The coaching path: guiding principlesActivities, not ‘tasks’Stage one – establish conversationLet’s assume familiarityFacilitation, navigationStage two – identify topic and goalGet clarity, rather than detailVague leads to driftingRemember the person within the processWhen you decide you need a more specific goal upfrontThe goal for the session is not the same as the goal for the situationStage three – surface understanding and insightRevisit the factsBuild an understandingKeep building informationSummaries alleviate pressure and enable reflectionA summary for you and meDevelop a sense of possibilityRegain a feeling of influenceStage four – shape agreements and conclusionsPulling the conversation togetherRefine ideasAgreements and actionsSummarize and agreePrecision in languageAvoid embedding negative emotionsDrilling for detailed actionsStage five – completion/closeThe coaching path: make the process your ownChapter summary: Coaching conversations: the coaching path