Self-reflection fosters deeper understanding and personal insight, crucial for meaningful growth. Encouraging clients to regularly assess their progress enhances their self-awareness and ability to independently navigate future challenges, ensuring sustained development beyond the coaching relationship.

While progress tracking generally focuses on achievements and benchmarks, incorporating a "reflective progress review" that emphasizes learning from what did not work or was unexpected can offer profound insights. This method turns traditional progress tracking on its head by valuing learning just as much as achieving, encouraging clients to embrace and learn from failures as stepping stones to success. It’s comparable to a scientist methodically noting experiment outcomes to refine hypotheses and methods.

The concept of course correction is key here. It's fine to adjust or pivot from the original objectives as long as all stakeholders agree and sign on to that change. What people envision as a goal can change once more information (emotions, motivations, roadblocks, etc.) are uncovered.

Regularly tracking progress ensures that both coach and client remain aligned with their goals. Celebrating milestones boosts morale and reinforces the value of the coaching process. Constructive feedback and course corrections help maintain momentum and adaptability, ensuring long-term success and development.

Adapting strategies to meet clients' changing needs shows a deep commitment to their success. By staying flexible and responsive, you ensure that coaching remains effective and aligned with their goals. This adaptability highlights your dedication to personalized support, fostering a dynamic and supportive coaching relationship that evolves with the client’s growth.

As coaches, we always need to be reading between the lines to determine what works with a client, and what doesn't. In general, I prefer video or in person sessions (rather than telephone) so I can read clients' facial expressions and body languages to tell if something didn't land for them. Getting training, from an accredited institution, working with the ICF, and maintaining rigorous continuing education give us an entire toolbox of modalities. And, it's critical to check in regularly with clients to see what works and what doesn't.

Beyond structured coaching methodologies, integrating the practice of "ethical reflection," where coaches and clients periodically discuss the ethical implications of their goals and strategies, adds a valuable dimension. This practice, reflecting the rigor of philosophical ethics committees, ensures that the pursuit of professional excellence is aligned with moral integrity. It challenges clients to consider not just what they want to achieve, but how they achieve it, promoting a holistic approach to success that incorporates ethical considerations into decision-making.

1. Personalized Progress Tracking: Demonstrate tailored methods to track and celebrate client achievements. 2. Regular Check-ins: Highlight consistent follow-up sessions to monitor progress and address challenges. 3. Resource Provision: Offer supplementary materials or tools to aid client development between sessions. 4. Goal Setting: Showcase collaborative goal-setting processes to ensure client objectives are met. 5. Feedback Loop: Emphasize the importance of feedback exchange to refine coaching strategies and ensure client satisfaction.