October 17, 2024
Managing the coaching process with mind mapping
As a Coach there are lots of things to think about and manage before, during and after a coaching engagement. The coaching process involves an initial coaching conversation to ensure legal and ethical requirements are covered with the Coachee. It also includes discussing working together, flow of sessions, managing expectations and getting to know each other in order to maximise opportunities for success. And then the fun part – the coaching conversations can begin! Managing the coaching process between a Coach and Coachee can be transparent and interactive by working together in a mind map.
Creating a coaching process template
As the Coach you can create a Template in a mind map of all the elements you usually include as part of your coaching process and coaching conversations. Creating a Template saves you time and provides you with consistency within your practise. It also provides you with a visual to keep you on track to make sure all the important legal and ethical requirements are covered.
Making it personal
You can then build on your Template and make it bespoke by adding branches to your mind map that are relevant to each of your client needs. This might include important information such as their working pattern, key contacts, reporting mechanisms etc. As you can add documents and links to branches, additional information such as existing Psychometric profiles or 360degree feedback or any other relevant documents (with permission from your Coachee once invited) can be uploaded by them onto the map.
Coaching conversations
When you are ready to start your coaching conversations, the Coach and the Coachee can stay in the same mind map. This helps to both manage the coaching process and ongoing coaching conversations. Capture notes on the main discussion points in each session and importantly reflections. Add branches to include clear goals and actions. Adding an image either as a personal photo or stock image can really help visualise what the future can look for an increased connection.
Encouraging responsibility
Your Coachee can be in full control of the mind map by setting the permissions to Default & Admin. Instead of having emails going back and forth to update on progress, the Coachee can simply update the mind map. Both the Coach and Coachee can interact in real time to keep momentum towards progress. When actions are completed an icon of their choice to signal completion can be added. Anything else the Coachee is discovering along the way whether it be resources discovered, reflections about themselves or additional actions can be captured all in one place by simply adding more branches.
Seeing thoughts become a reality
Using a mind map to manage the process and conversations enables you to drill down into the detail of tangible outcomes and accountability around actions. At the same time as sessions are completed, the progress can easily be seen in a visual and engaging format.
A space for self-development
The formal coaching engagement between the Coach and Coachee may come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the mind map becomes static! The Coachee can continue to interact in the mind map. This becomes their one stop place for self-discovery and self-development. Clearly visualising progress made for their ongoing self development long after the coaching process has ended.
Liz Oseland
Liz Oseland is a Coach, Trainer and Facilitator supporting individuals and teams to unlock their power to think differently. She has over 15 years of blended learning experience working with clients around the world. She is the Global Master Trainer for the OpenGenius Certified Applied Innovation and Mind Mapping courses.
lizlearning.com | LinkedIn