Preparing for your first session

A little preparation helps us make the most of our time together. Open the section below that matches how we're working together.

Whatever the format, some things hold true:

  • You’re in the driver’s seat. You decide what we focus on, and whether you need coaching, mentoring, supervision, advice or a mix.

  • I'll ask a lot of questions, both to understand your context and to help you find your own answers.

  • Our conversations are confidential, unless you ask me to share something on your behalf. You’re welcome to share anything I say or provide, unless I say otherwise.

  • Decisions and actions stay with you. I may take notes and share resources, but documentation and follow-through are up to you.

  • Online sessions can be recorded or have AI-generated notes. Let me know at the start of a session if you’d like either. Due to their environmental impact, I generally discourage video recordings, and don’t use AI by default, but I’m happy to turn on the AI notetaker if you’d find it useful. Any recordings or notes are shared only with you.

  • We expect all New Know How clients and participants to follow our Code of Care when engaging with us (and each other).

  • You’ll get the most from each session if you reflect beforehand on the most important thing to bring and the kind of help you'd like.

Not sure what to bring? Here are some examples:

  • I'm facilitating a [workshop/engagement/research activity] soon, and would like feedback on my plan/approach/activities, so that…

  • I've been asked to do/create [e.g. a journey map / co-design workshop / evaluation plan] for the first time – how do I go about this?

  • I'm facing resistance from my colleagues/partners/managers to my participatory approach. How can I get them on board / more involved?

  • I'm worried about power dynamics and/or including people with complex needs in my upcoming workshop/activity. Can we explore options for engaging all members of the group in an inclusive and respectful way?

If you'd like to send notes or materials, please do so at least 24 hours before we meet so I have time to look over them. Each session allows for an additional 10 minutes of preparation or follow-up time. If what you're sending needs more time than that, let me know when you book so we can agree on it.

For what coaching with New Know How is and isn’t, our values, and practical guidelines around scheduling and response times, see how we work with you.

Engagement types

  • One-off sessions are usually only available to New Know How alumni or other course participants within three months of completing a training program.

    A single session works best when it's focused. We'll start by agreeing what you want to leave with, then spend most of our time on that.

    Before we meet, reflect on one or two of these questions and skip any that don't resonate:

    • What's the most important thing you'd like to bring?

    • What would make this session worthwhile for you?

    • Where do you feel stuck, or what's the main challenge you're facing?

    • What role would be most useful from me? For example: sounding board, thought partner, challenger, mentor or advisor.

    If you'd like ongoing support afterwards, see individual mentoring or team coaching.

  • Our first session sets the foundation for the whole engagement. We'll explore your goals and context, agree on the role I'll play, and establish shared expectations. The individual mentoring page explains how we'll work together from there.

    Before we meet, reflect on one or two questions from each group.

    Where you're at:

    • What aspirations and goals do you have for your practice?

    • What are you most wanting to address or improve in your work?

    • What are your colleagues, managers or organisation seeking from you?

    • Where do you feel most stuck?

    What you'd like from mentoring/coaching:

    • What would you love to achieve over our time together?

    • Why have you engaged me, and how do you think I can help?

    • What should I know to support you well? If you've worked with a coach, mentor or supervisor before, what did or didn't help?

    To schedule your sessions, use the booking link I've sent you. Booking around two weeks ahead usually gives you the best choice of times.

    Further details of how we'll work together are outlined in our Engagement Letter and Terms – these can be found in your client portal on Notion, where we'll also track session use.

  • Our first session is a kick-off. We'll get to know each other, clarify the project and what you need, and agree on practical ways of working. If time allows, we'll start coaching straight away.

    The team coaching page outlines how the engagement unfolds. For the principles behind this way of working, see mentoring co-design projects.

    Before the kick-off, discuss these questions as a team if you can, so we can dive in quickly when we meet.

    Your project:

    • What is the project's purpose, and how and why did it come about?

    • What are your roles? Who else is involved, and what are their objectives?

    • What are you hoping to achieve, and what concerns you most?

    • Which aspects of the project would you most like to explore together?

    Your hopes and expectations:

    • What would you love to achieve through coaching/mentoring, individually and as a team?

    • What are your colleagues, managers or organisation seeking from you?

    • What should I know to support you well? Consider what else is happening in your organisation, and any past experiences of coaching or supervision that show what does or doesn't help.

    At the kick-off we'll also agree who joins which sessions, how we schedule them, which online platforms suit you, and how we stay in touch between sessions.

    Further details of how we'll work together are outlined in our Engagement Letter and Terms – these can be found in your client portal on Notion, where we'll also track session use.