While there are many variations, leadership coaching usually involves a series of steps:

• Intake (professional history review, pre-work, review of coaching process, meet-n-greet)
• Administration of Assessment of Choice
• Coach Interviews Jointly Selected Colleagues of Coachee
• Goal Setting, Based on Insights Gained from Data Gathering
• Development Planning
• Making Progress on Development Plan & Accountability Checks
• Periodic Check-in with Manager and/or Key Stakeholders
• Post-mortem Review of Progress Against Goals, ROI, and Reflections on the Experience Overall

The coaching engagement is over when the development goal(s) is achieved, or when the coach and/or coachee decides that it should stop. The typical duration of a coaching engagement is seven to 12 months.

Peer Coaching Groups, which can be virtual or in-person, are commonly comprised of 4-8 individuals per group. The group experience is approximately 90 minutes per meeting and is spread out over a defined period, typically 6-12 months.

Each coaching group session is facilitated by a certified leadership coach. While there are many variations, the coaching group process usually involves:

• Intake (with coach only) [professional history review, pre-work, review of peer coaching group process, identification of initial coaching goals]
• Kick-off Session (group meet-n-greet, reminder of coaching group process, establishing group norms, and start first round of peer coaching)
• Ongoing Group Coaching Sessions (usually bi-monthly or monthly)
• Official Close of Coaching Group Engagement (post-mortem review of progress against goals, ROI review, reflections on the overall coaching group experience, and check-in with manager)

Each round of group coaching has a defined process which includes:
–  a reminder of the group norms
–  a review of everyone’s coaching goals for the day
–  getting peer coaching during your time slot
–  identification of actions you will take before the next coaching group                 session
–  session closing activities

The success of Peer Coaching Groups heavily depends on the attendance, commitment, and active participation of all members in the group.

The power of manager-to-manager peer coaching is undeniable and  transformational.

In an article in HBR, Gartner defines 4 areas of impact for manager-to-manager coaching:

1. It provides managers with opportunities to practice — and, crucially, room to make mistakes — so they can learn how to lead with empathy.
2. It creates a consistent and readily available place for managers to troubleshoot current managerial challenges.
3. It provides a psychologically safe place for managers to discuss the well-being of their teams and themselves, while committing to action.
4. It connects managers and breaks down silos, helping them feel less isolated.

Let SDL help establish a peer coaching program with you!

Choosing the right coaching partner is a very intimate, personal decision, and SDL will never speak negatively about another company.

However, whether you choose us or another provider, we want to supply you with a few tips to ensure you increase your chances for coaching success:

• Ensure your coaching vendor partner has a variety of coaches on their team.  Great chemistry is critical and your coachees should have a choice of options to consider.
• Ensure your coachee has a fierce desire to learn and grow.  Coaching should never be forced on an individual, even if they need it.  Without commitment and buy-in, coaching will be a frustrating experience for all involved, with little to no return on investment.
• Ensure your company has a true desire to retain and develop the coached individual.  If the real agenda is to push the individual out of the company, opt for performance management vs coaching.
• Know that it is common for the focus of coaching engagements to shift over time.  An initial development goal may be identified, but as enlightenment occurs, even more critical goals are commonly flushed out.
• Know that coaching is very different from therapy.  Coaching focuses on the present and future.  Therapy focuses on dealing with past events and mental health disorders.  Be sure to choose the right professional for the need.
• Ensure your coach of choice:
  • has experience coaching in a similar setting
  • has a clear methodology and supporting tools
  • has a quality client list
  • has the ability to measure ROI
  • has a coaching certification or extensive successful coaching experiences
  • has administration and operations support on staff

Coaching fees are usually quoted as a package of coaching sessions or as part of a larger scale coaching project within an organization.  However, for budgeting purposes, coaching sessions start at $350/hour.  Contact us for a more specific quote for your needs.

Once a coaching contract or coaching project contract is signed, payments may be made by:

1. Credit Card: Both corporate and personal credit cards accepted.
2. Purchase Order/Invoice: SDL will send an invoice directly to you or your company. If a purchase order or registration in your company’s vendor system is required, please contact us at 770-384-1103 or via email.