THE BIG IDEA
Working Agreements are the first step after a Coaching Opportunity. A Working Agreement can be as simple as “I have 20 minutes available. What would you like to get out of the conversation?”
The purpose of the Working Agreement is to establish the coaching partnership by building confidence and trust. The components of a Working Agreement are Goal, Purpose/Context, Process/Role Agreements and Vision.
- For the coachee, this helps her/him take ownership of the process.
- For the coach, this helps truly support the other’s development and learning
Working Agreements are there to help both parties understand the expectations of the coaching relationship. It’s important to be direct and clear.
TRY THESE TALKING POINTS
Say things like, “What would you like to walk away with?”
Define goals clearly with the coachee. For example: “You want to be more compassionate”
Give a clear WHY for the relationship: “You want to do this to improve patient care.”
Once these are established, define coach and coachee roles clearly. For example: “You will keep a journal of your patients and how you help them. I will check in with you once a week.”
Finally, help them see accomplishment with questions like, “What does it look like when this goal is accomplished? What would people be saying or doing?”
