Coaching Works
Compiled by Kevin Watson
Coaching Works Compiled and designed by Kevin Watson Images from stock.xchng, the leading FREE stock photo website. Standard restrictions apply. Š 2012 My Own Coach Ltd
Introduction Welcome to Coaching Works, a collection of responses to the question: "As a coach, you know when coaching works when..." Around six months ago, I posted this question on various coaching & training forums across the Internet. The result was staggering and I was bowled over by the quantity and quality of the replies. As a way of keeping the question alive, I decided to gather the responses into this eBook. So here it is! Recognition to all of those wonderful coaches around the world who took the time to post a response and the inspiration they provide. I hope you have fun, sharing the views and thoughts of this group of truly amazing people. Enjoy!
...the objectives of the coaching assignment have been (objectively) achieved (in a way that builds the capability of the person/people being coached)". Is there any other 'real' measure of success? While feeling good, growing personally and getting referrals etc. are good reasons to be a coach, to me they are only the 'fringe benefits' and not the real measures of success. As coaches we must deliver outcomes for our clients. This focus on objectives also ensures I get the measures clarified at the start of each assignment. How will the client (whoever he/she/it is) measure success of this assignment and am I prepared to accept these measures as being achievable within a coaching frame? Warwick Cavell
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...your client thanks you, with a hug, and tells you that they now feel free! Carol Leek
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...a coachee 'sees' something new, starts to develop new ways of thinking, begins to make changes to the way they do things. Ro Lavender
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...any one or all of the following is true: the goal co-created during the inaugural coaching session has been achieved people who work with the coachee provide feedback stating that they've observed improvements made by the coachee the coachee scores better in the same performance / behavioural assessment exercise prior to coaching Murphy Lum
...the coachee takes ownership of the process and starts generating new solutions for themselves. Funmi Johnson
...the coachee feels empowered and is confident to take action on his own. Pankaj Dixit
...your client is able to effectively handle, on his or her own, whatever it was that led to coaching in the first place and feel confident about doing so. Charlotte Foust
Coaching is about change and you know coaching works when change happens. Phyllis Reardon
...a client commits to an activity and then tells you at the next session that they did what they said they would do! Sue Taylor
I can think of lots of answers but this one resonates for me: ....your client successfully tackles (and sticks with) an action that would have taken courage or even eluded them altogether without the input of a great coach. Liz Bacon
...you receive comments such as: “How do you do that, I think I’ve got everything sorted yet you are still able to get items out of me I never knew I knew!” With regards teams, when you see the initial body language of individuals not wanting to join in or associate themselves with other members / teams but in the end, all are working in a harmony that didn’t exist prior to coaching! Neil Nutburn
...the light bulbs come on. A new awareness has been formed. Graham Williams
...the client shows heightened self awareness. They observe and comment on their own thinking with some degree of detachment. They become their own change agent. Jenny Devine
...clients share with me positive feedback they are getting from others or in some cases, when they tell me about insights or moments they were able to observe / catch themselves... Eleonora Golcher-Odio
Some would say that we should work ourselves out of a job. Most of my clients stay a year, more or less. I have two that have been with me for 13 years, and they are still coming back for more. What can I say, either I am good, or really bad. Charles
...the person being coached leaves thinking and feeling more resourceful than when the coaching started – the session evaluation ...they can do, with a higher degree of skill, what they were not able to do previously – the outcome evaluation Helga Davies
This is like asking how do you know if you're pleasing your woman or if your customers are happy with your services or product or if a pastor is impacting his congregation...you will definitely know when your coaching works or is working. Emmy Nwachukwu:
Definitely the light going in their eyes and the energy shifting, excitement in the voice - I love this job! Those moments make it the best job in the world! Margaret Burnside
...there is visible evidence of better use of pre-existing knowledge and skills. Vincent McGregor
I call it the light bulb effect; it is when the coachee gets a new insight that changes his or her behaviour in a positive way and opens new opportunities for that person. Elizabeth N. Miles
...you see the light go on in someone's expression and capture the "aha." Elizabeth Cronin
...the client says: "Why didn't I think of this much earlier" Rima Nouri
...my clients tell me it has literally or in the actions they decide to take or as mentioned earlier there is an aha moment Anne Pink
As a coach, you know when coaching works when:  the coachee get some new insights about themselves and act  other people notice a shift in behaviour Marese Donkers-Dijken
I could go all flowery but I agree with Marese...as a coach, you know when coaching works when shift happens... John Graham
Coaching works when the client has achieved profound aha moments and his actions are different than the ones he had before the session / awakening to produce measurable results. 
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awareness > action, new habits > change > measurable results all this in a fun process where he or she is autonomous and can use these same tools to resolve other similar issues Patricia Gozlan
...you see in their face that moment of clarity, from which they make the decision to do things differently than they were doing them before... John Kettley
My clients select their metrics for success when we "design" how the coaching will be conducted. They declare when they've moved forward. We celebrate their progress in between the start and the results. Michelle Cubas
You know your coaching has been effective when you see a rise in the calibre of problems or challenges your client is sharing with you. Jim Johnstone
COACHING CREATES CHANGE WHEN CLIENTS MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR GOALS. LEADERSHIP IS LOVE IN ACTION, AS NEW AWARENESS CREATES CLARITY, LEADERS TAKE ACTION TO CREATE REAL WORLD RESULTS. AWARENESS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH, EMPOWERED ACTION IS HOW RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED. KATHLEEN
...when you can identify with their new found energies to move forward David
...when the client has a renewed awareness and they begin coaching themselves Randy
...when there is recognition of benefit by the "sponsor" for their organisation...amongst other things Chris
...you feel it through your own growth and experience (in order to do this work we must be doing this work) and you notice growth & development in others, through their thoughts, feelings, choices, actions and way they are in any given moment! Stephanie Mount
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...at the next session, the client has actually done what they said they would do, and sometimes exceeded what they had hoped to achieve. Often clients can be carried away by the moment and appear to have had (or even actually had) a "light bulb" moment, but this does not always translate into action. Diane Hope
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For me, coaching works when you have created an impact with your client and that he / she has changed for the better. Avian Morales
...the client begins to realise their true potential and starts to understand what has been holding them back. Diane Clarke
The typical signs are those light bulb moments, as well as the accomplishment of steps and goals that initially the client thought they weren't capable of achieving. Anna Golawski
...the client responds to, "What have you gotten out of this coaching?" It is the client's perspective that counts. I ask this at the conclusion of most coaching calls, as a means of having the client summarising and noticing for themselves. Also, as part of the concluding session, this is more of a review of the coaching journey and what has been accomplished – both intentionally and what surprises came up along the way. Karen Castellon
...you get the ahh! ahh! moment or the ummmmmmm I get it moment!! I had one client who would always get angry before she went into meetings; I suggested she reframed the question and put an elastic band on her wrist and every time she felt the angry.. just pull on that band...it worked!! Think we call it anchoring... Easton Wilson - Assoc CIPD
...clients have made sustained change allowing them to reach their goals. Greg
Renewed focus on their part coupled with a sense of ownership to get on and do whatever it is they have decided to do. Chris
1. A Coach does not measure her success by the client achieving a 'goal' 2. A Coach measures success in the manner in which a 'goal' and a 'state of being 'is achieved ........because 3. A Coach is primarily there to understand the specific needs of a client and determine a 'method', 'system', 'process' or technique the client does not yet possess (or is unskilled in implementing) to achieve a 'goal' and probably a 'state' of continuous being 4. Coaching has worked when the client can 'construct' their way to the goal using the 'method' you taught and can 'deconstruct' back to a point if the goal has not been achieved 5. A Coach is the 'method' teacher - not the inspiration, or the guru, or the icon 6. A great Coach is barely visible and she is happy to remain so..... 7. A great Coach visits once to teach ...... and many times to remind Jacques Marais
...my client tells me (1) – what has changed for them and / or (2) – that they have achieved their goals. For me this goes way beyond "aha" moments or any progress I can notice and it is probably related to the fact that I am always surprised by my clients' response at the last session to the question "what has changed for you after this coaching": what was important to them often was not necessarily to me, and "aha" moments I may have witnessed are hardly ever mentioned. I think it is essential for me to bear in mind that what's important to me in my coaching has little to do with what's important for my client. If nothing has really changed for my client, what's the point in any "aha" moment...? I know I may sound a bit provocative, But my primary goal in coaching is not to feel satisfied by my "hidden project" for my client. Coaching success is not necessarily gauged by my own level of satisfaction...food for thought. Laurence Rouquès
From my perspective there are a number of questions you need to ask: - has the coachee reached clarity and are they willing and able to do something differently as a result of the coaching session? - on review have they put into action that which they discovered/ learned from the coaching session - if not, why not and what stopped them - if yes, then what was the result (you may be able to attach hard metrics here depending on the coaching situation - in my experience this is really difficult as there are so many variables but if you can, then great.) - are they happy with the way things are now, if not what else needs to change Only once the evaluation process has been entered into can you judge whether the coaching has worked - has anything changed as a result of the coaching? Helen Littlewood
For me coaching is something that is measurable by results but also in personal growth such as confidence, overcoming fear etc. I use a rating index before and after for my clients. Wendy Howard
Coaching, as we all know, is there to help an Employee or "Coachee": a) embed a newly acquired behaviour b) apply it in their every-day Role c) experience some change / some new results d) and many more... Therefore, if the Coachee has changed in their attitude, if their behaviour has grown to incorporate that newly learnt behaviour / skill then this is one of the ways to know that Coaching is working. Depending on what this Employee / Coachee does, in other words whether they work, say in Sales or Operations for example - both of which are departments that utilise 'hard-metrics' to measure success, then Coaching provides a 'hard-metrics' value. Value that can be quantified and codified... If the Employee works in the Management or Leadership part of an Organisation then it is a bit more complicated to prove value, however value can still be proven.... Lefteris Kanavas
As a Clean Facilitator my calibration of whether it's working or not is when the client is so involved in their own process and their own information that he is no longer looking at me, he is able to answer "clean questions" readily, I am asking less questions as information is coming to the client from his own thinking, long pauses... This article by Penny Tompkins and James Lawley " Calibrating whether what you are doing is working or not" has some useful questions and insights if you coach/ facilitate with a clean approach...and even if you don't. Here's the link: Calibrating whether what you are doing is working – or not.
Angela Watson
Coaching works when the client shows real change in behaviour. Ex. "impulse control": total change; measurable and durable. In addition I give full guarantee of complete reimbursement (for ALL the sessions) if the Client is NOT satisfied without asking any question. This way I know the client is fully satisfied which is evidence that "coaching works"! So far, I have had occasions to witness exceptional results...This makes me trust that coaching is probably the most efficient technique to help people. Everyone needs a coach... Samir
...the client claims their power and your intuition confirms it by sending you goose bumps! Sandra
My take on how coaching works for the client, is if they are better than before and are pursing being their best. Charles
This is very interesting, because we don't always see the results that are bubbling up at the time. Some of my clients credit me with things that took place after we ended our coaching. I guess I agree with Deborah defined by the client. Farrell
My short answer as a coach can be said "I don't look good until you look good" i.e. they accomplish THEIR goals. Jim
...the client says something along the lines of "Wow, I should of thought of that!" or "That makes sense to me." Lee
...the client comes back to you again & again. Raj
...both the coach and the client feel empowered. Bonnie
Coaching is 'training" One may have many statements to what one may believe it is. However small, if one is open to be trained, coaching has already started working. A good team more than often require a good Coach. Our being - mind, emotions and body - is to be 'employed' so that we may reach our highest possible state of excellence. If one has already begun working, action and movement comes from our mental faculty and attribute. The required willingness at 'work'. Alwyn
...you see the commitment and light in their eyes and they walk away and implement all that they have said they would implement to make sustainable changes in their lives. Then we see the amazing results...and celebrate!! Bianca
You can hear it in their voice. It's more than the results on the paper - it's a charge - kind of a wow! thing. Coaching is really working when it works better than was initially imagined, and better than can be rationally explained. The best outcomes are - well simply amazing! Ed
...your client feels satisfied and liberated that they have accomplished their goals that their vision statement has become more of a reality, that whatever matters to them has been validated and addressed. Whatever was important to them that they feel has been accomplished says to me that coaching "works". When a client says, "thank you for truly hearing me and truly listening to what was important" validates that we are on the right track to a healthy and balanced life. Defined by the client :-) Deborah
...the outcomes you agree have been met and the client has exceeded their expectation of themselves. Alan B C
...clients step over their fears grab hold of what they want and become who they want to be. Sarah
...the client gets the results he wanted! Dr med Robert
...results. Patrick
For my clients, results can be had on different levels. Sometimes gaining a sense of reality is a great result. Building the confidence they need for their particular challenge is even better yet. Or using coaching methodology to make ongoing positive change can be the best of all. Patrick
The coach doesn't win the game, the players do. If they do their best that is all a coach can hope for. No one does better than his best; therefore it is beholden on us to encourage that kind of response. Charles
...my client has come to the conclusion that they are good. Sometimes when I hear that, I think...maybe just a bit more. However, as a coach I realise it's not my agenda but my clients. I tell them, "Wonderful!" We both leave feeling complete. Suzanne
...you are referred by them or their hierarchy; I guess that would be a fair guide. However, a couple of years ago I was coaching a director of a company who was at an impasse and he decided during the coaching that he knew what he didn't want, but not what he wanted. What he didn't want was to work for his present company - who incidentally had suggested the coaching for him. The coaching contract was set up with him and his MD - who was not happy that he left the company after the investment they had made in the coaching for and with him. The MD didn't terminate the coaching contract, well at least his part of the triangle, and I heard no more from him - although I tried to at least facilitate an exit interview with the coachee, which the company didn't do. I have recently been contacted by the same company to coach another director of the company - I met the MD again, who said that they were delighted with the outcome of the last coaching that they had decided to ask me to intervene again - if I agreed. So, I guess that results are often seen when people have the time to take a step back and reflect on situations - coaching is rarely an "instant gratification" process - it is just that - a process, which is sometimes long. But if you get referred again, then you may be able to say that, this shows when coaching works - I guess. Active
It is fascinating that everybody has a valid point. But indeed, what is important to them is not necessarily important for the "coach" Aha moments are good if they are being implemented. Dineke Kleyn
As I have reflected on these things, I was reminded of the following that I use in engaging a client: 1) Help them to discover what they REALLY want, right now 2) Translate the above goals into a Single Daily Action, or similar, so that every day they are advancing 3) Listen, evoke and question. Once the client feels totally heard--and has said what they really mean, THEN share what you see/feel 4) Make requests. Ask them to do things that they would likely NOT have asked themselves to do 5) Educate them. Show them how to do something, share techniques, share wisdom, share solutions 6) Increase their awareness which will increase their expectations about themselves and life itself 7) Be a walking, talking, real-life model/example of what you're coaching other to do 8) Offer unconditional support, 100% of the time, regardless. Be a safe space, even as you challenge them 9) Give the client what they need, IMMEDIATELY, whether it's information, support, love, answers or even the right questions 10) Enjoy them. When you like them and enjoy the relationship, clients do better, often much better. I am not sure where I got this, but I have used it for years. Charles
...when my client says: "wait-how did you know to ask me about that?" Wendy
...when I feel good about it :-) Araya Khestong
...when you can feel the weight lifting Irial
...when you get referrals Dineke Kleyn
...my clients move on to new and bigger challenges and then come back for more coaching because they realize the benefit. Barb Zeigler, MBA
...it energises, opens up new possibilities, brings insight, creates actions, and makes a difference. Janet Stevenson
...when the coachee, becomes self aware, changes, grows and learns. Phyllis Reardon
Clients come to me because they have goals they want to reach. Their goals can be anything such as finding work, stop being addicted to drugs, sex, food or alcohol or just want to get rid of their emotional problems. Whatever they want to reach (to accomplish) I coach them to their goals. When they reached their goals my work as a coach is done. That’s how I know if my coaching works. How about you Kevin? How do you complete this simple sentence: "As a coach, you know when coaching works when....." Araya Khestong
I guess I would answer the question "As a coach, you know when coaching works when....." twofold: -
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the person shows some physical sign, maybe a smile, sigh or simply a shrug of the shoulders when he or she comes back from a trip into memory or imagination; in that very special moment the question you asked or the silence you held shows it has landed in very obvious ways. there is the moment, sometimes a long time after the coaching has been completed, when you hear about the changes that have been made. Kevin
About the Author Kevin Watson supports personal, team and organisational development by pushing beyond those self imposed boundaries and inspiring a call to action, helping them become stronger and measurably more successful. His professional experience spans over 30 years in business & retail, most notably as part of the senior team at Selfridges responsible for the transformation from the tired old department store in the nineties to the shopping experience it is today. He is an accredited coach with the CIPD and Oxford School of Coaching & Mentoring and Master Practitioner in NLP.
Coaching Works Compiled by Kevin Watson http://www.myown-coach.co.uk Š 2012 My Own Coach Ltd