What to Expect In Our First Meeting Together
Taking the first step to consider help can seem mysterious. To help address that, here’s my process that a client can expect during our first meeting (whether in person or via phone). Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
1) Design the alliance (2-3 minutes)
- I explain the underlying coaching premise that people are naturally creative and resourceful and that I will be empowering the client to be the expert in her own life.
- The client and I create a set of working agreements including confidentiality, punctuality, integrity (commitment to discuss the coaching arrangement if not working), etc.
2) Establish agenda/topic for the session
- I’ll ask the client to respond to this question: “How do you wish to spend our time today?”
3) Discover what is important about the topic to the client
I invite the client to identify the significance of the topic on which they wish to focus.
4) Discuss client’s desired outcome and the path to get there.
This discussion will comprise the majority of the session. I’ll work with the client to explore the client’s vision, goals and desired outcome of the session’s agenda/topic.
5) Action/learning
This is a time of brief reflection and identifying what the session has revealed and/or resolved. I generally ask the client questions such as:
- “Where are you now with the issues you brought?”
- “What insight or application(s) are you taking with you?”
6) Request/challenge/inquiry
If the client wishes to receive homework (optional), I will offer an assignment designed to shine additional light on the topics covered in our conversation.
7) Accountability
If homework has been requested and assigned, I ask the client how they wish to determine that their homework has been accomplished and by what date. (Accountability is completely free of blame or judgment.)
8) Clients can expect acknowledgment/championing sprinkled throughout our conversation:
Acknowledgement: I will address whom the client had to be in order to accomplish whatever action she took or awareness she achieved.
Championing: I will stand up and encourage clients when they doubt or question their abilities.
Ready to take the next step? Have questions I can answer for you? Please contact me here.
