Do you have a coaching skills checklist that can help you be more effective in your practice?

I think most people, especially those on a budget will agree with me that it is always good to have a checklist or what we call “shopping list” prepared prior to visiting the grocery store. The idea of having a guide to help you stay on track and be thorough in your shopping also works the same way in your coaching practice.

The Essential Coaching Skills Every Coach Need to Have

Regardless of whether you are a professional coach with your own business, or you work for a large organization, every coach needs to possess the necessary skills to foster growth in the coaching relationship.

The following skills will help make you a successful coach

• Genuine Interest in Helping
• Empathy
• Effective Communication Skills
• Reflection and Clarifying
• Active Listening
• Develop Trust
• Powerful Questioning
• Being Present (complete attention)
• Providing Feedback
• Being Supportive

Why a Checklist?

Have a coaching skills checklist enables you to successfully coach your clients. With this great resource in your toolbox, you are able to efficiently serve your clients. When you have a checklist, you can stay on track and ensure that you do not omit anything relevant.

What Does The Coaching Skills Checklist Look Like?

Below is the coaching skills checklist that I put together to help my coaching session go as planned. You can create yours or modify this one just as long as the coaching skills are well defined. This coaching checklist is to help direct you.

My checklist is in a question format. I ensured that the questions below always addressed my performance at coaching sessions with each client.

1. Did I warmly welcome or greet client?
2. Did I open with a word of prayer? (typical for Christian or other faith-based coaching)
3. Did I demonstrate appreciation?
4. Did I maintain confidentiality?
5. Did I ensure that I was completely present in the session?
6. Did I show empathy and support to my client?
7. Was I observant of my client’s behavior throughout the session?
8. Did I listen actively when being spoken to?
9. Did I respond in a nonjudgmental, respectful manner to client’s questions or concerns?
10. Did I paraphrase and repeat the client’s exact words to demonstrate listening and understanding?
11. Did I ask open-ended questions that enable the client to respond from a different perspective?
12. Did I effectively communicate to clients in a way he or she could understand?
13. Did I customize my coaching approach to be able to able to effectively coach my client? (for example, being culturally sensitive).
14. Did I give positive and timely feedback? Acknowledging the progress the client has made!
15. Did I do a follow up with the client afterward to ensure the client is still on track?

Many times without a checklist or guide, essential points are missed. If you do not have a coaching skills checklist in your toolbox, I will suggest you get started designing or creating one today.

By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “Master Coach Blueprint” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your master coach blueprint videos.

Peggy Adegoke
Life Coach
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community