How do you set your clients coaching homework?

How to set clients coaching homework

by Jen Waller

Clients taking some form of action after a coaching session is an expectation that most coaches and clients have about the process of coaching. Often this action, the coaching homework, has been agreed during the coaching session itself between the coach and the client.

Sometimes this action is suggested directly by the client and on other occasions it is the coach that sets the “homework”.

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

In today’s post I’m going to share some thoughts around this topic. Firstly, I’m going to draw attention to language and specifically the word “homework”. Some clients will be absolutely fine with using this terminology without it having any impact. For others, for whatever reason, you may find that referring to something as “homework” has negative connections and provokes resistance and reluctance towards the task.

You will know your niche and client best so you can decide if you wish to label these tasks with a different label or not use any at all. Purely for the ease of consistency I am going to use the label “homework” for this article. In “real life” coaching I personally usually tend towards using the labels assignment or actions.

As a coach there are usually 3 different ways of working with clients and setting coaching homework.

1) Following a set format for every single client
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 coaching homework B. This can be particularly common if the context that the coaching is occurring within is not bespoke – for example following an online coaching program or in some group coaching situations.

2) 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.

3) A third way is a mix of 1) and 2) above. You may have certain pieces of coaching homework that each and every client will be set and others that you will create which is bespoke just for them.

Perhaps you always set a specific piece of coaching homework between the initial conversation and the first official coaching session. After which all other homework is crafted just for that client.

Or maybe you have collected a series of possible coaching homework exercises that you have at your fingertips depending upon what you feel is appropriate for that client in that stage.

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 coaching homework?

I’ve already mentioned one approach I often use – I ask the client if there’s anything that’s already occurred to them. I do this for several reasons:

1) My approach to coaching allows clients to access their own inner knowledge and intelligence. So it’s entirely possible that they will already have a perfectly crafted action that will be ideally suited for this situation.

2) The chances are that if it’s occurred to them that they will go and take the action anyway. I want to check in and make sure that it’s an action that is in-line with what they are looking to achieve.

This can be particularly relevant if during the coaching conversation it’s become obvious that previously action has been taken based on a limiting belief, faulty piece of logic etc. I want to test and make sure that they are not then making the same “mistake” in a slightly different context

3) I am conscious of avoiding overwhelming clients with actions. The amount will usually vary depending upon the client but as a general rule my clients achieve more when they are not overwhelmed with tasks.

So how do I decide upon the coaching homework to set. If I’m honest my thought process is usually no more complicated than it’s what occurs to me given the session we’ve just completed. I’m also aware that such an answer would have been of little use when I was just starting out so let me offer some more.

Much of what I set as coaching homework is based around what the answers are to certain questions. The answers to those questions aid me to decide what exercise, task etc will be a great fit or to devise something on the spot that is a match.

Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, here are some of the aspects and questions to consider:

What is currently getting in the way of this client getting what they want?

What outcome do you want by setting this coaching 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 the suggested coaching homework?

Some of these questions I will already know the answer to based upon earlier work. Other questions I may ask the client whilst “setting the homework”.

It’s also worth noting at this stage that sometimes the coaching homework is actually not to do something – For example, taking a break from trying to figure something out can be a perfect “homework” in certain scenarios.

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

About Jen Waller

Jen Waller is on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from non-coach to coach and beyond.

As an experienced coach and trainer Jen is happy to utilise all skills at her disposal to assist clients from getting out of their own way and making a difference in the world with their coaching. One of the aspects of her role Jen loves the most is seeing individuals find their voice, grow their confidence and take the next steps. This allows them to make a massive positive impact and difference with their coaching. (For more info about Jen’s coaching click here, including the From non-coach to coach discovery session) Jen has owned and run Coaching Confidence, the coaching blog since 2010.

In her spare time Jen is a volunteer for the UK based charity The Cinnamon Trust. This charity supports elderly and terminally ill pet owners to provide care for their pets. As a volunteer, Jen regularly walks dogs for owners who physically often find that more challenging then they once did. As a pet owner herself, Jen finds it really rewarding to be able to assist an owner stay with an animal that has become part of the family. (Plus it’s a great additional motivator when working from home to get out and get some fresh air and exercise)

Jen also loves theatre and has been known to watch certain popular science fiction films and TV shows!