“Guidelines for the Coaching Participant”

• The coaching participant or protege/mentoree has to want to be a partner in the coaching connection. To that end, they prepare and do the appropriate "homework" for meetings with their coach. They work to gain the skills, knowledge, and abilities to grow. They’re flexible, listen to their coach, and consider new options. They take initiative, seeking the coach’s guidance when needed. And they focus on the goal, not getting lost in the process (if it isn’t clear, they ask the coach how the process leads to the goal).

• The protege/mentoree has to know and be able to discuss their needs and objectives with their coach. This means that she has to look inside herself to identify areas that may need work and share them with the coach.

• The protege/mentoree must take responsibility for her career and goals. Although they have the benefit of the coach’s guidance, they are responsible for their own path. The coach may guide the protege/mentoree on the path to earn a promotion, for instance, but it is the protege/mentoree who must earn it.

• The protege/mentoree needs to be able to receive feedback and look at the situation from the coach’s perspective to gain a more objective viewpoint. One of the biggest values of the connection is the ability to have a more experienced person’s viewpoint; sometimes when it is our own situation we are looking at, we cannot see the forest for the trees.

• The protege/mentoree has to be willing to try new things, to consider different ways of "getting there from here.”

• The protege/mentoree has to periodically assess the progress of the relationship, letting the coach know when priorities must be reset.

• The protege/mentoree must be willing to complete all activities, discussed and agreed to with their coach, professionally and in a timely manner.

• The protege/mentoree must be willing to attend all program activities.

NB:  CBEC provides this service as part of its charter to “Encourage & support viable small business opportunities and employment creation/retention initiatives in our region.”  CBEC coaches operate from a professional ethical base to assist business to grow and develop, however, take no responsibility for any decision made by a participant.