Session Prep Work | Coach

<h3>Know The Topic (30 minutes)</h3>Assignment: To prepare for the session, the coach should review foundational theories and latest trends in Emotional Intelligence (EI). A focused assignment could include reading key sections of Daniel Goleman's book "Emotional Intelligence," exploring recent articles on the impact of EI in leadership roles, and reviewing case studies that demonstrate EI's effect on professional and personal success. This will ensure the coach can speak with authority and relate EI concepts to the client's specific context.<ul><li>Focus Areas: Understand the five components of EI as defined by Goleman: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Examine how these components influence leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, and personal growth.</li><li>Time Estimate: 30 minutes</li></ul><h3>Objectives &amp; Outcomes</h3>Define Specific Objectives:<ol><li>Enhance awareness of one's emotional states and their impact on decision-making and leadership (10 minutes).</li><li>Improve self-regulation strategies to manage stress and inspire positive team dynamics (10 minutes).</li><li>Develop empathy and social skills to foster stronger, more productive professional relationships (10 minutes).</li></ol>Define Learning Outcomes:<ul><li>Clients will articulate their understanding of EI and its relevance to leadership.</li><li>Clients will identify personal EI strengths and areas for improvement.</li><li>Clients will create a tailored action plan to apply EI principles in their workplace, enhancing leadership effectiveness and team performance.</li></ul><h3>Review Client Prep-work (Before the Session)</h3>Instructions for the Coach:<ul><li>Review the client's submitted assessment responses from their prep work, focusing on how they perceive EI in their leadership role and personal life. Look for patterns indicating strengths and areas for growth in EI components (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills).</li><li>Tailor the session to address the client's specific needs, using their responses to guide discussions on EI's application in their professional and personal context.</li><li>Prepare to use insights from the client's prep work to facilitate personal reflections, goal setting, and the development of a concrete action plan.</li></ul>Reminder: Pay close attention to any gaps in the client's understanding of EI or areas where they express a desire to improve. These insights are valuable for making the session as relevant and impactful as possible.

<h2>Session Pre-Work</h2>STEP 1 | Watch the video below for an introduction to emotional intelligence. STEP 2 | Answer the assessment questions below. STEP 3 | Read the "What to Expect" and "Between Now and Then"

Introduction to Emotional Intelligence

Reflect on a recent situation where your emotional response influenced the outcome of a professional interaction. How did your feelings impact your decision-making process and the interaction's outcome?

Consider your relationship with your supervisor. Can you identify a moment when a better understanding of emotional intelligence (either by you or your supervisor) could have improved a work situation or communication between you two?

Think about your interactions with your direct reports. Describe an instance where applying principles of emotional intelligence could have led to a more positive outcome or strengthened the team dynamic.

How do you manage your emotions under stress, especially in high-pressure work scenarios? Provide an example of a stress management technique that worked well and one that did not.

<h2>Coaching Session</h2><h3>What to Expect</h3>In the upcoming coaching session, you can expect a personalized, interactive experience tailored to help you understand and apply emotional intelligence in your leadership role. Our conversation will revolve around the insights gained from your prep work and reflection questions. We'll explore how emotional intelligence impacts your decision-making, relationships with your team and supervisor, and overall work environment. The session will include practical exercises to identify your emotional intelligence strengths and areas for growth, along with strategies to enhance your emotional intelligence skills. Expect to engage in open, honest dialogue that will challenge you to think deeply about your emotional responses and how they influence your professional and personal life.<h3>Between Now and Then</h3>Before our session, I'd like you to start a simple yet effective observation practice focused on emotional intelligence in your daily life. Please take note of moments when emotional intelligence—or the lack thereof—plays a significant role in interactions at work. Pay special attention to:<ul><li>Your emotional reactions to challenges or stressors and how you manage these emotions.</li><li>Empathy in action: moments when showing understanding or empathy could change the course of a conversation or relationship.</li><li>Leadership opportunities: situations where emotional intelligence could enhance your leadership, such as in conflict resolution, motivating your team, or navigating change.</li></ul>Keep a brief journal of these observations, noting what happened, how you and others responded, and any outcomes. This practice will not only prepare you for our discussion but also increase your awareness of emotional intelligence in action.

Session Facilitation Notes

<h3>Start the Conversation</h3><h4>Build Rapport &amp; Set Agenda (10 minutes)</h4>Instructions: Begin the session by warmly welcoming the client and engaging in light conversation to help them feel comfortable. Briefly discuss any updates from their side to maintain a personal connection. Transition to setting the session's agenda by outlining what will be covered and aligning on the client's goals and expectations for the session.Questions:<ol><li>How have you been since our last meeting? Any updates or significant changes in your professional or personal life?</li><li>What are your specific goals for today's session?</li><li>Based on our planned discussion on Emotional Intelligence, what are you hoping to learn or achieve?</li></ol><h3>Review Previous Progress (10 minutes)</h3>Instructions: Take this time to discuss any progress or accomplishments the client has made since the last session. This includes actions they’ve completed, insights they’ve gained, or challenges they’ve faced. Celebrate successes and address any setbacks constructively.Questions:<ol><li>Since our last session, what actions have you taken towards your goals?</li><li>What successes or challenges have you encountered in applying what we've discussed?</li><li>How have these experiences influenced your understanding or perspective on your development areas?</li></ol><h3>Transition to Topic (5 minutes)</h3>Instructions: Smoothly transition the discussion towards the main topic of Emotional Intelligence. Use this opportunity to connect the importance of the topic to the client's personal goals and challenges they've shared.Questions:<ol><li>How do you currently see Emotional Intelligence playing a role in your daily leadership?</li><li>Can you think of a recent instance where emotional intelligence was or could have been key to resolving a challenge?</li><li>In what areas do you think enhancing your emotional intelligence could benefit you the most?</li></ol><h3>Explore the Topic (15 minutes)</h3>Instructions: Deepen the conversation around Emotional Intelligence, focusing on its relevance to the client's goals and the workplace. Guide the client in reflecting on how EI impacts their leadership, decision-making, and relationships at work. Adapt your approach based on the client’s personality and learning style.Suggested Discussion Points:<ul><li>Reflect on the components of EI (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills) and identify which ones you feel are strengths and which ones could use improvement.</li><li>How does your level of emotional intelligence affect your interactions with peers, subordinates, and superiors?</li><li>In thinking about your leadership style, how could greater emotional intelligence enhance your effectiveness?</li></ul><h3>Identify obstacles and generate solutions (10 minutes)</h3>Instructions: Work with the client to identify potential obstacles that may hinder their ability to apply emotional intelligence principles effectively. Then, collaborate to brainstorm practical solutions or strategies to overcome these challenges.Questions:<ol><li>What obstacles do you anticipate might interfere with applying emotional intelligence in your work?</li><li>How might your current work environment or team dynamics make it challenging to practice emotional intelligence?</li><li>Can we think of strategies or practices that could help you navigate these obstacles?</li></ol><h3>Move to Action (10 minutes)</h3>Instructions: Encourage the client to identify actionable steps they can take to enhance their emotional intelligence in the context of their professional and personal life. Help them to formulate a specific, measurable action plan.Questions:<ol><li>Based on our discussion, what is one specific aspect of emotional intelligence you are committed to working on?</li><li>What practical steps can you take in the coming weeks to improve this area?</li><li>Given everything we have talked about, what is one next step you can take towards your desired outcome?</li></ol><h3>Takeaways &amp; Next Steps</h3>Instructions: At the end of the coaching session, take a moment to help the client articulate the main takeaway of your discussion. This should be a concise summary that captures the essence of what they've learned about Emotional Intelligence and its significance in their professional and personal life. Following this, guide the client in identifying a specific, actionable next step they plan to take to implement these insights. This step should be something they can start doing immediately to foster their emotional intelligence in a tangible way.Suggest Questions for Setting SMART Goals:<ol><li>Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve with your emotional intelligence in the workplace? Can you define this in clear, simple terms?</li><li>Measurable: How will you measure your progress? What indicators will show you that you're improving in this area?</li><li>Achievable: Is your goal realistic with the effort and resources you can commit? How will you overcome potential obstacles?</li><li>Relevant: How does improving your emotional intelligence relate to your broader professional goals or personal development?</li><li>Time-bound: By when do you want to achieve this goal? Can you set a deadline for your first milestone?</li></ol>Encouraging Follow-Up Mechanisms:<ul><li>Personal Commitment: Encourage the client to set a reminder or schedule a specific time in their calendar dedicated to reviewing their progress towards their goal. This can be a weekly or monthly self-check-in.</li><li>Coach Check-In: Discuss how you, as the coach, will follow up with them on their progress. This could be through a scheduled follow-up session, email check-ins, or brief phone calls. Agree on the frequency and mode of these check-ins.</li><li>Support System: Recommend that the client shares their goal and the steps they plan to take with a trusted colleague, friend, or family member who can offer support and accountability.</li></ul>Example: "To ensure you're moving forward with enhancing your emotional intelligence, let's schedule a follow-up session in one month. By then, you'll have had the opportunity to apply the strategies we discussed and observe their impact. I'll send you an email two weeks from now to check in on your progress and provide additional support if needed. How does that sound?"

My biggest takeaway from this session is…

Between now and the next session I will do the following…

Wrapping Up

Instructions: As the session comes to a close, ensure you provide a structured and positive conclusion. This will leave the client feeling accomplished and clear about the next steps. Follow these steps to effectively wrap up the session:<ol><li>Summarize Key Takeaways:<ul><li>Briefly recap the main insights and learning points discussed during the session. Use a structured format to make this clear and memorable. For instance:<ul><li>Emotional Intelligence Insight: Briefly state the key insight about emotional intelligence emphasized during the session.</li><li>Personal Growth Area: Highlight the specific area of emotional intelligence the client is committed to developing.</li><li>Action Plan: Summarize the actionable step(s) the client has decided to take.</li></ul></li><li>This concise recap helps reinforce the session's value and ensures both you and the client are aligned on the outcomes.</li></ul></li><li>Confirm Next Steps:<ul><li>Clearly state the next action step the client has agreed to undertake. Reiterate any homework assignments or practices they plan to implement before the next session.</li><li>Schedule the next session, if not already done. Confirm the date, time, and whether it will be in-person or virtual. This ensures continuity and accountability in the coaching process.</li></ul></li><li>Express Appreciation:<ul><li>Thank the client for their engagement and openness during the session. A simple expression of gratitude can significantly impact the client's perception of the session and their motivation moving forward.</li></ul></li><li>Closing Remarks:<ul><li>Offer a few words of encouragement tailored to the client's goals and the progress they've made so far. Reinforce your belief in their ability to achieve their emotional intelligence objectives.</li></ul></li></ol>Example Wrap-Up:<ul><li>"To summarize today's session, we focused on the importance of empathy in your leadership role, identified enhancing team communication as a key growth area, and set a goal for you to practice active listening in meetings over the next month. Our next session is scheduled for [date and time]. Thank you for your insightful contributions today, and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress you'll make. Remember, improving emotional intelligence is a journey, and I'm here to support you every step of the way. Have a great day!"</li></ul>

DEMO | Russ West