Roles and responsibilities of coaches and coachees

The key roles and responsibilities of a coach include:

• Setting the right atmosphere for a coaching conversation
• Building rapport and trust – making the coachee feel comfortable and able to speak openly
• Helping the coachee work out what they want to achieve and why
• Helping them work out how they are going to achieve their goals
• Giving them objective feedback about how they are progressing (in the context of line manager coaching – this may not always be possible or desirable in externally resourced coaching)
• Helping them gather and manage their own feedback
• Giving them support and encouragement when they need it
• Recognising achievements
• Reviewing the quality of the coaching relationship from time to time

The role of the coachee is to seize the opportunity to learn. Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying and/or accepting the need for personal change
• Discussing, and agreeing what they want to achieve and why
• Committing to change
• Gathering and reflecting on feedback from others
• Being open and honest with the coach (and self) about their thoughts and their progress
• Experimenting to learn
• Keeping a learning log to track their progress
• Taking time between coaching sessions to reflect on their learning
• Reviewing the quality of the coaching relationship from time to time©

  David Clutterbuck. All rights reserved