Design the Client-Coach-Parent Alliance

Your child and coach spend a portion of a session developing a supportive team to help the child move forward. This is usually one of the first times teenagers have an adult ask them how they can best design a professional relationship. From the coach’s standpoint, it’s important to give the client full permission to ask and request what they need. It’s also helpful to actively design a relationship. They are granted the authority to say what works best for them and how it should be met, as well as what doesn’t.

How to Best Support Your Child

It’s important that your child takes ownership of the life coaching program. As a parent, you can make the call regarding how involved with the program you wish to be. As coaches, we strive to keep the parents in the loop, offering updates on each session. We’ve found one of the best ways parents can support the process is by completing the exercises alongside the student’s coaching schedule. You can design with the child’s coach the degree of your involvement in the coaching process. We found the best approach is for the coach–client–parent to openly discuss what is and isn’t working in the relationship.

From the Academic Life Coaching Workbook

Throughout the coaching, we have the opportunity to design the relationship in a way that best serves you. To do so, it’s helpful to think of what motivates you best (more heart or heat from your coach), how you move into action, what requests you have, what you think I should know, what’s working, what’s not working, and how will you know this coaching has been successful.

What best motivates you?

How do you move into action?

What requests do you have?

What do you think I should know?

What’s working so far?

What’s not working so far?

How will you know that this coaching has been successful?

What’s the best way to communicate what you’re accomplishing to your parents?