ACT Session Flow Template
30-minute structured coaching session
A structured 30-minute coaching session: Analyze (10 min), Coach (15 min), Transform (5 min). Designed to move from insight to execution with specific scripts and timing guidance. ACT is the default session, not universal. Q3 (low skill, low will) is a time-boxed Direct exception that addresses will first.
Purpose
Provide managers with a repeatable session structure that ensures data-driven coaching, meaningful reflection, and concrete accountability in every conversation.
Training Enrichment
Core Insight
The ACT session flow ensures structured, data-driven coaching conversations by leading with insight, guiding reflection, and sealing commitment with accountability.
Real-World Challenge
Imagine a sales manager, Alex, is coaching a rep, Jordan, whose conversion rates have plummeted. Despite following the ACT structure, Jordan feels defensive about the data presented and shuts down during the Analyze phase. Tension rises as Alex struggles to move the conversation forward, and the session ends without any actionable outcome, leaving both parties frustrated and doubtful about future improvement.
Actionable Guidance
- 1Before the session, if data shows a drop, frame it as a shared challenge: 'We've seen a dip in conversion rates-let's explore it together to find what we can adjust.'
- 2During the Coach phase, if the coachee is defensive, ease into reflection by asking: 'What do you feel went well, and where do you think we can make tweaks?'
- 3In the Transform phase, if commitment wanes, recalibrate by asking: 'What feels achievable yet impactful to commit to this week?'
Coaching Prompts
- ?What data points can you use to lead the conversation objectively, and how can you present them to ensure they are seen as collaborative rather than critical?
- ?How can you ensure your questions during the Coach phase encourage open dialogue and self-reflection in the coachee?
- ?In what ways can you verify that the commitment made in the Transform phase is both specific and practical, ensuring it holds the coachee accountable?
Application Drill(5 minutes)
Role-play a coaching session focusing on the 'Analyze' phase. Present a data point to a partner acting as the coachee, then facilitate a discussion to identify the gap collaboratively.
Success Criteria:
- ✓Data is presented without judgment, encouraging an open and constructive dialogue.
- ✓The coachee expresses their perspective on the data, identifying at least one potential area for improvement.
Examples
- •Sales rep struggling with conversion rates
- •Manager coaching on pipeline velocity
- •Leader developing delegation skills
Exercises
- 1Practice Analyze: Review last week's dashboard and prepare 3 data-based opening questions
- 2Practice Coach: List 5 powerful questions that avoid giving the answer (use 'What' and 'How' stems)
- 3Practice Transform: Write commitment scripts that include action, metric, and accountability check
Tags
Related Artifacts
Expected Outcomes
- ✓30-minute session structure mastered
- ✓Data-driven coaching conversations
- ✓Clear action commitments with accountability
- ✓Repeatable process for all coaching sessions
Content Structure
A: Analyze (10 minutes)
Core Goal: Establish the Specific Gap and gather coachee Insight. Manager Action: Start with data (call recording, metric dashboard). Script Example: 'I noticed on the dashboard your conversion rate dropped 10 points last week. What do you think is the biggest cause behind that drop?' Key Principle: Lead with observable data, not judgment. Ask diagnostic questions to surface the coachee's understanding of the gap.
C: Coach (15 minutes)
Core Goal: Guide reflection, explore solutions, and move from 'What happened?' to 'How will you fix it?' Manager Action: Ask open-ended, non-leading questions. Script Examples: • 'If you were coaching someone else in this exact situation, what's the first step you would advise them to take?' • 'What's one thing you could try this week that you're not currently doing?' Key Principle: Resist the urge to provide answers. Use questions to activate the coachee's problem-solving capability.
T: Transform (5 minutes)
Core Goal: Agree one behavior, one practice action and one review date. A metric belongs in the KPI template, not as the action. Manager Action: Summarize and get commitment. Script Example: 'Great. So, to confirm: By Friday, you will dedicate 60 minutes to re-scripting the discovery call opening and role-play it with me on Monday. Is that a firm commitment?' Key Principle: The Transform phase must end with one behavior, one practice action and one review date.
Authors
Target Audience
Duration
30-minute session template
Difficulty
beginner
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