Client and Coach Discussion Outline and Consent for Coaching Services

Definition

Coaching is defined as a relationship between a Client who has responsibility for their own growth and development and a Coach who uses a variety of techniques to assist the Client. The objective is to achieve positive, measurable, long term change in behavior in the context of the Client’s goals. Coaching utilizes knowledge and understanding of business strategy and systems, organizational psychology, assessments, feedback, individual leadership styles, and behavior change. Coaching calls for an active effort on your part. You may adopt some new behaviors; try some new tools. Yet, there are no guarantees of any specific results as everyone’s response to coaching varies. The Coach is not responsible for changes in the Client’s position, such as promotions, demotions or terminations.

Professional Role

While some Coaches have a background in psychology, your Coach will not be acting as your psychologist nor will your Coach provide psychological services. This is an important distinction because Coaching is not the same as psychotherapy or psychological assessment. Assessments performed by your Coach are for the purposes of establishing a coaching relationship and/or facilitating your coaching goals, and are not designed to be comprehensive in nature. If other referrals are needed, you agree to notify your Coach so that he/she can try to facilitate an appropriate referral. While personal information may be discussed, the focus of coaching remains rooted in work related and managerial/ leadership issues.

Limits to Confidentiality

Most coaching engagements are initiated and paid for by the hiring party (e.g. the Client, Client’s employer, Human Resources, the Clients manager/boss, etc.). As a result others may know that you are receiving coaching services. The Coach has no responsibility or control of what such entities share with others. The Coach will not share the specific content of Coach/Client conversations with others in the organization; however, there are some limits to confidentiality:

The Coach may inform the hiring party about where you are in the process (e.g. enrollment, assessments, goal setting, alignment meeting with boss, coaching to the plan) and number of meetings attended, extent of cancellations, and late arrivals.
3-way goal alignment meetings with the Client’s key stakeholder/ Direct Manager, and/ or Human Resources will be facilitated. The goal is to create alignment between the parties, gain support on goals, and gain continuous feedback as appropriate (if applicable).
Additionally, in case the hiring party or other key stakeholders are interested in the Coach’s general impression of the company/ culture/ leadership, the Coach may provide such input with the intention of improving the overall organization (if applicable).
Your name and email address will be added to a coaching log which is used to track hours for credentialing.Your Coach works as part of a team of diverse professionals with varying backgrounds, who collaborate, share and discuss their work to continuously make themselves more efficient and to be able to assist their clients, key stakeholders and organizations in the most suitable, effective way. Your Coach is dedicated to your success and wellbeing, and to the extent possible and consistent with this agreement, your Coach is committed to keeping your information private. However, if your Coach believes someone is in physical danger or the welfare of a child is in jeopardy, that information will be shared with the appropriate parties.In today’s technological climate, information that is stored or transmitted electronically can be at risk for intrusion, and as a Client you should be aware that your employer (if applicable) may have access to information sent electronically as well as phone and voicemail.

Goals and Progress

As part of this coaching engagement you will further learn about your strengths and developmental opportunities, and your Coach who will go over assessments and feedback with you to make sure you fully understand it (if applicable). Together with your Coach you will set goals for you to focus on. Following goal setting, you will arrange an alignment meeting during which you can share your goals with your key stakeholder(s). In order to allow for feedback and to track progress on goals your Coach may encourage you to collect feedback/input from others, such as manager, peers, direct reports and other staff. These progress checks are most commonly initiated and communicated by you, the Client, and as you and your Coach work together you will talk about the potential benefits of doing so.

The Client’s Responsibilities during the Coaching Process are to:

Be on time, prepared, and focused for all sessions whether face-to-face or by phone
Provide a minimum of 48 hours cancellation/rescheduling notice (or the session may be forfeited/ lost)
Practice new skills/behaviors including seeking input/feedback from others
Commit to the process!

Through your signature, you and your Coach both commit to these guidelines. You both agree to communicate clearly and address openly any problems, disagreements, or questions that arise during this coaching engagement. The coaching engagement may be cancelled at any time by either party through a written statement.