Core Competency
How It Connects
Setting the Foundation
Establishing Ethical
Guidelines and
Professional Standards
• Encourages the client to secure a safe place where he/she can talk freely and confidentially
• Clearly communicates that the feedback report and discussion are confidential
Establishing the Coaching
Agreement
• Helps the client identify and confirm outcomes of the feedback coaching session and why they
are important
• Keeps the feedback session on track to achieve expressed outcomes
Co-creating the Relationship
Establishing Trust and
Intimacy
• Establishes a safe and trusting space for delivery of the feedback using a respectful, balanced
and judgement-free approach
• Encourages and supports the client to express ideas about the meaning of the assessment data
and his or her concerns
Coaching Presence
• Partners with the client to explore the assessment results to support client learning
• Is curious to learn more about the client
• Notices the client’s reactions and responses to the data and feedback discussion (e.g., open,
worried or resistant) and invites the client to discuss them
Communicating Effectively
Active Listening
• Observes and inquires about the client’s language, tone, pace, silence and responses
• Asks about and explores the client’s thinking, behavior, emotions and viewpoints
• Gives the client time to talk, think and respond to the coach’s comments, feedback observations
and questions
Powerful Questioning
• Asks clear, direct and mostly open-ended questions that encourage new ways of thinking about
the feedback data, self-awareness of strengths and areas for improvement, commitment for
follow-up action, and other elements of exploration
• Asks the client for any big surprises or new learning gains from the feedback report and discussion
• Inquires about the client’s decisions for follow-up actions and how they will be deployed
Direct Communication
• Clearly communicates specific assessment instrument details (e.g., scoring framework, data
presentation formats and graphics)
• Gives direct and honest feedback that increases client understanding for how to use the
feedback data and comments to set priorities and move forward
• Uses the client’s language or a way of speaking that supports learning
• Encourages the client to do most of the talking
Facilitating Learning and Results
Creating Awareness
• Encourages the client to consider how he or she will use assessment feedback and how it
informs self-understanding
• Notices and acknowledges when a client gains a new insight about his or her strengths and/or
an opportunity for development
• Asks the client how he or she will use learning gains from the coaching
• Observes the client during the session (e.g., voice, energy level, openness and self-reflection) and
seeks client input and exploration
Designing Actions,
Planning and Goal
Setting and Managing
Progress and
Accountability
• Offers to brainstorm with the client on developmental actions, resources and training
• Supports the client to decide on and be accountable for follow-up actions after the session (e.g.,
plan for gaining new skills or abilities, approaches to development, resources needed, timetable
for action, and other planning elements)
• Notices and shares client’s progress during the session
am not fully and totally prepared,
like now. I’d like to talk more
about that and figure out a way be
less stressed.”
core competency of Establishing
the Coaching Agreement. It also
highlighted for me the value of
connecting with all of the ICF Core
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I learned that day the importance
of beginning every feedback
session with greater clarity on the
Coaching World
report and asking what he wanted
to achieve from the feedback
discussion, I asked, “What would be
most helpful to talk about today?”
Much to my surprise, he said, “I
always get so stressed out when I