NEW COACH BLUEPRINT Program

WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF A COACHING BLOCK

There are 5 steps to serving your client in the best possible way as you come to the end of a coaching block. Let’s check them out.

5 Steps to Consider Towards The End of a Coaching Block

Find out client’s plan before last session

Don’t leave things until the last minute. Start the conversation about what the client wants to do next early. Some coaches worry about broaching the subject early. This might be because they fear that the client will cancel early, or because they don’t want to use ‘coaching time’ to have the conversation, or it may be something else entirely.

Regardless, it does not serve you or your client to leave this conversation to the last minute.

In the second to last session of the present block, ask your client what their plans are. This is as simple as saying, “I notice we are coming to the end of our current block of coaching sessions. Have you had any thoughts about what you would like to do?”

You can then present the options available to the client. If you would like to continue to coach them, you can offer them another block, or you might consider moving onto a monthly retainer model.

Look at what is best for the client’s progress and situation. If they have a very clear goal to work on, then you might consider another package. If they are enjoying the coaching but don’t have a clear goal, they might prefer a monthly commitment over a longer period.

Review Values

Regardless of whether your client is going to continue coaching or not it is a great time to review how they are feeling about their values.

Review the values that they highlighted in Session Two and invite your client to comment on their progress and how they feel about them now.

Demonstrate progress with help

This is also a great time to remind your client of the progress they have made whilst partnering with you. Ask them to describe what has been different to before they hired you, and what they think has contributed to that change.

What do they want to do next

After this review, it is time to ask the client what they plan on doing in terms of continuing or stopping coaching.

I have had clients who have done a complete 180 degree turnaround from stopping coaching to signing up for another 6 months based on the review process, so don’t be afraid to revisit this question.

The purpose this time is to get a clear picture on the client’s next steps so that you can ensure that they get the best from the remaining time you have left together.

If they are choosing to continue, you can treat the rest of the session as a standard SWITCH session.

If they are choosing to stop coaching and work on their own then you can use the rest of the time you have together (the remainder of this session and the final session) to ensure that the client is aware of their future challenges and has the support that they need to continue being successful without your assistance.

Aren’t I talking them out of paying me?

I know that some coaches (and coach mentors) shy away from this approach and will actually try to force the client to stay on. I do not believe that this is an ethical practice and I find that by continuing to champion and support my client to be resourceful for themselves, leaves them having had a great client experience and far more likely to return to coaching in the future.

Sadly I have heard far too many stories from clients who have been taken advantage of at this stage of the process. Please do not let this be you!

A great client experience will result in more referrals.

At the end of the day, we want your clients to have a fabulous experience resulting in powerful personal discovery and a sense of resourcefulness. Focus on delivering that, and the clients will come, they’ll come back, and they will refer others to you.