Follow-up is the longitudinal dimension of coaching: it ensures continuity between sessions and overall coherence of the process. It includes reviewing commitments made, measuring progress against the original goal, and adjusting the action plan. Good follow-up builds accountability, the awareness that the client answers for their own actions, which significantly increases the likelihood of follow-through.
In practice, follow-up is what stops coaching from being a series of pleasant conversations with no tomorrow. By systematically revisiting what was accomplished (or not) since the last session, the coach maintains a continuity that turns one-off intentions into lasting change.
A client committed to having a difficult conversation with their business partner. Three weeks later, without follow-up, that intention would likely have dissolved into daily life. With systematic follow-up at the start of each session, the coach returns to it, which keeps up the positive pressure needed to take action.
Follow-up is not surveillance or performance monitoring: it's a space for kind accountability, not an exam judging success or failure.
Some coaches offer a quick check-in by message between sessions to maintain momentum, but it's not standard: the core of follow-up remains the start of each session.
It's explored without judgment: what got in the way of taking action? This exploration often reveals a deeper obstacle than simple lack of time or motivation.
It's an integral part of it rather than something that slows it down: without follow-up, every session would start from scratch instead of building on previous ones.
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