The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Many new coaches I work with make a very simple mistake in their early sessions.  “How did your Exploratory Session go last week?” I ask.  “Great!” they say.  “I’m going to call her next week to set up a time for another session.”

Can you see what’s missing here?  They are still not this client’s coach.  They are just someone to talk to if the client has time next week and still feels interested in coaching next week.  You know how you can pick up a self-help book whenever you feel like it and put it down when you feel like it?  In the above example the coach is playing the role of the book!  That’s not coaching.  Or more precisely, it’s not a Coaching Structure.

One thing that separates coaching from many other professions is the client’s commitment to his/her coaching goals and to a particular time frame working with the coach.  This way, it doesn’t matter if the client gets busy next week.  Their session is scheduled for 3pm Thursday, and that’s that.