Three-Party Agreements: Coaching in Organizations
If you’re stepping into organizational coaching (or thinking about it) one of the first big questions is: how do you navigate a coaching engagement when there’s more than just you and the client at the table? That’s where three-party agreements come in.
In this episode, I break down the essentials of three-party (or sponsored) engagements: what they are, why they matter, and how to set them up in a way that protects trust while also aligning with organizational goals. Whether you’re new to corporate coaching or looking to strengthen your contracting skills, this conversation will give you practical tools for building clarity, safety, and alignment from the start.
You’ll hear about:
Why a three-party agreement is best approached as a conversation first, document second;
The must-have elements to include, from goals and confidentiality to feedback protocols and exit clauses;
How to balance organizational expectations with the coachee’s autonomy and professional growth;
What to watch out for when hidden agendas or performance management creep into the process;
The role of culture and diversity in shaping agreements that actually work across contexts.
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow coach who’s navigating organizational coaching or preparing for it. And if you haven’t yet, hit subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, especially the next one, where we’ll dive into one of the most powerful aspects of coaching: working with emotions.
Want to deepen your coaching practice with more confidence and clarity? I’d love to connect.
DM me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/luba-diasamidze/) or visit www.upthinkcoaching.com
