The Coaching Zone

Optimally, during coaching enrollment will be high and learning opportunities complex. The figure below depicts this “coaching zone,” where the learner and the coach are making great progress (adapted from UCSF Mentoring Toolkit). 

• If the learning opportunities are complex, but enrollment is low, learners may retreat from the process. To take meaningful learning risks and meet challenges head on, learners must be committed.
• If the learner’s enrollment is high, but learning opportunities are not challenging, learners will most likely receive significant validation for their work, but the coaching will fall short. And clearly, if enrollment is low and learning opportunities are not challenging, meaningful change will not occur.

Figure: Coaching Zone (adapted from UCSF Mentoring Toolkit)