Establishing and maintaining the agreement

Establishing and maintaining the agreement is clarifying the frame of the coaching at the outset and keeping it alive throughout the process. It is one of the ICF competencies. This includes a clear understanding, for both the whole process and each session, of what will be discussed, what is aimed for, and what success will look like. A clear agreement prevents mistaken expectations and disappointments that would arise later. The coach refreshes this agreement at the start of each session by asking 'what would you like to talk about today, and what would you like to have gained by the end?'.