Quickie Coaching Template

One of the cornerstones of the coaching approach is to schedule regular coaching sessions on an ongoing basis. It’s this spaced repetition, with each session building on the last, that really gets the results.

As a coach for CEOs, managing partners and other high-level executives, my clients often tell me they can’t do this. They’re too busy. Especially for a full-length 90-minute session.

With a little digging, I always find that there’s something else going on here besides time. And that’s confidence. After all, these are CPAs and lawyers, not professional coaches. They wonder if they’re providing any value in their coaching sessions.

They conclude that no, they’re not providing any value, and there’s the excuse to stop trying.

Enough with the excuses. Remember that when it comes to workplace accountability, the buck starts here with YOU, the leader.

So if you don’t have 90 minutes, take 30 minutes! And I’ll show you exactly how. The following quickie coaching template will work at any point in the coaching relationship – from your first session to two years down the line.

There’s no need to feel self-conscious or hide the fact that you’re working from a template. Be totally transparent about it – you’re showing your commitment to being the best leader you can be. Download the template as a PDF and print it out to have in front of you during your sessions.

30-minute quickie coaching template

1. Create an upfront agreement about recapping, so the other person understands you will be re-stating what was said and what the actions will be.
2. Ask: What is the desired outcome of this session? Why are the two of us here? What do you (the coachee) want to walk away with? How can I (the coach) help you be more successful?
3. Choose a topic where the coachee wants to be more successful.
4. Ask: What is one thing you’re doing well? Listen, and then ask: And another? Another? Another? Until you’ve heard three or four things.
5. Play it back – tell them what you heard them say they’re doing well, and ask: Did I get that right?
6. Ask: Now what’s something that may be stopping or blocking you? What’s in your way? OR ask: What’s something you’d like more of or less of? What’s something you’d like to change or improve? And another? And another? Get three or four of these.
7. Play it back: This is what I’m hearing – is that correct?
8. Narrow it down. Ask: What is the one thing you want to work on changing today?
9. Name the one issue and ask: Where are you on a scale of 1 to 10 with this issue?
10. Ask: What is it that you need to get to a 10? What’s in your way of moving you to a 10? This is the meat of your coaching session. Now you have something tangible to work with.
11. Ask: What do you think we can do about that? What’s one action you can take between now and the next time we meet?
12. Keep stopping to recap along the way.
13. Ask: How can I best support you, without doing it for you?
14. Ask: When will you do this by? Without a time line, there’s no accountability.
15. Recap. Ensure that your coachee is walking away with at least one action step, and that you’re both clear about what that is.
16. Ask: What was valuable about this coaching session for you? How can I coach you better next time? Encourage your people to be open and honest. That’s how you’re both going to learn.
17. Thank the person for his or her time, and schedule your next coaching session. Right then, or it won’t get done.

If you’re not having regularly schedule coaching sessions with your team, this template will get you back on track and into the coaching again. Remember that 30 minutes is better than nothing. In fact, my guess is that these 30-minute sessions of yours are going to fly by. And your people are going to get so much value that they’re going to be lined up at the door for their next session.

Are you a senior partner or managing partner of a law firm or CPA firm? You are invited to participate in a ground-breaking research study about accountability in organizations. In appreciation for your participation, you will receive a complimentary debrief session with accountability expert Alan Dobzinski (regular price $1,000).

Email Alan now to get started.

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