When it comes to coaching, selecting a coach to work with isn’t as simple as many people think it is. In fact, a lot goes on behind the scenes to guarantee that a successful relationship between the coach and coachee can be built.
Still, you’d be surprised at how many people think they select a coach from a pool of coaches before starting with executive coaching, mentoring programmes, one-to-one coaching, or even team coaching.
If you’re looking for a coach – either for yourself or someone within your team – the starting point is having coaching chemistry sessions. But what are they? Who are they for? And what are the benefits?
At The Leadership Coaches, we’re frequently asked numerous questions about our chemistry sessions. In this guide, we share everything you need to know when it comes to understanding coaching chemistry sessions to support you in your search for a credible coach.
What Is a Coaching Chemistry Session?
A coaching chemistry session is an initial one-on-one chat with a selection of leadership coaches. Think of it as an informal online meeting that allows you to get to know the coach and vice versa.
During the coaching chemistry session, you’ll have the chance to ask the coach some questions. They’ll also ask you a few questions to understand your coaching needs and determine whether they’re the right coach for you.
Remember, it’s not an interview, and there’s no wrong or right answer. But it’s best to be honest at all times. Otherwise, you could end up working with the wrong coach, which could prevent you from progressing in the area that you’ve identified you need some support with.
Depending on your circumstances, coaches will usually ask questions including the following:
What are you hoping to achieve through coaching?
What are your goals for coaching?
Where do you see yourself in the future?
What do you expect from the coaching relationship?
What do you expect from me (the coach)?
The coach will also share what they expect from you during coaching. For example, they may share that during the coaching relationship, they expect you to complete any tasks you set yourself and wish to achieve, so they can follow up with you at the next session.
At this stage, they will also share their coaching content with you, which could cover arriving promptly to coaching sessions, giving appropriate notice as agreed in the contract if you’re unable to attend a session, and committing to an agreed number of sessions.
How Do You Select Who Chemistry Sessions Are With?
Like coaching aims to support you and your unique needs, coaching chemistry sessions do too. Although you can select coaches to have chemistry sessions with yourself, most providers, including ourselves, will invite you to have an initial no-obligation conversation with the Director of Coaching or similar.
During this conversation, you’ll be asked a couple of questions that will help determine your needs. Based on your needs, you’ll be matched with a number of coaches to have coaching chemistry sessions with.
For example, if you require coaching to support you in strategic direction, we'll take this into consideration as part of your coach matching. We'll also consider things that help or hinder you, e.g., you might like someone who works direct and keeps to the point or someone to explore things at a slower pace. Of course, all coaches apply techniques which cover both, but we listen to your preferences and find this helps with a successful coach match. Likewise, if you’re looking for a coach specialising in imposter syndrome or confidence, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with coaches with plenty of experience in this.
At The Leadership Coaches, we have a team of 22 credible coaches who are experienced in areas including:
Change management
Communication skills
Resilience
Women's leadership
Emotional Intelligence
Career coaching
Transition
Motivation
Personal impact
Gaining confidence
Future talent
High achievers
Authentic leadership
Developing effective working relationships
Leading through change
Personal development
Introverted leadership
Diverse talent development
Employee engagement
Mindset change
Decision making
Health and well-being
Assertiveness and conflict
Dealing with imposter syndrome
Inclusion and belonging
Stress management
Applying neuroscience to leading
Building mental strength
Strategic planning
Stakeholder management
Navigating office politics
Perimenopause and menopause
How Many Coaches Can Either Myself, My Team, or an Employee Have a Coaching Chemistry Session With?
At The Leadership Coaches, we don’t limit how many coaches you or your people can have a coaching chemistry session with. In fact, you could have a coaching chemistry session with each one of our twenty-two coaches if you wanted.
It’s important to ensure that the chemistry is right for a successful coaching relationship, so if you require sessions with more than a couple of coaches, that’s exactly what you can do.
Once meeting with the coaches virtually, you’ll be able to select which coach you’d prefer to work with. We’ll also ensure the coach thinks the chemistry is right for them. After all, to get the most out of coaching, you and the coach must be fully on board and invested.
The Benefits of Coaching Chemistry Calls
When it comes to understanding coaching chemistry calls, it can be helpful to understand the benefits for several reasons.
Firstly, knowing the benefits can help you or a team member learn the importance of these calls. In addition, by learning the benefits, you can share these with stakeholders who may be reluctant to take advantage of external leadership coaching.
Below, we share just a few benefits of coaching chemistry calls.
Coaching chemistry calls enable the coachee to determine whether a particular coach is right for them.
Chemistry calls help the coach and coachee establish whether the chemistry is right for a trust-based coaching relationship.
During chemistry calls, the coach can learn more about the coachees' needs and ascertain whether they are the right coach.
The coachee can learn how the coach can support and guide them through challenges in their leadership, organisation, or personal life.
Coaching chemistry calls ensure that the coachee or organisation sees a return on investment from coaching.
How Long Does It Take to Find the Right Coach?
We can work with you to find the right coach as quickly or slowly as you wish. If you’d prefer a fast-paced match, we can do this. But if you’d prefer to take your time and meet a few coaches and then reflect, we can also cater to this. It’s all about getting it right for you. Some people will find a coach they want to work with and have a successful coaching chemistry call before commencing coaching within a matter of days. For others, it can take longer.
But with the right support, finding a coach can be a very straightforward process.
Remember, if you have a few coaching chemistry sessions with a number of coaches and the chemistry doesn’t feel right, you can request additional sessions with different coaches.
Contact Us Today
Throughout this blog, we shared a wealth of information to support you in understanding coaching chemistry sessions. But if you have any questions about these sessions or our coaching services, we welcome you to contact us today.
In doing so, we can learn more about your needs and ascertain how best to support you. We’ll also put you in touch with a few of our coaches so you can see whether working with any of them is right for you.
Aside from contacting us directly, you can learn more about our coaching chemistry sessions and our services on our website.
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