Designing the Agreement with your Group Coaching Clients

Designing the Agreement is one of the ICF Core Coaching Competencies (Core Coaching Competency #2). The ICF Defines this as

"Ability to understand what is required in the specific coaching interaction and to come to agreement with the prospective and new client about the coaching process and relationship"

                     

With Subcomponents including

·  Understands and effectively discusses with the client the guidelines and specific parameters of the coaching relationship (i.e. logistics, fees, scheduling, inclusion of others if appropriate)

·  Reaches agreement about what is appropriate in the relationship and what is not, what is and is not being offered, and about the client and coach’s responsibilities

- Determines whether there is an effective match between his/her coaching method and the needs of the prospective client

Components which you may want to consider including in your group coaching programs are:

1. A pre-program 1-1 call to get to know the client, answer any questions they may have about the logistics, scheduling etc. The pre-program 1-1 call can also provide a touch point to ensure that there is a good match between the client’s needs and the group coaching work you are offering
2. Creating Ways of Working in your First Group Session to ensure all people have the same understanding of what’s expected and what will make the group process supportive for all. 
3.  For some of your programs you may also want to develop a questionnaire to gather further information about the client’s goals. This can be sent out pre-program by email or designed as an online survey such as SurveyMonkey. 
4.  Spending time during the first call/session in co-creating what the coaching work will be about. This in fact starts connecting the next two coaching competencies.

As you consider your group coaching work, what do you already have in place to Design the Agreement?

What additional components might you want to consider adding?

Please feel free to share what you do with your programs below.

Warm regards

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton

Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)

Phone (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

Host of the Group Coaching Essentials Teleseminar Program (6.75 CCEs - Next program starts this Wednesday at 7pm Eastern - May 23, 30, June 6, 13, and 20)

Want to explore the core coaching competencies at an even greater depth? Consider joining me for the Mentor Coaching Group which includes 7 hrs of group mentor calls (max 4 coaches), and 3 hours of individual caoching with me. Meets the Mentor Coaching Requirements for ICF ACC and PCC portfolio routes and ACC renewals. Groups starting June 1st at 1 pm Eastern (Fridays 1-2 pm ET) and August 10 (Fridays 12 - 1 pm ET)