The coaching alliance

The coaching alliance is the agreement between coach and client on a shared purpose and way of working. It rests on the concept of the working alliance drawn from therapy research; Edward Bordin defines it through three elements: shared goals, agreed-upon tasks, and the bond between them. Research shows that the strength of this alliance is one of the strongest predictors of outcome; that is, the quality of the relationship matters more than the technique used. When the alliance is established clearly from the start, later misunderstandings diminish. A good alliance is the foundation for being able to carry difficult matters together.