Detailed Steps for Coaching

When professionals lack strong writing skills, they may lessen their own effectiveness—and that of their organizations. The coaching process enables individuals to upgrade and refine their writing skills – and often never have to leave their desk. After completing the process, individuals consistently report that they:

• Get their key points across more effectively.
• Win the business (receive more positive responses from clients and readers).
• Save time.

The coaching process usually follows a sequence like this one.

1. The process begins with the individual’s manager and our writing coach talking by phone about appropriate needs and outcomes.
2. Next the individual collects and sends to the writing coach/consultant a representative sample of typical communications. These include emails.
3. Once these samples arrive, the consultant contacts the individual to schedule the first in-person or over-the phone meeting—the assessment session.
4. At the assessment session, the consultant reviews the analysis of the individual’s writing strengths and limitations. Together, they then agree on the goals/objectives for the process, as well as the approximate time needed.
5. The number of over-the-phone sessions and of email interchanges required to fulfill the goals varies by individual. Between three and eight sessions/interchanges—spread out over three to twelve months—are usually sufficient to complete the process. All work is scheduled at mutual convenience.

At the end of this coaching process, individuals develop a clear action plan to eliminate writing weaknesses and capitalize on writing strengths.

Individuals and their coaches usually find benefit in a follow-up check-in about six months after the formal end of coaching. Coaching graduates report that they have become clearly more successful in communicating their ideas and influencing readers.