Nearly all of the 22 positive effects of coaching were greater when coaching conversations took place every 1 or 2 weeks. Most of the coach's 18 ideal behaviors were also better evaluated. Most people assume that executive coaching is necessary when they are in quadrants 1 or 2; the word incompetence almost cries out for a relevant coach to accompany them. An employee from one of these quadrants would benefit from an executive coach (or mentor) on an almost weekly basis.
However, every two weeks is usually more manageable. A biweekly pace allows more time to apply and test ideas from a previous session. The frequency can be adjusted as experience is gained and the competition becomes more conscious. Some clients meet with their life coach once a week, although some clients meet every other week or even just once a month, depending on their needs.
Most coaches and clients prefer 30- to 60-minute sessions. You have enough time to discuss a topic in depth or to cover some topics in a more brief way. You also have time to add extras, such as celebrating wins, asking quick questions and setting intentions for the coming weeks. Communicating with your coach sounds easy, right? But the truth is that the lack of communication between an athlete and a coach is probably the main reason why athletes don't fully benefit from training. Before training begins, there will normally be an initial meeting or phone call.
This contact is the first and best opportunity to set some expectations about what you will need as an athlete. It's early in the season and it's likely that you've signed up for your big event and hired a coach to help you achieve your goals. Once they have achieved their goals, most people choose to keep in touch with their coach and meet for quarterly “registration sessions”.If at the end of the meeting you feel that you have achieved something valuable, congratulations, you have found your coach. This is just something to keep in mind when meeting a coach; you might have a strong preference one way or another. As an expert in executive coaching, I recommend that clients meet with their coaches at least every two weeks for optimal results.
This frequency allows enough time for both parties to discuss topics in depth and apply ideas from previous sessions. It also allows for extra activities such as celebrating wins, asking quick questions, and setting intentions for the upcoming weeks. The duration of each session should be between 30-60 minutes depending on the needs of both parties. During this time, it is important to ensure that both parties are communicating effectively and that expectations are being met. Finally, once goals have been achieved, it is recommended that clients keep in touch with their coaches by meeting quarterly for “registration sessions”. This will help ensure that both parties are on the same page and that progress is being made.
