A question I see and hear from time to time is a variation of the question – how do you know what homework to set your clients?

For the ease of consistency I am going to use the label homework through this piece but will also add that for some clients and niches such a label will potentially provoke resistance and negative connotations. In such an instance you could work on that negative reaction – or just use a different label and avoid the issue all together!

As far as I can establish there are three different ways of working with clients and setting homework.

There are some coaches who follow the same process for each and every single one of their clients. They work on a principle that if it is session 2 then their client gets set homework B.

Another way of working is to look at where each individual client is, what they are working on, and set a bespoke piece of homework just for that individual.

A third way is a mix of the above, having certain pieces of homework that each and every client will be set and others that you will create that is bespoke for them.

I’m sure that if you were to think about each approach you could see positive and negative points for each. You may already be aware of points from a marketing perspective, others from a customer service viewpoint etc. As always, my own personal opinion, is that if whichever approach that you are using works for you and your clients than that is great!

But regardless of which approach you are using how do you create a piece of homework? Here are just some of the questions you may want to consider:

• What is currently getting in the way of this client getting what they want?
• What outcome do you want by setting this homework? How will you know that outcome has been achieved?
• What would move your client a step closer to what they want?
• What’s going to make the biggest difference for your client?
• What’s the easiest way for that outcome to be achieved?
• What’s the most fun way to work towards that outcome?
• What is going to appeal most to your client?
• How willing is your client to do suggested homework?

I invite you to pay attention to the questions you consider next time you set a client homework. Feel free to share more questions and comment below…