How a coaching session unfolds

Coaching always starts with a request, translated into an objective. A contract is established to define the place of the sessions, their description, their pace and duration, the fee, the cancellation conditions, the indicators showing that the objective has been reached, the code of ethics, and so on.

Halfway through, an evaluation may be carried out, as well as a possible reframing.

When the objective has been reached, a review is carried out.

It varies greatly. Everything depends on the client's need. In general, it can last from one month to one year. The pace and frequency of the sessions have to be assessed with the coach and depend on the objective that is set.

The client is, however, free to stop at any time if they feel that it does not suit them. But it is always useful to hold a closing session to check that this is not a form of avoidance.

The risk of a coaching process extending over time is that it may introduce a dependence on the coach, whereas the coaching process is precisely aimed at the coachee's autonomy.

Again, this varies greatly. Everything depends on the coachee's needs and on the availability of both the coach and the coachee. A session lasts between 50 minutes and 3 hours.

By mutual agreement, the sessions may take place at the coach's premises, sometimes at the client's premises, or even in an outside location such as a hotel lobby. What matters is that the client feels confident in the proposed setting.

There are 2 "forms" of contract in a coach/coachee relationship: the administrative contract and the oral contract

• The administrative contract (often in companies and in a tripartite coach/coachee/company relationship)

The contract put in place will, for some, be a contract with shared commitments on results, and for others, a commitment on means.

This contract mainly addresses the following points:

• The name and contact details of the company
• The name of the coachee
• The general context
• The overall coaching objective
• The place
• The number and duration of the sessions
• Fees and payment terms
• General clauses: confidentiality, the parties' commitment, discretion, termination conditions

Of course, each coach draws up the contract according to their own perception and will add a series of elements that they consider useful for the smooth running of the coaching process

• The oral contract

A - It is an oral contract that is established during the first meeting and sets out the mutual conditions for success between the coach and the coachee.

B - Both parties commit themselves, the coach and the coachee:

• The coachee defines the objective they want to achieve (and is assessed during the process in terms of real commitment)
• The coach commits to explicit and concrete progress towards achieving the objective

Together, they establish an objective of "progression": they are people who work while keeping the objective in mind and still leaving room for possible adjustments.

The Coach is a person who accompanies another person at a particular moment in their professional or personal life.

Together, they give themselves the best possible means to succeed.