Preparing for your coaching session is key to meeting the goals set in your coaching session. This applies to all coachees irrespective of what programme you are part of (Individual ICM package, Exec package or VIP ICM package).
Here are some tips to prepare yourself and to set a conducive and high-class environment for coaching to be successful. The starred notes are for those who want to take it to an even higher gear.
Ensure you have booked your session on a non-busy day.
Rushing from one meeting to the next will impede your highest performance during the coaching sessions. Ensure that you do not book any meeting at least 1 hour before your coaching session or that you are not rushing from another location (e.g. driving, moving from one building to another, etc.)
The same goes for after the session, make sure you do not have any other meeting immediately after or that you do not have to rush anywhere else. Taking time to reflect after the session is a key element in your growth.
Note that Impact Coaching & Mentoring sessions are scheduled to be 1.5 – 3 hrs long, and executive coaching sessions are scheduled to last 1.5 – 2 hrs. Ideally, you would book your calendar 30 mins before and 30 mins after the scheduled coaching session.
✨The best time to schedule your coaching session tends to be around 10 am (for higher impact) or 1 pm depending on your work commitment in the mornings.
Ensure you have adequate time after the session
Some sessions may need interventions, therefore ensure you have adequate time after the session as any required intervention may extend the initial duration of the session.
✨ Interventions are important to bring breakthroughs.
Park everything else going on in your mind before the session
We all have got to plan lunch, dinner, and sometimes pick up the kids from school, and even throw in lots of chores. Before your coaching session, write down all your to-do for the day on a piece of paper and turn the paper in reverse on the far end corner of your table. During your coaching session, the last thing you want is to have your mind boycott you with distractions, by thinking about what to prepare for dinner, or that it is the last day to pay your utilities bills.
Once your session starts, you will be provided with scripts to safeguard your time for your personal development on your coaching sessions.
✨If you want to take it up a notch, you can even write this list down one day before and write down the time at which you will get those other activities done.
A high-class environment is the cherry on the cake
Ensure you are in a quiet space. Did you know that every time you are disturbed, it takes you 23 minutes to refocus fully on the task you were doing? Five disturbances comes close to 2 hrs – that’s 2 hrs of shallow work on yourself, which will only guarantee the failure of your coaching session.
Ensure you are in a space on your own (not in shared office spaces or on child-caring duty). Your coaching sessions are personal to you and you need a quiet, undisturbed, and private environment to bring the best solutions for your challenges.
If you work from home, schedule your session at a time when you are sure you will not be disturbed (not before or during lunch/dinner, no visits from maintenance people).
✨If you have your own space, adding plants, paintings, and colours that inspire you, will enhance your growth.
Make sure you have your tech side sorted
Your internet connection can make or break the whole session, ensure your device is connected to a reasonable internet bandwidth. Having a clear internet connection will ensure a fluid communication during your coaching session.
Sessions are held via Google Meet. You do not need a Google account to access Google Meet. Check your camera and microphone beforehand.
Being properly visible and audible creates a profound connection in any communication, in this case, with me your coach. So set yourself to create a long-lasting impact with your communication during the coaching sessions.
Make sure your camera is not too close nor too far from you. The upper part of your body and any hand gesture should be clearly visible. As your coach, I will be reading and observing not only what you say (or not say) but also how you act (or not act).
✨ During the session, you can also use a background image or upload your own.
Constant hydrating is important when focusing
Coaching requires you to think differently, to reflect, to be creative and to come up with ideas and possibilities that you have not thought of before. Your brain will get an intense workout, and a full water bottle by your side will ease this workout.
During the coaching session, you will be able to take comfort breaks whenever you want, however, remember that unnecessary disturbance will result in 23 unproductive minutes during your coaching slot.
✨ If the weather is more to the cold end, why not get both cold and warm water next to you and make your favourite hot drink!
Make yourself comfortable
You should feel comfortable in yourself and in your environment.
Dress according to the weather. If it is hot, a fan or air conditioning will ease the session. Be careful to not have the fan straight on your microphone, it will make your voice choppy. Watch out for noisy fans as well!
Dressing comfortably still means to keep a professional attire. If you want to think like an executive, you need to dress up for the role – no PJs below the waist!
✨Avoid having a very heavy meal right before your session. You want to be fully awake, and be able to focus and take charge of your growth!
Be willing to challenge yourself and to be challenged
Coaching involves thinking differently. Be ready to challenge yourself, to want to change your mindset, and also to be challenged. As your coach, I will both support you and challenge you, after all that’s what you are paying me for.
If you are booked on my Impact Coaching & Mentoring (ICM) sessions, creating impact will involve pushing boundaries a lot. Gear up for impact at work, in your community & country!
✨ Comfort feels good, but there is no growth there!
Impact Coaching & Mentoring (ICM) for Leaders 