[Free] Coaching Plan Template and Guide for 2025
87% of professionals say executive coaching delivers a high ROI, driving productivity and motivating employees. Learn how to use a coaching plan template to improve employee performance and business outcomes.
Organizations that have adopted coaching cultures to drive employee development have reported increased employee engagement. In fact, 72% acknowledge a strong correlation between a well-designed coaching plan and higher engagement levels.
This article discusses the importance of such a plan and why you should use a coaching plan template. It also includes a free, customizable coaching plan template to help you streamline your organization’s coaching process.
Contents
What is a coaching plan?
Why is a coaching plan important?
Key elements of a good coaching plan template
Why use a coaching plan template?
Free coaching plan template
11 coaching plan examples
7 steps to build a coaching program
FAQ
What is a coaching plan?
A coaching plan is a structured framework that guides professional development for individuals or teams. It outlines specific goals, the steps needed to achieve them, and the resources or support required. The plan typically includes measurable milestones, timelines, and methods for tracking progress.
It also ensures coaching efforts focus on and align with organizational objectives, helping employees improve their skills, performance, or leadership abilities. You can customize a coaching plan to address an individual’s unique strengths, challenges, and career aspirations.
Why is a coaching plan important?
Here are some reasons why a coaching plan is important:
- Structured employee development: A coaching plan provides a clear and systematic method for employee growth. It identifies areas for improvement, establishes realistic objectives, and outlines practical steps to achieve them.
- A goal-oriented framework: Effective coaching plans focus on setting SMART goals. This results-driven approach ensures the coaching process addresses specific goals and helps employees achieve them.
- Alignment with organizational objectives: A good coaching plan bridges the gap between individual development and organizational priorities. This alignment ensures that employee progress supports the company’s strategic goals.
- Addressing performance gaps: Coaching plans help identify and address performance challenges. These gaps can be tackled constructively through tools like performance reviews, peer coaching, and digital platforms.
- Boosting employee potential and engagement: Personalized coaching plans make employees feel supported and valued, boosting morale and engagement. Additionally, clear pathways for career growth can increase retention rates.
Why use a coaching plan template?
A coaching plan template helps you provide managers with the tools to create structured, effective coaching plans. Below are the key benefits of using such a template:
Greater efficiency
A coaching plan template saves time and effort by providing a structured format to work with. Instead of starting from scratch, you can use the template to quickly outline tailored coaching plans, allowing you to focus on meaningful conversations with employees.
Consistency through standardization
By using a coaching template, you can ensure all employees receive consistent attention and resources. This helps you maintain fairness across different teams and create an equitable development environment where everyone feels valued.
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Better scalability
A coaching template is designed to scale effortlessly across teams or departments. If you work at a large organization, these templates make it easier to replicate successful coaching practices and ensure consistent quality throughout the company.
Enhanced tracking
A coaching template makes it much easier to monitor progress and outcomes. The structured format lets you clearly document goals, milestones, and achievements, giving coaches and employees a transparent way to measure success and adjust plans as needed.
Improved accountability
A coaching plan template improves accountability by setting clear goals, roles, and deadlines. It tracks progress, ensures everyone knows their responsibilities, and keeps actions documented. This transparency helps measure results and keeps everyone focused on their commitments.
HR tip
Build a culture of peer coaching by training employees to support each other’s growth. For instance, small peer coaching groups (5–12 members) can be effective in building trust, sharing challenges, and generating solutions collaboratively. This approach not only improves individual development but also strengthens team dynamics.
Key elements of a good coaching plan template
To ensure maximum efficiency when developing a coaching plan using a template, your template should have the following elements:
- Clear objectives: Clear objectives form the foundation of any good coaching template. They define and provide direction, helping both the coach and employee focus on specific outcomes that align individual growth with organizational goals.
- Action steps: A coaching action plan template should outline employees’ practical steps to reach their goals. This makes large goals more manageable, ensuring steady progress through smaller, more achievable tasks.
- Timeline: This establishes deadlines for overall goals and each action step needed to achieve them. It also helps maintain momentum and ensures both coach and employee stay on track throughout the coaching process.
- Responsibilities: A good employee coaching plan template assigns clear responsibilities to the coach and the employee. This ensures accountability and keeps everyone aligned on their roles in the coaching journey. This section should also cover the support required to achieve the objectives within the specified timelines.
- Success metrics: These make it easier to measure progress and outcomes. By including quantifiable indicators of success (e.g., performance improvements or skills acquisition), managers can objectively evaluate the plan’s effectiveness.
- Feedback loops: Continuous feedback is critical for refining the coaching process. A good coaching template for managers includes regular check-ins or feedback sessions to assess progress, address challenges, and adjust the plan.
Free coaching plan template
AIHR has developed its own customizable coaching template, which you can download for free using the link below.
11 coaching plan examples
Example 1: Leadership development coaching plan
Designed to cultivate leadership skills, this coaching plan focuses on areas like decision-making, strategic thinking, team management, and emotional intelligence. Companies often use this to prepare high-potential employees for leadership roles or further develop the abilities of existing leaders.
Example 2: Performance improvement coaching plan
This coaching plan example is useful for addressing performance gaps and helping employees meet job expectations. It typically involves identifying specific challenges, setting measurable goals, and providing actionable feedback to improve productivity or efficiency.
Example 3: Career progression coaching plan
This plan is ideal for employees seeking career advancement, as it outlines steps for career growth within the company. It focuses on identifying skills or experiences required for promotion, mapping out development goals, and aligning individual aspirations with organizational opportunities.
Example 4: Succession planning coaching plan
The succession planning coaching plan grooms employees for future leadership roles and prepares them to assume critical senior positions as part of the organization’s succession strategy. It emphasizes cross-training, mentorship, and strategic skill development.
Example 5: Conflict resolution coaching plan
This coaching plan is designed to help employees or teams manage and resolve workplace conflicts effectively. It focuses on communication skills, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving techniques to create a more harmonious and conducive work environment.
Example 6: Skill-specific coaching plan
This plan targets specific skills, including technical skills (e.g., coding and data analysis) and soft skills (e.g., communication and negotiation). It allows for a significant level of customization to suit each individual’s role and goals, providing focused development in areas critical for their success.
Example 7: New manager onboarding coaching plan
This coaching plan is designed to help first-time managers transition smoothly into their new roles. It focuses on developing important managerial skills, such as delegation, team motivation, and performance evaluation. This helps ensure an effective, seamless shift into leadership.
Example 8: Diversity and inclusion coaching plan
Aimed at promoting equity and inclusivity, this coaching plan helps leaders and employees understand unconscious bias and what they can do to minimize it, improve cross-cultural communication, and create a more inclusive, equitable workplace culture.
Example 9: Time management coaching plan
This coaching action plan helps employees optimize their time by prioritizing their tasks effectively. It can be particularly useful for individuals who struggle with meeting deadlines or managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
Example 10: Executive coaching plan
Aimed at senior leaders, the executive coaching plan focuses on strategic thinking, decision-making, and organizational influence. It helps executives refine their leadership style, handle complex challenges, drive employee growth, and align their vision with company goals.
Example 11: Team-building coaching plan
Designed to enhance collaboration and cohesion, this coaching plan focuses on improving team dynamics, building trust, and aligning team goals. Organizations may use it to help new or restructured teams to build synergy and improve performance.
7 steps to build a coaching program
Use this step-by-step guide to design a fair, effective coaching program that drives employee growth and aligns individual and team development with organizational objectives.
Step 1: Start with clear communication
Begin by discussing the goals and expectations of the coaching program with the employee. Clearly articulate how the coaching action plan will benefit them and contribute to their development. This will set the stage for a transparent and collaborative process and ensure that all parties are aligned.
Step 2: Customize the plan
Tailor the coaching plan to the individual’s role, strengths, and areas for improvement. Use a coaching plan template as a starting point to structure the process and adapt it to fit specific development needs (whether they involve leadership, performance, or skill-building).
3. Set SMART goals
Define objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. SMART goals provide a clear roadmap for both the employee and coach, ensuring tangible progress and aligning personal and organizational priorities.
4. Make the process collaborative
Involve the employee in designing their coaching plan to encourage ownership and commitment. Collaborative discussions on goals and action steps promote engagement and ensure the plan resonates with the employee’s aspirations and motivations. This not only increases engagement but productivity and retention as well.
A coaching program should be structured, actionable, and trackable and encourage transparency. When used effectively, it not only drives employee growth and development but instills a culture of performance and creates an engaged workforce. A well-executed coaching program is supported by HR, facilitated by the line manager, and driven by the employee.
5. Schedule regular check-ins
Establish a schedule for consistent coaching sessions to review progress and address challenges. These regular touchpoints keep the coaching action plan on track and provide opportunities for real-time adjustments. Additionally, they show the employee that their coach is equally engaged and committed to their development.
6. Incorporate feedback from relevant parties
Use feedback as a core element of the coaching program. Solicit input from employees, peers, and managers to better understand the employee’s progress. Constructive feedback can also help refine the plan and support continuous improvement.
7. Celebrate successes to drive motivation
Acknowledge and celebrate milestones achieved through the coaching plan. Recognizing progress motivates employees, reinforces the program’s value, and encourages continued effort toward their goals.
To sum up
A coaching plan can transform employee development and drive better business outcomes. A well-designed coaching plan template can help you streamline the process, ensuring consistency, scalability, and measurable results. This enables individual growth and supports strategic organizational goals, creating a more engaged and motivated workforce.
AIHR’s free, customizable coaching plan template is a good place to start. It provides the structure you need to achieve positive results, address performance gaps, prepare future leaders, and enhance team dynamics.
FAQ
A coaching plan’s five main elements are:
1. Goal setting: Setting clear goals that match the employee’s development needs.
2. Assessment: Assessing current performance levels and areas for improvement.
3. Action planning: Specifying the necessary steps for goal achievement.
4. Implementation: The employee starts carrying out the plan under their coach’s guidance.
5. Follow-up: Reviewing progress, providing feedback, and adjusting the plan as needed.
Start by defining the program’s main goals and aligning them with organizational priorities and employee development needs. Use a coaching template to create a plan with clear timelines, responsibilities, and success metrics. Schedule regular check-ins to track progress, address issues, and update the plan if needed. Finally, gather feedback and celebrate milestones to drive motivation.
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