Coaching Techniques: Contracting

Contracting can be an effective way of ensuring that coaching feedback gets acted upon.  Working with the coachee, complete a set of questions similar to the template below. Then meet at regular intervals to ensure that progress in being made.

The Coaching Contract

Issue or Opportunity:
Describe the specific issue or opportunity being addressed.

Desired State: 
What will be different when you have successfully resolved the issue or taken advantage of the opportunity?

Goals and Deadlines: 
List the goals that must be attained for the change to have occurred.  Be sure to list deadlines for each goal.

First Steps: 
List the actions you will take immediately to being making the change.

Follow Up: 
Select dates and times for following up to ensure progress.

Once used to bolster troubled staffers, coaching now is part of the standard leadership development training for elite executives and talented up-and-comers at IBM, Motorola, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and Hewlett Packard.  ~CNN.com