One of the requests for topics that people wanted to read more about that I have received recently was about follow up between coaching sessions. So today’s coaching post will share some of my thoughts to answer this request.

Personally, I believe that when a coaching client hires me as their coach it isn’t just about what happens during the appointed time of our coaching session.

This means that I have built into my coaching packages the ability to provide follow up and assistance as and when it’s wanted. I know that this may concern some coaches from a time management perspective.

Personally, this is not something that worries me, probably because I’ve chosen to include those as a solution and as I offer coaching packages rather than thinking of charging by the hour.

I give all my clients various different means to contact me in their welcome pack, including guidance about which is usually the quickest method and how quickly I will respond. This includes priority email response if they wish to contact me between sessions with questions to share successes etc.

When a client commits to their action assignments (the action they will take before the next session) it’s not unknown for me to ask if there is anyway I can assist to make those tasks easier.

Note that I usually leave the responsibility with the client to request but offer the invitation for them to use, as they want.

Why do I say usually? Well, sometimes I suggest action assignments that I have designed with a specific purpose in mind and that may involve following up with me before our next session.

Let me list some examples of what I think of as follow up and why it may be used. The reason’s I mention will not be the only ones, so if you think one of the following would be beneficial for one of your clients don’t eliminate it if it doesn’t fall into my reason why!

Sometimes following up may involve a daily email updating the action taken with a requested email nudge from me if it’s not sent. This isn’t for every client or every occasion but can assist if someone is looking to include something into a routine or just become more comfortable doing.

Other occasions may include a commitment to sending me a completed piece of work. Again, not for every client or situation but for some having that extra accountability can make it easier for them to keep their focus.

I do offer a coaching package that has coaching sessions every 2 weeks instead of every week – some clients like to have a reminder email of their action assignments and commitments sent to them after 1 week.

Some coaches, myself included, suggest clients complete a coaching preparation form before a scheduled coaching session. I find that this allows a client to reflect upon the time since our last session. It also allows them to identify what they want to get from our next session. It’s not at all unknown for the act of completing the preparation in advance to act as a reminder to finish anything they had committed to during the last session but not yet completed.

There are also other electronic means of following up on coaching. Some online coaching tools provide the coach with the option of providing feedback on the answers a client enters.

What, if any, other examples of follow up in coaching do you use? Feel free to comment below.