This is a sample coaching map from our book series Coaching Conversations - we hope you find this helpful!

Suggested Strategy:

• Use a Define & Coach Strategy to establish the expectations for the flow of a conversation, bringing the individual’s awareness to whether or not they feel that they practice that definition themselves.

Suggested Questions:

• Define & Coach:  When speaking about “conversation flow”, what do you think that specifically looks like in your interactions at work?

• Rating Question:  On a scale of one to six, with six representing that you follow that definition to the letter, and one representing that you do not practice conversation flow at all, where would you rate yourself and why?

• Self-Actualized Question:  What actions do you think we can take together to help you put that definition into practice and bring you closer to a six?

Suggested Activities:

• Role Play:  Have your coaching target practice the definition of “conversation flow” in practice situations similar to those in which you find that the individual typically struggles.  Without breaking out of roles, ask the individual to think about specific situations outside of this meeting where they may need to continue practicing based on the definition previously discussed.  Provide the individual with feedback after each practice situation of what they did particularly well, and what they may need to continue practicing in the future.

Suggested Learning Projects:

• Peer-to-Peer Coaching:  Assign the employee to meet with a new peer each week to practice conversation flow in specific situations that you specify for them to practice.  Ask them to email you after each practice situation, copying the peer that they met with on the email, sharing what they felt was successful in the conversation, and what they feel they need to continue practicing.

• Journal-Based Coaching:  Ask your coaching target to keep a journal as they have conversations where they might have typically struggled with conversation flow.  They should note in their entries their strategy in each conversation to practice the definition of conversation flow discussed in your coaching session – what do they think they were successful in accomplishing in each conversation?  What do they feel they must continue practicing?  What will be their strategy to improve those parts of conversation flow going forward?

Supplemental Coaching Strategies:

• 30-Second Coaching:  Share positive efforts and improvements made by the individual to improve their conversation flow skills.  Be specific in sharing the actions taken by the individual that you had the opportunity to observe, and how those actions are appreciated by you.

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