Reflecting on the coaching or mentoring session

A characteristic of effective coaches and mentors is their willingness to take time after a session to reflect on what they can learn from it. The reflective process helps them to:

  •  Identify more clearly how and where they helped (or hindered) the progress of the learner’s thinking
  •  Capture good ideas, phrases and questions, which they might use again
  •  Identify any issues, which they may wish to take for supervision
  •  Consider whether they may need to recontract the relationship and/or how they could approach the next session with that client
  •  Identify any gaps in their own competence or confidence, which they may need to address It is useful, with the learner’s permission, to record occasional sessions and to transcribe the conversation.

Among the advantages:

  •  It shows clearly who was doing the talking
  •  It reveals patterns of language use, which may not be obvious in the flow of verbal conversation – for example, particular words or phrases from the learner, or use of directive questions by the coach/ mentor
  •  It shows what themes emerged, but did not get followed through – and may therefore be useful to introduce next session
  •  It indicates where the conversation loses focus or direction (See: Moments of disconnect)
  •  It allows for a more considered level of reflection and learning

A useful checklist of what to reflect on includes:

  •  How well prepared was I for the session? (Both practically and emotionally)
  •  What did I feel during the session? Did those feelings arise from within me or were they a projection from the client?
  •  How attentive was I to signals outside the coaching / mentoring conversation? (For example, body language.)
  •  What questions and comments worked well in helping the learner’s thinking or building their motivation? What didn’t? Is there a pattern here?
  •  How did this session compare with my ideal of myself as a coach/ mentor?
  •  What do I think the client gained from the session?
  • How well did I:
    • Build and maintain rapport?
    • Challenge the learner’s thinking?
    • Maintain the focus of the conversation?
    • Stick to the client’s agenda?
    • Exercise my duty of care?
    • Review the conversation?

© David Clutterbuck. All rights reserved