Assign

The Assign phase is where the coaching process becomes action-oriented. Building upon the insights and alignments from earlier stages, this phase focuses on converting those priorities into concrete tasks and commitments. The coachee is tasked with creating an actionable strategy and an action plan to address the goals and objectives established during the Align phase. The ultimate purpose is to turn awareness and alignment into forward momentum, enabling the coachee to take practical steps toward their ideal future.

Activities

1. SMART Goal Setting: The coachee formulates goals using the SMART methodology (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). This ensures their goals are clear, focused, and attainable, providing them with a structured roadmap.

2. Action Plan Development: The coachee develops a detailed action plan outlining the steps to achieve the SMART goals. This plan often includes milestones, timelines, and a breakdown of what success will look like at each stage.

3. Prioritisation: Given that multiple goals may be on the table, the coachee is guided to prioritise actions based on urgency, impact, and alignment with their values and long-term aspirations. This helps them focus on what will bring the most value first.

4. Accountability Mapping: The coach helps the coachee define who will hold them accountable, whether the coach, themselves, or someone else in their network. Defining accountability mechanisms (e.g., progress check-ins and deadlines) is key to maintaining momentum.

5. Recording Agreements: Both the coach and coachee should record what was agreed upon in each session. Keeping a record of assignments and commitments can provide a valuable reference in future coaching conversations and help track progress over time.

Coaching Questions

Coaches use targeted questions to help the coachee refine the strategy and ensure clarity on the next steps. These questions help the coachee focus on actions, obstacles, and accountability.

1. "What specific steps will you take to move toward this goal?" Encourages the coachee to break down their larger goals into tangible, actionable steps, ensuring they leave the session with a clear idea of what comes next.

2. "How will you measure success or progress along the way?" It helps the coachee define what milestones or indicators they will use to measure progress, ensuring their efforts are trackable.

3. "What challenges or obstacles do you foresee, and how will you overcome them?" Encourages the coachee to anticipate potential roadblocks and strategise solutions, making them more resilient when challenges arise.

4. "What is the timeline for achieving this, and what are the key deadlines?" Prompts the coachee to commit to specific deadlines, ensuring that goals are time-bound and progress is timely.

5. "Who can support you in this process, and how will they hold you accountable?" This question helps the coachee identify accountability partners or resources who can assist them, whether the coach or someone else in their support network.

6. "How will this assignment help you align your current reality with your ideal future?" The assignment links current actions to long-term aspirations, helping the coachee remain motivated and focused on the bigger picture.

The Assign phase is critical to turning insights and alignment into real-world actions. The coachee can make meaningful progress toward their desired outcomes by setting SMART goals, developing an actionable plan, and establishing accountability mechanisms. This phase lays the groundwork for sustained growth and transformation through focused activities and powerful coaching questions.