教练合作与教练对话怎样进行:ICF 资料中的协议、对话、进展与结束
What a Coaching Engagement and a Coaching Session Look Like, According to ICF
适合谁读:第一次接触教练的客户、为团队安排教练的管理者,以及想了解教练合作具体怎样进行的职场人士。
本文内容:按 ICF 面向公众的指南、核心能力和道德准则,整理一段教练合作从开始到结束的过程:教练协议约定什么,一次对话中教练与客户各做什么,对话之间的行动与问责,进展怎样回顾,合作怎样结束,以及会谈形式、时长与频率中 ICF 说明了什么、没有说明什么。是否适合找教练、怎样挑选和核实教练,见《什么情况适合找教练,怎样选择教练与开始合作》;教练与咨询、心理咨询、导师的区别,见《教练、咨询、心理咨询与导师有什么不同》。
本文依据的三类 ICF 资料
《Experience Coaching》个人指南:ICF 写给客户的说明,描述教练关系和客户可以期待什么。
2025 版 ICF 核心能力:ICF 对教练应具备的能力的界定,其中第 3 项“Establishes and Maintains Agreements”(建立并维护约定)和第 8 项“Facilitates Client Growth”(促进客户成长)涉及合作与对话的过程。
ICF 道德准则(2025 年 4 月 1 日生效):ICF 会员和持证教练承诺遵守的行为标准,其中第 4 部分(Ethical Standards)第 1 节讲合作约定,第 2 节讲保密。
本站说明:核心能力和道德准则写的是对教练的要求,不是一份固定的对话流程。下文据此说明客户在合作中可以期待教练做什么。
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ICF 怎样描述教练关系
ICF 个人指南说,教练是一种伙伴关系,教练的首要任务是服务客户。
指南列出教练的作用(本站译文):
- 帮助客户发现并厘清目标;
- 让客户的行动与其志向保持一致;
- 营造安全的空间,供客户探索和认识自己。
指南把教练关系的特点概括为三个词:
- Collaboration(协作):“You and your coach are a team working towards your success.”
- Customization(量身定制):教练过程按客户的目标、需要和偏好设计;
- Commitment(共同承诺):“Communication and mutual accountability are key to success.”(本站译文:沟通和相互问责是成功的关键。)
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开始之前:初步沟通与教练协议
ICF 个人指南在“What to Do Before Our First Session?”一节写到,客户在第一次会谈前已经与教练进行过一次初步沟通(discovery call),对过程和可以期待什么有了大致了解。
道德准则第 1.1 条要求教练在教练开始前,与客户、出资方(sponsor)及其他直接相关方沟通,说明教练的性质,并共同订立教练协议,内容涉及角色、责任、保密、费用安排及合作的其他方面。
核心能力第 3 项列出了合作开始时教练与客户要谈清楚的事,本站概括如下:
- 说明教练是什么、不是什么(3.01);
- 约定关系中哪些合适、哪些不合适,提供什么、不提供什么,以及各方责任(3.02);
- 约定合作的具体安排,ICF 列举的有后勤安排、费用、日程、期限、终止、保密和其他人的参与(3.03);
- 与客户及相关方一起确定整体教练计划和目标(3.04);
- 与客户一起判断双方是否合适(3.05)。
第一次会谈前客户可以做的准备,见《什么情况适合找教练》。
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教练协议通常写什么
道德准则附录把教练协议定义为 ICF 从业者与客户或出资方之间订立的正式文件,列明教练关系的条款、期望和条件。
附录列出协议通常包括的内容:
- 教练的目标;
- 会谈的期限与频率;
- 保密规定;
- 付款条款;
- 取消规定;
- 教练和客户双方的责任。
ICF 个人指南的说法是,协议涵盖从角色与责任到会面日程和沟通偏好的各项内容。
来源:
一次教练对话中发生什么
核心能力第 3 项的定义写明,约定既针对整个教练合作,也针对每一次对话。
在单次对话中,核心能力要求教练与客户一起(本站概括):
- 确认客户这次想达成什么(3.06);
- 明确为了达成这一结果需要处理什么(3.07);
- 确定或确认衡量成功的标准(3.08);
- 管理这次对话的时间和焦点(3.09);
- 除非客户另有表示,朝客户想要的结果继续教练(3.10);
- 一起结束这次对话(8.09)。
ICF 个人指南描述了对话中教练的做法:
- 客户讲述时,教练会概括所说内容、反映回去,帮助客户换个角度看;
- 教练提出问题,指南举的话题包括客户的目标、阻碍客户的因素、已经尝试过什么、客户怎样学习,以及目标与个人和职业成长的联系。
核心能力第 8 项要求教练支持客户自主设计目标、行动和问责方式(8.03)。
来源:
对话之间:行动与问责
ICF 个人指南写道:“Outside of sessions your coach may suggest activities or reflection exercises to help you get the most out of your journey.”(本站译文:会谈之外,教练可能会建议一些活动或反思练习,帮助客户从教练过程中获得更多。)
指南在“Coaches Hold You Accountable”一节说明:
- 问责是良好教练关系的基础;
- 教练确保客户设定的目标不被遗忘,偏离时帮助客户回到正轨;
- 问责不意味着内疚或惩罚,教练帮助客户找出阻碍,回到双方共同确定的路径上。
核心能力第 8 项相关的要求(本站概括):
- 与客户一起设计建立在新收获之上的目标、行动和问责方式(8.02);
- 邀请客户考虑怎样推进,包括资源、支持和可能的障碍(8.05);
- 与客户一起总结对话中或对话之间的学习与领悟(8.06)。
来源:
怎样回顾进展
核心能力第 3.08 条要求为整个合作或单次对话确定或确认衡量成功的标准。
核心能力第 3.12 条要求在需要时重新审视教练协议,确认做法仍然符合客户的需要。
核心能力第 8 项要求教练与客户一起整合所学、在整个合作中保持进展(8.07),并肯定客户的进步和成功(8.08)。
ICF 个人指南在“Measurable Goal Achievement”一节说,教练会帮助客户把目标定得具体、可实现、有意义,客户可以跟踪进展并加以调整。指南提到了 SMART 框架。
道德准则第 4.3 条要求教练留意教练关系带来的价值可能发生变化的迹象,并与客户讨论。
回顾进展的具体频率和方式,ICF 未说明,以 ICF 官网为准。
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会谈形式、时长与频率
时长。 ICF 个人指南在“How Much Time Will I Invest in a Coaching Relationship?”一节写到,根据 ICF 数据,每次会谈“1-2 hours long”(本站译文:1 至 2 小时)。指南未注明这一数据出自哪项研究。
整段合作持续多久,本文不列具体月数,以双方的教练协议和 ICF 官网说明为准;道德准则附录把会谈的期限列为教练协议通常包括的内容。
频率。 ICF 未给出会谈频率的数字。道德准则附录把会谈的期限与频率列为教练协议通常包括的内容,即通常写入双方共同订立的教练协议。
形式。 ICF 组织指南在介绍 Credentialed Coach Finder 时写到,可以按方式筛选教练,列举的有面对面会谈、线上教练、小组工作坊和一对一支持。ICF 未规定某一种会谈形式。
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保密与记录
保密及其例外(道德准则第 2.1 至 2.3 条)见《什么情况适合找教练》;出资方参与时的保密见《组织如何引入教练》。
此外,道德准则第 2.4 条要求教练以保护保密、安全和隐私的方式保存、存储和处置记录,包括电子文件和通信,并遵守适用法律和协议。
第 3.7 条要求教练在以 ICF 从业者以外的身份行事时,向客户说明。
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合作怎样结束
道德准则第 1.2 条要求尊重各方在教练合作期间、在协议条款约束下,随时以任何理由终止教练关系的权利。
核心能力第 3.11 条要求教练与客户一起结束教练关系,方式要尊重客户和这段教练经历。
道德准则中可能导致暂停或结束合作的情形包括:
- 教练自身的局限或状况可能影响教练表现时,寻求支持,必要时暂停或终止教练关系(4.2);
- 教练关系的价值可能发生变化时,与客户讨论,适当时探讨调整关系,或换一位教练、其他专业人士或资源(4.3);
- 处理利益冲突时,可能的做法包括寻求专业协助,或暂停、结束关系(3.3)。
ICF 个人指南说明,曾与教练合作后停下来是正常的;面对新挑战或变化时,可以重新与教练合作。
需要转介心理专业人士的情形,见《什么情况适合找教练》。
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核实教练的认证
ICF 提供 Verify a Coach 工具,可核实教练的 ICF 会员状态和认证状态。
两个查询工具的区别和使用方法,见《什么情况适合找教练》。
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ICF 未说明的事项
以下各项 ICF 未说明,以 ICF 官网为准:
- 会谈频率的具体数字(由协议约定);
- 每次会谈 1 至 2 小时这一数据出自哪项研究;
- 回顾进展的频率和方式;
- 单次对话的固定结构或流程;
- 合作结束时是否有固定的总结程序。
What a Coaching Engagement and a Coaching Session Look Like, According to ICF
教练合作与教练对话怎样进行:ICF 资料中的协议、对话、进展与结束
Who this is for: first-time coaching clients, managers arranging coaching, and professionals curious about how coaching works.
What it covers: how ICF describes a coaching engagement from start to finish: the coaching agreement, what happens in a session, actions and accountability between sessions, reviewing progress, ending the relationship, and what ICF does and does not say about format, length and frequency. For when to get a coach and how to choose and verify one, see When to Work with a Coach; for how coaching differs from consulting, therapy and mentoring, see Coaching, Consulting, Therapy and Mentoring.
Sources used
ICF's Experience Coaching guide for individuals; the 2025 ICF Core Competencies, especially Competency 3 (Establishes and Maintains Agreements) and Competency 8 (Facilitates Client Growth); and the ICF Code of Ethics. Note from Mingwen Coaching: the competencies and the Code set expectations for coaches; they are not a fixed session script.
The coaching relationship
ICF's guide calls coaching a partnership whose number one priority is serving the client. Coaches help clients uncover and clarify goals, align actions with aspirations, and create a safe space to explore. The guide names three qualities: Collaboration, Customization and Commitment ("Communication and mutual accountability are key to success").
Before coaching begins
The guide assumes a discovery call before the first session. Code of Ethics standard 1.1 requires coaches, before coaching begins, to explain the nature of coaching and co-create an agreement on roles, responsibilities, confidentiality, financial arrangements and other aspects. Core Competency 3 covers explaining what coaching is and is not (3.01), what is and is not offered and each party's responsibilities (3.02), parameters such as logistics, fees, scheduling, duration, termination, confidentiality and inclusion of others (3.03), an overall plan and goals (3.04), and whether coach and client are a good fit (3.05).
What the agreement usually includes
The Code's appendix defines a coaching agreement as a formal document between an ICF professional and the client(s)/sponsor(s) outlining the terms, expectations and conditions of the relationship. It typically includes the goals of the coaching, the duration and frequency of sessions, confidentiality policies, payment terms, cancellation policies and the responsibilities of both coach and client.
In a session
Competency 3 applies to each session as well as the overall engagement. The coach partners with the client to identify what the client wants to accomplish in the session (3.06), what needs to be addressed (3.07), measures of success (3.08), and the session's time and focus (3.09); continues toward the client's desired outcome unless the client indicates otherwise (3.10); and closes the session with the client (8.09). The guide says coaches summarise and reflect back what clients share and ask questions, for example about goals, what holds the client back and what they have tried. Competency 8.03 supports client autonomy in designing goals, actions and accountability.
Between sessions
"Outside of sessions your coach may suggest activities or reflection exercises to help you get the most out of your journey." The guide calls accountability the foundation of a good coaching relationship and says it "doesn't mean guilt or punishment." Competencies 8.02, 8.05 and 8.06 cover designing actions and accountability, considering resources and barriers, and summarising learning within or between sessions.
Reviewing progress
Competency 3.08 covers measures of success for the engagement or session; 3.12 covers revisiting the agreement when needed; 8.07 and 8.08 cover sustaining progress and acknowledging successes. The guide says coaches help make goals specific, achievable and meaningful so progress can be tracked and adjusted, and mentions the SMART framework. Code standard 4.3 asks coaches to watch for a shift in the value of the relationship and discuss it. ICF does not state how often or how progress should be reviewed.
Format, length and frequency
In its section "How Much Time Will I Invest in a Coaching Relationship?", the guide says that, according to ICF data, each session is "1-2 hours long"; it does not name the underlying study. This article gives no figure for the overall length of an engagement; that is a matter for the coaching agreement and the ICF website. ICF gives no figure for session frequency; the Code lists duration and frequency as items an agreement typically includes. ICF's organizations guide says the Credentialed Coach Finder can filter for in-person sessions, virtual coaching, group workshops or one-on-one support; ICF does not prescribe one format.
Confidentiality and records
For confidentiality and its exceptions (standards 2.1–2.3), see our article 06; for sponsors, see Coaching in Organizations. Standard 2.4 covers keeping, storing and disposing of records securely. Standard 3.7 requires coaches to disclose when acting in a capacity other than that of an ICF professional.
Ending the engagement
Standard 1.2 respects every party's right to terminate at any point for any reason, subject to the agreement. Competency 3.11 asks the coach to close the relationship in a way that respects the client and the coaching experience. The Code also mentions suspending or ending a relationship because of the coach's own limitations (4.2), a shift in value (4.3) or as one way of resolving a conflict of interest (3.3). The guide says stopping and later reconnecting with a coach is fine.
Verifying a credential
Verify a Coach checks ICF membership and credential status. See article 06 for details.
Not stated by ICF
- A figure for session frequency (left to the agreement).
- The study behind the 1–2 hour session figure.
- How often or how progress is reviewed.
- A fixed session structure.
- A set closing procedure for the engagement.
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