Inside my 1-1 coaching process; creating lasting client results
There are so many ways that 1-1 support can look, and so I thought it was about time I broke down the nuts and bolts of what exactly goes on inside my 1-1 coaching engagements, from start-finish.
How I start working with new 1-1 clients.
→ On first point of contact
I am either referred to clients by a current/past client (the number of romantic partners of clients I have now coached is quite astounding!) or I will have met you in person or you found me online, and you left details via the enquiry form on my website, DM’ed me on LinkedIn or replied directly to one of these emails!
However we first connect, we’ll schedule a virtual meet and greet, which I call a ‘Discovery session’ as its designed to help you to discover more about coaching, about me, and about our fit for partnering together.
I will likely send you some resources to review ahead of time, such as prompt questions to get you in the headspace for reflection, and maybe some blogs I’ve written that relate to the question /challenges you’re bringing to coaching.
I’ll also google you, read through anything about you I can find and generally get a sense of what I can. Basically, it’s nice if we don’t feel like total strangers when we first speak, but have a chance to both do a bit of ‘homework’ on each other.
→ During your discovery session
My discovery calls are designed to be a high-value use of your time, whether you decide to work with me or not.
It’s not a high-pressure sales pitch—it’s a real conversation which will leave you with clarity on your next steps, a refined vision and a strong sense of whether I’m the right person to help you make it happen. Usually 40-60mins long.
I might say something like….
"What I love to do with these calls is to start with understanding your vision in a bit more depth. I've read a little about you already, and I see your influences and the pieces of the puzzle you are trying to put together. But tell me in your own words, what does the future look like for you if everything goes to plan?"
I’ll listen for themes, contradictions, and opportunities you might not have fully articulated yet. Often, by the end of this section you’ll be able to say, "That’s actually much clearer than how I was thinking about it before."
I bring a healthy dose of pragmatism and ambition, helping you define clear markers of success and ensure avoiding vague, overwhelming plans. So that might feel like a reality-check on the action items you are bringing to coaching meaning identify what is important to achieve, and what is a nice to have or longer-term play.
I’ve done upwards of 500 of these discovery calls by now, so nothing surprises me.
Think you’re waffling? You’re not. Start crying? It happens a lot. Get excited and start telling me your dreams? Love it. Realise you are blocked by a parental figure in some way still? Yep. It’s all part of this rich, awareness-building conversation… and a part of the journey of change you are about to go on.
Then, if I think I can help, I might say something like…
I see your coaching requiring three phases. We’d start by defining your core expertise and how you want to be known. Then we would set up your business operations to be entirely ready to create and work with clients. Then, we’d build the assets that position you as an authority—whether that’s your book or workshop, this is your vehicle for opportunity that will bring more people into your world.
We will then co-create a plan for the future sessions — covering all the areas you’d need to cover to reach your goals.
On the call I will share the investment for working together, and proposed timeline for a coaching commitment. This may be 2 months, it might be 6 or even 12, we’ll discuss it together.
Often you’ll know right away on that call, or might want to sleep on it. But typically within seven days of speaking, we’ll agree to work together, or decide ‘not now. I might even refer you to a better-fit coach for your situation.
→ Before your first session
After our discovery call, there’s a bit of admin and onboarding. You’ll get a follow-up email from me recapping key points from our conversation and presenting tailored options for working together.
Once you’re ready I send a coaching agreement to ensure we are on the same page about the terms, timelines and outline what we’ve agreed. Your invoice and calendar invites to lock the times on the calendar.
Then, you’d set aside 30-60 mins before our first session, to fill in your pre-coaching questions.
My clients have had a lot to say about these questions! Some find them emotional, thought-provoking, challenging, and always, deeply reflective.
Your responses to these questions are needed 48 hours before Session 1 so I can really study where you’re at, your values, beliefs, goals and motivations, and plan ahead for a powerful first session onwards.
Expect to answer questions like…
“How would you describe the kind of LIFE you want to live?”
”How do you tend to make decisions?”
”What self-sabotaging behaviours are you aware of doing?”
”Whose career path do you admire (famous or not) and why?”
”What unabashed dreams do you have for your business?”
” What specific milestones or shifts would signify a successful coaching journey for you?”
→ During your first coaching session
Ideally, we meet for a ‘double’ session the first time we start working together. My single sessions are 50 minutes, so 100 minutes is on the clock. We’ve already met, and I’ve been sitting with your pre-coaching questions ready to hit the ground running. You might have even had some homework I set you from the discovery call that you’re updating me on.
I begin by reflecting back and clarifying the goals for the coaching engagement, or what I like to call your ‘Ask’!
There are also questions I have about your pre-coaching questions, as I’ve already begun pulling out themes, patterns, or gaps I’ve noticed. It’s more than just ticking boxes; I’m helping you see what’s working, what’s not, and where you need more clarity.
Then we build some goal posts and make sure we’re on the same page about what good would look like from coaching.
Your ‘Ask’ might be something like…
Clarifying founder-product fit — aka why YOU are the right person to run this business and ensure its a great match for your unique authority, skills and strengths
Review the foundations of your business and ensure they are solid & ready for scale
Learn how to effectively build demand before launching rather than hoping people will buy.
Build a plan for sales and marketing that suits your personality and temperament
Find a repeatable, structured approach to marketing rather than scrambling to sell
Define a messaging strategy that resonates with your ideal buyers
Tap into a new market, e.g. b2b after a few years focused on b2c exclusively
Rarely is it just one thing, but a combination of goals, which, together, combine to putting you on a path to running a fulfilling, authority-led business that makes money you can rely on to live a great life, too.
Session 1 makes good headway on exactly what you want (because in a business world obsessed with shortcuts and one-size-fits-all tactics, the real risk isn’t moving slowly; it’s moving fast in the wrong direction). And we don’t wait to take action, either.
I’ll leave you with some clear actions and next steps, typed up in your private coaching portal. You can message me in between sessions if things come up, too.
Before you know it, session 2 will roll around… but you’ll have to stay tuned for next week’s email to learn more about session 2 and beyond!
Session 2 begins with a crucial reflection point. You arrive having processed your insights from our first meeting, so there may be fresh perspectives and questions.
If there’s any resistance to the goals established in Session 1, I guide you to unpack it:
“Is this resistance because the goal doesn’t actually feel right? Or is it fear of what committing to it will require?”
Once any questions are ironed out, we can now deepen the conversation, translating your ambitious goals and ideas into tangible action steps. We create a strategic ‘to-do’ list and, just as importantly, a ‘not to-do right now list’.
So many founders unnecessarily pile actions onto their plate without due thought: many of those actions are not important right now, or perhaps, ever.
A past client shared:
“I remember feeling like I was drowning in all these things I ‘should’ be doing, and Ellen was the first person to stop me and say, ‘Wait—does this even matter? Is this actually moving the needle?’ That reframe was a game-changer.”
I’m now able to start seeing patterns emerge—in how you make decisions, what blocks you, and where you might be overcomplicating things. I’ll help you refine your focus so that you can work smarter, not harder.
These early sessions are all about a bespoke plan for you to create real momentum. Momentum comes from building clarity about what you want and then taking action towards it. The more action you take, the more clarity you create. It’s a virtuous cycle.
But this is way more than giving you a guide to follow, as all our work happens through the lens of ‘you’, aka how your values, experiences, backstory and life circumstances are impacting your beliefs and your progress. We unpick anything that is standing in the way between you and your goals. Whether that’s a past failure that comes back to haunt you, a childhood script, a pattern of thinking or working that isn’t serving you.
In a recent session, saying something along the lines of:
“You’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself to have this figured out already. What if, instead of needing to know everything, we just got really clear on the next thing?”
If there are knowledge gaps about the exact steps required to grow your business, I will step in with my business mentor hat on.
I’ll share a piece of advice, framework, anecdote or something for you to read/listen to after the session (I have a vast library of trainings to pull from at this point, across every aspect of the business building journey!).
A long time client Alice described this as:
This is my first rodeo, but it's not Ellen's—her experience shines through every time we meet. Her advice and writing are grounded in research, theory, and real world experience. I also appreciate the little things she does like review emails for me, make introductions, or provide the bolder feedback that my friends and family can't give!
All your notes and next steps will be stored in your private file for you to access and work through in your own time… you won’t feel alone in this journey during any point of the process.
→ Mid point of coaching
At the midway point, (which might be between session 3 - 10 depending on your programme length) it’s a great opportunity to zoom out and assess progress.
I’ll introduce a midpoint check-in form, asking:
“What has been the biggest shift for you so far?”
“What are you the most proud of?”
“What is still feeling unclear, slow or challenging?”
“What changes can I make as your coach, to support you further?”
I often remind clients:
“Feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re at the edge of something important. Let’s figure out what’s really going on.”
This phase is about recalibrating—ensuring you stay aligned, focused, and energised for the second half of our work together. If the goals still feel too big or too nebulous, we can break them down further. If your mindset is preventing you from thinking big, or believing in a better future, we’ll look at why. If something has come to light that has made you realise you want to go in a new direction, that’s okay too.
Here are examples of shifts that made at the mid point process across different clients:
A client feeling they were making slow progress on their B2B side of the business. They feared this was due to a lack of reputation or abilities. To me? This side simply needed more attention, time and patience. We got back on track with that goal — because it is one they really want, and is within reach.
A client exploring a job (they’ve been in business a long time) and navigating what taking the job would mean for their business. In the end, they decided to stay in their current set up.
A client noticing that the market for what they do has shifted so significantly due to global political changes. Rather than pull back on marketing, I suggested addressing the elephant in the room head on. They’re now running an event to bring industry leaders (and potential clients) together to discuss the state of affairs.
A client who came to me for more for marketing support and to grow their reach with their business, realised that closing clients was more of a priority as they already had plenty of leads but needed our sessions to refocus on best practices for this part of their business.
→ Towards the end of coaching
As we move beyond the midpoint, the coaching has shifted towards refining since you’re out in the world, implementing and adjusting the plan based on live feedback from clients, partners and audiences.
It might feel more like you are reporting back to me. You might be saying something like:
“It’s been busy and there's things I've been working on that definitely take way more time than I had anticipated… but I actually feel really in flow with it. I created a playbook for my process, and now I keep refining it as I learn new things.”
We discuss:
What’s working and proving successful?
What needs tweaking? Where are inefficiencies showing up?
Where do we need to shift or expand the strategy?
Crucially, there is much more self-trust in your decisions. You’re absolutely no longer feeling stuck or reactive, but operating with clarity and empowerment.
So the final stage of coaching is about consolidating your transformation. For most clients, transformation looks like growing an authority-led business that feels aligned, creates high ticket clients and building a body of work they are proud of. There will be specific milestones worked towards on the coaching journey, too.
So you've either reached your initial goals or have made significant progress towards them.
I’ll ask you to fill in an end-of-coaching reflection, with questions like:
“What’s changed for you since our first session?”
“What are the top 3 lessons you’ll carry forward?”
“How will you continue holding yourself accountable?”
A client reflected:
“At first, I was obsessed with hitting specific numbers and metrics. But through our coaching, I learned to balance ambition with self-awareness—knowing when to push and when to pivot. The structured, action-focused approach was a game-changer.”
This reflection process isn't just about celebrating wins—it's about embedding the tools and mindset shifts we've developed together into your long-term business strategy. This ensures you have a clear plan for what’s next beyond our work together and that you feel confident in self-coaching and decision-making.
You leave with sustainable systems for long-term progress.
→ After we’ve finished working together
Once we’re done, I check in with you three months later to see how you’re progressing.
I’ve noticed around 20-30% of clients return for more coaching within 6-12 months or so, often when they reach their next phase of business. You know what they say… another level, another devil.
Some clients don’t return—and that’s okay! Many get exactly what they needed from that coaching engagement, or they seek out another coach with a different focus, background or style, when they are next in the market for coaching.
One past client, Nicki, reflected on our work together:
“I was definitely drawn to your style because from meeting you, talking to you, and following your work, I really respected your pragmatic approach to building a coaching business. There’s strong intuition and emotion in your work, but I loved that it came with clear structure and an action plan. I wanted accountability, and I got it.”
Is it your turn to get coached?
Did you read this and think “I’d like to be her client”? You can book a discovery call to explore 1-1 coaching together, HERE. My clients often come through this newsletter, and I’d love to support you if it feels like the right fit.
