Coaching with NLP For Dummies®

Chapter 4

Shaping the Agenda for Change

In This Chapter

• Beginning and ending sessions effectively
• Gathering important personal and background information
• Sifting through the client's aims and ideas
• Setting the priorities for sessions

Clients come to coaching for a rich variety of reasons: they recognise that something is not working as well as it could; they're hazy or unclear on their direction; they sense that things can be different and they're not sure how to go about making changes; they have a lot on their plates and need support; they want a sensible sounding board; they've hit tough times, transitions or new challenges; or they need to make decisions.

Coaching isn't always about solving problems. It can provide space for people to stretch and grow in their careers, develop leadership abilities or generally maintain a sense of well-being.

When the coaching begins, clients may have a jumble of thoughts and issues racing around in their heads, rather like a wardrobe in which everything has been piled in! Coaching gives this jumble a shape, adding specific entry points and exits for each session as well as the overall contract. In between the clear opening and closing phases (which I discuss in this chapter), you and your clients have a rich period to explore that confusion of ideas. Your role as coach is to provide a supportive platform that gives clarity, structure and process so that clients can explore and shape their agendas.

This chapter looks at how you create shape ...