Comensa Coaching Competency

Here’s a breakdown of COMENSA Core Coaching Competencies with behaviours, elite signals, evaluator clues, and practical tips for mastery. .

1. Establishing the Coaching Agreement

Behaviour: The coach clarifies the roles, responsibilities, and objectives of the coaching relationship.
Elite Signals:

• Clearly defines boundaries (coaching vs therapy, consulting, mentoring).
  
  

• Confirms session structure, duration, and confidentiality.
  
  

• Aligns with client’s desired outcomes.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client demonstrates understanding and agreement.
  
  

• Coach revisits and adjusts agreement when necessary.
   

• Mastery Tip: Practice framing agreements in 30–60 seconds at the start of every session. Use templates but keep them flexible.
  
  

2. Establishing Trust and Intimacy with the Client

Behaviour: Builds a safe, supportive, and confidential environment.
Elite Signals:

• Uses active listening and empathy.
  
  

• Acknowledges client’s perspective without judgment.
  
  

• Shows authenticity and transparency.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client feels comfortable sharing sensitive information.
  
  

• Coach demonstrates emotional intelligence and rapport.
   

• Mastery Tip: Daily exercise: role-play difficult conversations and reflect on non-verbal cues.
  
  

3. Coaching Presence

Behaviour: The coach remains fully present, flexible, and responsive to the client’s needs.
 

Elite Signals:

• Comfortable with silence.
  
  

• Adapts approach based on client’s responses.
  
  

• Avoids imposing their own agenda.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client leads the conversation without interruption.
  
  

• Coach demonstrates intuition about underlying issues.
   

• Mastery Tip: Practice mindfulness or meditation to enhance awareness and presence.
  
  

4. Active Listening

Behaviour: Deeply listens to the client’s words, tone, and non-verbal signals.
 

Elite Signals:

• Paraphrases and reflects accurately.
  
  

• Notices patterns, inconsistencies, and emotional cues.
  
  

• Asks clarifying questions without judgment.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Coach accurately interprets both explicit and implicit messages.
  
  

• Client feels truly heard.
   

• Mastery Tip: Record yourself in practice sessions; note moments you misinterpret or interrupt.
  
  

5. Powerful Questioning

Behaviour: Asks questions that provoke insight, reflection, and action.
 

Elite Signals:

• Uses open-ended, thought-provoking questions.
  
  

• Avoids leading or yes/no questions.
  
  

• Questions focus on solutions, values, and possibilities.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client expresses new perspectives or ideas.
  
  

• Conversation shifts from problem-focused to solution-focused.
   

• Mastery Tip: Create a bank of 50 “power questions” and practice inserting them naturally.
  
  

6. Direct Communication

Behaviour: Communicates effectively, clearly, and with impact.
 

Elite Signals:

• Concise, clear, and honest.
  
  

• Uses metaphors, analogies, or examples for clarity.
  
  

• Matches language style to client.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client immediately understands and can act on suggestions.
  
  

• Coach avoids jargon or over-explaining.
   

• Mastery Tip: Record yourself summarizing client insights in one or two sentences.
  
  

7. Creating Awareness

Behaviour: Helps clients gain insights about themselves, their patterns, and options.
 

Elite Signals:

• Uses observations and reflections to highlight blind spots.
  
  

• Connects client’s values, beliefs, and behaviors.
  
  

• Supports self-discovery without imposing solutions.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client experiences “aha moments” or shifts perspective.
  
  

• Coach connects insights directly to client goals.
   

• Mastery Tip: After each session, note where the client showed new awareness and what triggered it.
  
  

8. Designing Actions

Behaviour: Supports client to develop actionable strategies aligned with goals.
 

Elite Signals:

• Breaks goals into concrete, achievable steps.
  
  

• Encourages client ownership of action plans.
  
  

• Prioritizes actions based on impact and feasibility.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client leaves session with clear next steps.
  
  

• Actions align with values and purpose.
   

• Mastery Tip: Always close sessions with 1–3 specific, measurable actions.
  
  

9. Planning and Goal Setting

Behaviour: Works with clients to set realistic, measurable, and meaningful goals.
 

Elite Signals:

• Uses SMART or similar frameworks.
  
  

• Considers client’s motivation, capacity, and resources.
  
  

• Integrates short-term wins and long-term vision.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Goals are specific, time-bound, and aligned with client’s values.
  
  

• Client demonstrates commitment and clarity.
   

• Mastery Tip: Practice goal-setting exercises using real client scenarios.
  
  

10. Managing Progress and Accountability

Behaviour: Supports client accountability and tracks progress toward goals.
 

Elite Signals:

• Follows up on commitments without micromanaging.
  
  

• Adjusts plans based on learning and obstacles.
  
  

• Celebrates progress to reinforce motivation.
   

• Evaluator Clues:
  
  

• Client takes responsibility for actions.
  
  

• Progress is measurable and visible.
   

• Mastery Tip: Use a visual tracker for client commitments in each session.
  
  

Daily Exercises to Train COMENSA Competencies

1. Active Listening Drill: Listen to a conversation for 5 minutes; summarize without bias.
   
   

2. Power Question Practice: Ask 10 open-ended questions in daily interactions.
   
   

3. Presence Meditation: 10-minute daily mindfulness for attention and awareness.
   
   

4. Role-Playing Agreements: Practice session openings, clarify roles in 2–3 mins.
   
   

5. Reflection Journal: After sessions, note insights, patterns, and opportunities to improve.
   
   

6. Direct Communication Drill: Summarize complex ideas in one sentence daily.
   
   

7. Goal & Action Mapping: Pick a small goal each day, map actions, and track progress.