ABSTRACT
Effective coaching depends on a collaborative relationship between the coach and the coachee. Each has responsibilities to the other. And each will have preferred ways of working. Stober and Grant therefore argue that coach and coachee should 'spend some discussing the nature of their relationship, and that they [should] jointly design the dynamics of their working alliance'. This process is sometimes known as contracting. Students who are new to coaching may want guidance or advice. Before any coaching begins, students need to be disabused of the idea that coaching is 'like counselling'. For coaching to work, students need to be honest. During the contracting phase, the coach should therefore point out that in normal circumstances what she says in coaching will not be shared with others. As far as possible, the contracting process should reflect the collaborative nature of coaching. The contracting phase is the student's opportunity to ask questions about coaching.
