Basic Coaching
Learn and Practice the Skills of the Craft
DTMOPP

Program Benefits

Learn the basics in a whole new way!
Working with the basics is valuable for new and experienced coaches. In this 15-hour program you will learn the fundamentals of coaching ethics (as defined by the International Coach Federation) in a group dialogue about challenging real life situations. You will also learn and practice using the basic coaching skills and essential communication skills. These skills will establish your foundation as a practicing coach.

Coaching Ethics

Ethics can often be a rather dry topic. However they will come to life through a lively look at real life, often ethically challenging situations.

Topic 1: Coaching Ethics in real life situations.

In this class we will review the Ethics and Standards for the coaching profession as defined by the International Coach Federation. And then we will explore them by discussing a variety of real situations where ethics come into play.

We will also discuss important distinctions between coaching and other helping professions such as Psychotherapy, Counseling and Consulting; including how and when to refer a coaching client to another professional.

Topic 2: Setting professional boundaries

One of the things that will define you as a coach is the professional boundaries that you set for yourself. During this one-hour session, you'll learn the boundaries to design, and how to convey them to clients, both in advance and when they are attempting to cross them. Coaches benefit by crafting theirs to fit for their personality, preferences and market niches.

Topic 3: Policies & Procedures

Each coach has unique sensibilities around rules, standards and boundaries and systems. Your policies are up to you but must address: scheduling and re-scheduling, cancellations and make-up sessions, contact outside of the coaching session, payment options (if applicable), topic boundaries, written communications and requests and promises.

Coaching Skills

To be a master craftsperson you must know and practice the basic skills. Using our DTMOPP learning method, you will learn the 9 basic skills through observation and practice. This is important because your ability to demonstrate these skills is what will ultimately determine your certification.

• The essence of skill
• Establishing trust & intimacy with the client
• Coaching presence
• Active listening
• Powerful questioning
• Direct communication
• Creating awareness
• Designing actions
• Planning & Goal setting
• Managing progress & accountability

Topic 4: The essence of skill

Skills are the basic elements of a craft. They are the building blocks upon with which a craft is practiced and mastered

Topic 5: Establishing trust & intimacy with the client

In this Topic we will discuss the ICF core competencies required to cocreate the coach - coachee relationship. First we will explore the nature of trust and intimacy in the coaching relationship; without it, coaching is not possible. This requires that the coach maintain a high level of personal integrity and demonstrate a deep concern for the coachee.

Topic 6: Coaching presence

Establishing and maintaining coaching presence is a unique and powerful skill. The coach must be able to read the situation moment to moment to provide the coachee with just what is needed.

Topic 7: Active listening / Powerful questioning

In this Topicwe will discuss two of the ICF core competencies required to communicate effectively: active listening and powerful questioning. Active listening is the most fundamental and essential of coaching skills. Without it coaching is not possible. To listen in this way requires a relaxed attentiveness to what is said, what is said “between the lines” AND what is NOT said. It is also a way of listening that is open to new directions AND ready to respond.

Topic 8: Powerful questioning

Powerful question are the life blood of the coaching process. Some questions are simply curious, others are deep and penetrating. It is questions that create the expanded awareness that leads to action.

Topic 9: Direct communication

In this Topicwe will discuss the process of direct communication. Direct communication comes in many forms: Clear direction in the form of objectives and requests for action; Straight questions that get right to the point; Clear and articulate feedback of what the coachee is saying and doing. Direct communication is also highly respectful of the coachee and builds trust and credibility.

Topic 10: Creating awareness/ Designing actions

In this topic we will explore two of the core competencies that contribute to facilitating learning and results: creating awareness and designing actions. Creating awareness is about helping the coachee “see” more of what is happening within them (thoughts and feelings) and around them (in the environment). Often challenging the coachee assumptions is the first step. Seeing more and more clearly helps the coachee make better decisions and respond more fully to any situation. Creating awareness is truly what makes coaching a unique service.

Topic 11: Designing actions

Designing actions is the gateway to results and achievement. The key is to design actions that take into account the coachee skills and abilities as well as the current strategy.

Topic 12: Planning & Goal setting

In this topic we will explore two of the core competencies that contribute to facilitating learning and results: planning and goal setting and managing progress and accountability. Once the major objectives are identified the coach and coachee work together to further define specific short term goals with target dates. The coach must help the coachee choose goals from the often overwhelming number of options available. Then the actions that have been designed must be organized into coherent plans that take into account all areas of the coachee life and work.

Topic 13: Managing progress & accountability

Establishing an effective accountability structure between the coach and coachee is often the one element that can make or break the relationship. The Coachee must hold the Coach – and promises made to the coach – in high regard. The Coach must maintain attention on actions and track progress especially when the coachee gets sidetracked by competing commitments.