The action plan is the set of concrete steps a client commits to completing between two sessions to move toward their goal. It is co-built with the coach and describes: what to do, how, by when, and with which resources. Reviewing the action plan at the start of the next session helps assess progress, identify resistance, and adjust course.
In practice, an action plan answers four precise questions for each step: what to do, how, by when, and with what resources. A plan that stays at the level of "I'll try to exercise" isn't actionable; "I'll run 20 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before work" is.
After clarifying their career-change goal, a client leaves the session with three precise actions: contact two professionals in the target field by Friday, sign up for a short online course by the end of the month, and block 1 hour a week in their calendar for this research. Three concrete actions, not a vague intention.
An action plan is not a list of good intentions or a rigid schedule imposed by the coach: it's co-built with the client and stays flexible in the face of real-life surprises.
That's useful information for the next session: the plan gets adjusted to be more realistic, rather than making the client feel guilty for not completing everything.
Yes, reviewing the plan at the start of the next session is an integral part of the process: it builds accountability and sets coaching apart from a simple chat.
Few, but precise: 2 to 4 concrete actions beat a long list that discourages before you even start.
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