The average coaching relationship lasts one year. Some coaching relationships are just a few sessions and others continue for several years. For internal coaching programs, in the program manual, provide parameters for the duration of the coaching commitment. Some coaches also offer, as part of the training contract, a certain amount of follow-up after the official training sessions are over. With a committed relationship between client and coach, small changes will become apparent in a week or two, while larger changes may take longer to manifest.
It is essential that this coach has their own supervisor to ensure that they have the necessary professional support and supervision to manage the complexity of long-term executive hiring. It's about defining development goals (whether it's a new skill, behavior, or way of thinking that allows the coach to achieve professional success) and defining the path to achieving those goals. The following post about the duration of coaching relationships with clients is inspired by a conversation held at the School of Coaching Mastery's Water Cooler Forum, for members only. Therefore, it is very often up to the coach to determine if the point of decline in profitability has been reached.
A successful coaching relationship affects the executive receiving the coaching services, as well as their peers, direct reports and superiors. If top management invests and commits to the process, there is no doubt that the experience will be better for everyone than if top management rolls their eyes or thinks that executive coaching is just another management fad. The ultimate long-term goal of an executive coaching relationship is to achieve an executive who performs better and who is a more effective leader, with a team that is more confident and prepared to face challenges with less concern. The Water Cooler Forum is one of the “hidden benefits” of being a member of the School of Coaching Mastery's paid coach training programs.
Its goal is to ensure that the relationship matures and depends from year to year, and that the coach is prepared and assimilated to the leader's way of thinking and business culture to quickly support them when challenges arise. The reality of everyday life means that some coaching sessions last longer than scheduled and others not as long. Only clients who have some experience in coaching will fully appreciate that it may already be enough in a given session. I also offer mentoring advice for coaches, including working toward certification, business development, and personal development.
