What was the journey like and where does it continue now?
Depending on the situation of the participants and the contents to be discussed, the duration of future coaching may vary considerably.
For example, in services for young people with shorter guidance relationships, the coaching might only include a few meetings, for which the coach can select a few suitable exercises from this guide.
On the other hand, future coaching may take several months, for example, at a workshop for young people or another similar long-term guidance process. Before starting, the coach’s task is to plan the entire process so that it can be implemented within the available time.
It is important that each coaching programme has a clear start and end. In this case, it is possible to examine the progress of the participants during the coaching period.
At the end of the coaching, the coach can discuss with the participant how the agreed-upon objectives have been achieved and also consider measures to be taken after the coaching. Of course, it is also possible to continue the process in a new future coaching if it feels like the right solution.
The following pages contain exercises and practical tips that make it easier to summarise at the end of the coaching. There is also a list of questions that can be used with participants to reflect on the process discussed and to consider the thoughts and insights that have emerged during it.
Reflection questions for the coach:
- What kind of expectations did you have before the future coaching? Did they come true? Did something surprise you during the coaching?
- How did the future coaching affect your thinking about the future? Did something change?
- Is there something in the future coaching that you could also use in your other work?
Example of the duration of the exercise: 30 minutes–2 hours
Supplies: Future Capabilities Indicator questionnaire form.
Goal: Map the participants’ thoughts about the future and their capabilities for the future at the end of the coaching.
Implementation
A questionnaire measuring futures capabilities was proposed as the first exercise in the future coaching.
The same form works excellently also at the end of the coaching programme. Participants can be asked to complete the form as a homework task before the final coaching session, or it can be completed together during the last meeting.
Based on the form, it is possible to reflect on the coaching session and highlight the thoughts and insights that emerged during it in relation to the future.
Reflection
If the participants have also filled in the form at the beginning of the coaching, it is a good idea to compare the forms at the beginning and at the end and consider the change that took place during the coaching.
Have the participants’ future capabilities improved? What kind of thoughts do the questions in the form evoke in them? Are there any issues in their own future capabilities that should still be worked on and developed after the end of the coaching? What measures could be taken to address them in practice?
This reflection phase can be implemented in many ways in practice, and the appropriate method always depends on the situation and the participants involved.
Reflecting on the ideas and insights generated is an extremely important part of the coaching, so it is a good idea to reserve enough time for it.
Example of the duration of the exercise: 30 minutes–1.5 hours
Supplies: Something to make notes with
Goal: Conduct a final discussion with each participant and provide them with an opportunity to offer feedback on the coaching. At the same time, the next steps of the participant after the coaching are also considered.
Implementation
The final discussion is a good place to make the results attained visible to the participant and to consider the following phases together after the coaching.
The final discussion can be held either with each participant alone or as a group discussion, in which case the participants can act as peer support to each other. The coach can also combine these approaches.
Below are examples of questions that the coach can use as a framework for the final discussion.
- What expectations did the participants have before starting the training?
- How were the expectations met? Did they change during the training?
- What was the best part of the coaching?
- What was the least favourite part of the coaching? What should have been done in different ways?
- For example, what are the three most important outcomes of participating in the coaching?
- Did the coaching fail to address an important aspect or issue?
- Was there anything that was not completely addressed during the coaching? How could you continue with it after the coaching?
- What are the most important concrete steps towards the desired future after the coaching?
- What concrete actions will the participants take next for their own future?
License
Theme
Kestävä hyvinvointi ja tulevaisuus, Nuorisotyö, Tulevaisuustyö, Yhteisöllinen hyvinvointi ja osallisuus
Citation instructions
Rantaniva, A. ja Eerikäinen, V. 2025. Future Coaching Guide. Xamk Educate 6. South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences. Available: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:oerfi-202509000000780_2.
ISBN
978-952-344-624-3