Evaluating Coaching Effectiveness: Takeaways from Jonathan Reitz’s Trifocal Coaching Approach via Coaching.com
In a recent Coaching.com session, Jonathan Reitz shared a thoughtful and practical framework for evaluating coaching: Trifocal Coaching. This model encourages coaches to assess their work through three clear lenses:
1. Session-by-Session Coaching Evaluation
Reitz suggests tracking what actually happens in each session, using questions such as:
What fresh insights emerged—for the client or the coach?
Did I wait at least seven seconds after asking a question?
How many questions did I ask—was that productive or too much?
How satisfied was the client with the session?
One point that stood out: more silence often correlates with greater client satisfaction. Whoa, okay. I started applying this immediately, intentionally building in more silence after questions. The shift was noticeable—my clients had more space to reflect, and their responses deepened.
2. Evaluating the Coaching Engagement as a Whole
Zooming out, Reitz encourages coaches to look at the entire coaching engagement:
What patterns became clear over time?
What consistent themes emerged across sessions?
Did the client experience meaningful progress?
This perspective helps connect individual sessions into a coherent arc, offering both coach and client a sense of continuity and direction.
3. Tracking Changes in Self-Regard
The third lens Reitz proposes is less about metrics and more about internal change:
Has the client’s self-regard increased?
Is the client thinking, speaking, and acting with more clarity and confidence?
How has the coach’s self-awareness evolved over the course of the engagement?
These are subtle but essential shifts that can indicate real coaching impact.
Applying the Model: Two Small Changes That Made a Difference
Right after the session, I made two immediate adjustments to my own practice:
I built in longer pauses. It gave my clients room to do deeper thinking in real time. Great!
I began recording coaching sessions—with client consent—for my own review and for their reflection. Will check back on this on.
Closing the Loop: Session Notes and Engagement Summaries
Reitz also emphasized how we capture and share coaching session notes. Rather than letting insights live only in conversation, he suggests gathering session highlights and sharing them with the client at the end of the engagement. It’s a way to close the loop, reinforce progress, and leave the client with a tangible record of their development.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking to evaluate your effectiveness as a coach without overcomplicating things, the Trifocal model offers a grounded place to start.
If you're a coach looking to refine your practice, try experimenting with one small change—add more silence, review a session, or reflect on how your clients are shifting over time. You don’t need to overhaul your style to make meaningful improvements.