What is peer-coaching for?
Peer-coaching is an easy-to-implement resource with many beneficial effects for groups that use it. Among other things, it allows to:
- maintain a dynamic stimulating in the intervals between group work sessions
- strengthen and support each individual in the implementation of their action plan
- value internal resources within the team
- stimulate collective intelligence and the search for solutions within peer-coaching pairs
- break down «silos» and strengthen collaboration and creating a climate of trust, openness, and mutual support
We use it very regularly in our programs, whether in the context of training, group coaching, or team support.
How does peer-coaching work?
The goal of peer-coaching is to create a relationship of mutual support with a trusted colleague to share progress/difficulties encountered and find new solutions together. Members of a peer-coaching pair take turns bringing a situation they wish to work on within their pair.
Download the canvas
This canvas will guide you through the important questions to ask yourself for each of the 5 phases of a peer-coaching session.
The 5 steps of a peer-coaching session
To help you structure your sessions, here are key questions you can use at each step:
- Step 0 | Reflect before the session on the situation you wish to work on
- Briefly describe the situation you wish to work on
- What is the context, the environment, the people involved?
- What factors are favorable/unfavorable to you?
- What do you want to change/achieve?
- Step 1 | Define your objectives in relation to this situation
- Overall objective | Formulate your objective so that it is SMART – Specific – Measurable – Ambitious – Realistic – Time-bound
- Objective for this session | How can this session help you progress towards your final goal?
- What do you want to have done/clarified/defined/... by the end of this peer-coaching session?
- Are there any elements to prepare/share in advance to make this session more beneficial for you?
- Step 2 | Do a « reality check » of the situation
- What exactly is happening right now?
- What have you tried to do so far – with what results?
- What are your doubts / thoughts at this stage?
- What is preventing you from acting now (the obstacles)?
- What needs to happen to unblock this situation?
- Step 3 | Evaluate all the options available to you, be creative!
- What options/opportunities do you see?
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of each of these options?
- If you had a magic wand to solve this situation, how would you use it? What would be an ideal solution for you?
- What do you need in relation to this?
- Step 4 | Commit to action and be proactive to trigger a favorable evolution of the situation
- And now, how do you concretely wish to move forward?
- What obstacles could arise – and how will you overcome them?
- With whom could you collaborate – and how? Would you need help or other resources – in what form?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how convinced are you that these activities will succeed? If you are at 6-7-8, what would allow you to go up to 9 or 10?
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