Coaching Model: ACE -

A Coaching Model Created by Alyson Garrido
(Career Coach, UNITED STATES)

A coaching model designed to create forward movement

ACE Coaching Model

The ACE coaching model is designed to help clients embark on a new path. Like the model of Appreciative Inquiry, ACE is not meant to end, but constantly re-asses and examines what can grow and improve.

Throughout our lives we want to ‘ace’ milestones from tests to job interviews. Using this model, clients will surely ‘ace’ their next goal.

During the ACKNOWLEDGE phase, your client is discovering what has brought her to coaching. Her patience for sweeping her problems under the rug has run out. She knows that something must change, but her goals are not clear. Broad goals begin to take shape and become refined.

Client’s state:

At this stage, your client is new to coaching or has a new objective to explore. She has many ideas and a general feeling of restlessness. Her current situation is not desirable, but the path forward is unclear. On a scale of 1 to 10, she has seen the urgency of change increase and is anxious to move toward a solution.

Coach’s actions:

This is a moment to ACKNOWLEDGE the client for taking a step forward in her journey. As about the solutions and ideas she would like to consider. Pay careful attention to your client’s energy. Notice and explore areas of particular heaviness or energy.

Helpful questions:

What brought you to coaching?
What will you gain by reaching your goal?
What will success look like?

During the CLARIFY phase, your client’s goals are taking shape. She is learning about herself and hearing clear themes emerge when asked powerful questions. Fleeting thoughts and ideas are falling by the wayside. She is realizing that some of the things she neglected were not very important to her. The items that matter have risen to the top of her mind.

Client’s state:

At this stage, your client is excited that ideas are taking shape and a clear path forward is emerging. She is thoughtfully analyzing decisions that were made and realizing what is important. She feels empowered and likely vulnerable. Clarity around her desires oftentimes brings anxiety around the necessary changes to meet the goals.

Coach’s actions:

Power listening is an essential tool during this phase. As clients reach clarity their words and tone are often not aligned. Explore the motivation and underlying beliefs around the ideas that are becoming clear. Trust your intuition to know when a client is writing notes, reflecting, or has finished their thought.

Helpful questions:

How does that make you feel?
How would this impact you moving forward?
What knowledge have you gained?

During the ENGAGE phase, a tactical approach starts to emerge. Your client is ready to make a clear action plan to reach her goal. This phase is all about forward movement.

Client’s state:

At this stage, your client is raring to go. She can clearly see her goal and is creating a path to get there. She will identify obstacles that she may need to overcome. She may create deadlines and milestones in her journey. Structure is the name of the game here. She’s ready to get moving.

Coach’s actions:

During this time you should take special care in helping your client re-frame thoughts that might hinder her progress. Listen carefully for tone as she may create an action plan around things she ‘should’ do rather than what she wants to do. Underlying beliefs may also emerge, particularly if the client has already experience false starts in reaching her goal.