Session 19 Lesson Plan - The Coaching Flight Plan

The “flight plan” is a coaching metaphor used in some coach training programmes to describe how a coach intentionally structures a coaching conversation from beginning to end.

It breaks the session into three phases:

• Take-off (start of session)

• In the air (core coaching conversation)

• Landing (closure and integration)

When mapped to both COMENSA Behavioural Standards and the ICF Core Competencies, it becomes a very practical way of ensuring ethical, structured, client-centred coaching.

1. TAKE-OFF (Opening the Coaching Session)

This is where the coaching relationship is activated and the direction is set.

What the coach does

• Establishes rapport and presence

• Clarifies coaching agreement for the session

• Confirms focus / agenda

• Establishes trust and psychological safety

• Checks readiness of client

• Aligns expectations

• Sets boundaries (time, purpose, confidentiality if needed)

COMENSA alignment

Behavioural Standards

• Standard 1: Contracting → clarifies purpose, agreement, and focus

• Standard 2: Communicating → clear, intentional dialogue

• Standard 3: Building Trust and Rapport → psychological safety is established

• Standard 8: Coaching Presence → grounded, attentive, fully present

ICF Core Competencies alignment

• Establishing Coaching Agreement

• Demonstrates Ethical Practice

• Maintains Presence

• Establishes Trust and Safety

Client role

• Brings agenda or topic

• Engages openly

• Clarifies what success for the session looks like

• Begins self-reflection

MCC-level distinction

At MCC level, “take-off” is almost invisible:

• No heavy structuring

• Contracting emerges naturally in conversation

• Presence replaces process rigidity

2. IN THE AIR (Core Coaching Conversation)

This is where transformation work happens.

What the coach does

• Listens deeply (beyond content to meaning, emotion, patterns)

• Asks powerful questions

• Evokes awareness

• Challenges assumptions (with permission and sensitivity)

• Explores beliefs, emotions, identity, and context

• Supports client insight and shift in perspective

• Maintains neutrality and curiosity

• Holds space for reflection and silence

• Tracks emerging themes

COMENSA alignment

Behavioural Standards

• Standard 2: Communicating → deep listening and powerful questioning

• Standard 4: Creating Awareness and Opportunities for Learning

• Standard 6: Building Self-Awareness

• Standard 7: Personal and Professional Growth

• Standard 8: Coaching Presence

• Standard 9: Managing Diversity → awareness of context, identity, differences

ICF Core Competencies alignment

• Evokes Awareness

• Listens Actively

• Communicates Effectively

• Maintains Presence

• Embodies a Coaching Mindset

• Facilitates Client Growth

Client role

• Explores situation deeply

• Becomes aware of patterns and assumptions

• Shifts perspective

• Discovers new insights

• Connects emotionally and cognitively

• Begins to see options and possibilities

MCC-level distinction

At MCC level:

• Coach works at identity, meaning, and systemic level (not just behaviour)

• Minimal questioning, more reflective presence

• Insight emerges from silence, not interrogation

• Coach tracks “what is happening beneath the words”

3. LANDING (Closing the Session)

This is where insight becomes grounded into action and accountability.

What the coach does

• Summarises key insights (client-led, not coach-led interpretation)

• Helps client identify actions

• Clarifies commitment and ownership

• Explores accountability mechanisms

• Ensures learning is integrated

• Checks emotional and cognitive closure

• Ends session cleanly and intentionally

COMENSA alignment

Behavioural Standards

• Standard 5: Designing Actions and Managing Accountability

• Standard 4: Learning Integration

• Standard 7: Growth and Development

• Standard 8: Presence (clean closure, not rushed exit)

ICF Core Competencies alignment

• Facilitates Client Growth

• Cultivates Learning and Growth

• Establishes Coaching Agreement (future commitments)

• Maintains Presence through closure

Client role

• Identifies specific actions

• Commits to next steps

• Reflects on key learning

• Takes ownership of accountability

• Defines how progress will be reviewed

MCC-level distinction

At MCC level:

• Action emerges organically (not forced planning)

• Accountability is self-generated

• Closure often includes deeper insight, not just tasks

• Silence is used to allow integration before ending

HOW THE THREE PHASES CONNECT TO COMENSA STANDARDS

Take-off → Standards 1–3

• Contracting

• Communication

• Trust and rapport

In the air → Standards 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

• Awareness creation

• Self-awareness

• Growth

• Presence

• Diversity/context sensitivity

Landing → Standard 5

• Designing actions

• Managing accountability

• Learning integration

HOW IT MAPS TO ICF CORE COMPETENCIES

Take-off

• Establishes coaching agreement

• Demonstrates ethical practice

• Cultivates trust

In the air

• Listens actively

• Evokes awareness

• Maintains presence

• Communicates effectively

Landing

• Facilitates client growth

• Supports accountability

• Integrates learning

KEY COACHING INSIGHT

The flight plan is not a rigid structure.

It is a conscious navigation framework.

At lower coaching levels:

• Coaches follow the structure tightly

At MCC level:

• Coaches embody the structure without needing to show it

The conversation appears natural, but all three phases are still present:

• A clear opening intention (take-off)

• Deep emergent exploration (in the air)

• Clean, grounded integration (landing)

SIMPLE SUMMARY

• Take-off = Contracting + Safety + Focus

• In the air = Awareness + Exploration + Insight

• Landing = Action + Accountability + Learning

Or more simply:

Start with clarity
Explore with depth
End with ownership