Executive Coaching - A Guide For The HR Professional.pdf

What Are the Steps in the Coaching Process? 45
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in the coaching process, such as the supervisor, the HR manager,
or others, the coach can discuss with the client which information
is shared and which information is kept confidential. Ideally, during
the contracting phase, a meeting of the coach, the client, the
boss, and the HR professional has occurred in which issues of confidentiality
have been discussed. Who does the reporting? How
much write-up is needed? It makes sense to share information
about goals and progress, but not the contents of coach-client
discussions.
The other possibility is to encourage the client to inform other
stakeholders about his or her developmental process. This can
either be done in the presence of the coach or in private. In any
case, the coach and the client must reach a joint agreement that
leaves them both in their comfort zones and sets a solid basis for
a trusting relationship. By reaching an agreement about confidentiality
in the first place, most conflicts of interest can be
avoided.
2. Initial Goal Setting
A first draft of goals—What is to be accomplished by the coaching?—
should be part of the contracting step. It may look like a simple thing
to do, but it is not.
• Client, coach, HR professional, and boss all may wish
to see somewhat different outcomes. These expectations
have to be articulated and conflicts explored and
resolved.
• As the coaching process evolves, what is considered to
be a realistic and desired goal may change.
• There may be interim goals as well as long-term goals.
• There may be “business” and also “personal” goals, and
they may overlap and impact each other.