Chemistry and contracting in coaching
A coaching process is a journey. Finding the right coach is an important step but by no means the first step. Establishing a coaching relationship comes downstream of self reflection and or/ feedback reaching the critical mass necessary to embark on coaching. Once this threshold has been met, and an individual is willing to invest resources including their time and headspace, in coaching, how do they get started?
1- Looking for a coach
Where to look for a coach- and degree of freedom in doing so will depend on the context. If coaching is being navigated via a workplace, some organisations will have a directory of coaches or even a contract with a service provider with a number of coaches on its books. Within these situations, the extent of choice in who to work with will vary.
For those looking for a coach in a more open context, referrals can be a helpful place to start. Because coaches vary in background (relevant industry experience/ psychologically trained/ trained in coaching from a variety of professional backgrounds) accreditation with a coaching body may or may not be relevant - which arguably makes quality control harder.
2- Chemistry
‘Chemistry’ is not a particularly objective term but is used within the coaching sphere to encompass rapport, dynamic and relationship between coach and client. This is important as the dialogue between coach and client is often the bread and butter of the process. For example, sessions will have a significantly different dynamic if led by a coach who tends to work with structured tools rather than more open dialogue.
Rapport needs to be strong enough to enable the client to engage honestly with the process. What makes up ‘chemistry’ is cryptic and may not be tangible but can include a coach’s communication style and the synergy of their own professional background with a client’s.
As the dynamic between coach and client is so important, and ‘chemistry’ is not something that can be assessed on paper it can be helpful to have a brief call or meeting before deciding to engage a coach. This is mainly an opportunity for an individual to get a feeling for how a coach works, and find out a little about them. A brief meeting also allows the coach to do some data gathering on a client’s expectations and whether it is possible to meet them within their repertoire.
If at the end of this meeting either party is concerned the matching is suboptimal, it is best to get back to the drawing board on finding the right coach. Getting the relationship right is a priority.
3- Contracting
If a chemistry conversation is successful, contracting is the next step. Contracting is the process of coach and client reaching an agreement on what to work towards and how to go about this, which may include logistical plans such as number, cadence and duration of sessions. There may be other stakeholders in the coaching process, such as the organisation in a career coaching context. In this case, the organisational agenda may also be on the table in contracting. The formality of the contracting process and role of written agreements will vary depending on context.
Contracting may occur more than once in a coaching cycle, as delving into one challenge can sometimes refocus the lens on another. Moving with a coaching process means being open to reassess the agenda as the picture evolves.