coachee

A coachee is the person who receives coaching in a coaching relationship. The term identifies the client or participant who works with a coach to develop skills, achieve goals, or address specific challenges. Coachees commonly appear in contexts such as executive coaching, career coaching, life coaching, and organizational development.

In a typical coaching relationship, the coachee actively engages in the process. Responsibilities often include articulating meaningful goals, reflecting on personal or professional situations, and committing to action plans. Coachees may complete assignments, practice new behaviors, monitor progress, and provide feedback about what is or isn’t working. Maintaining open communication and respecting boundaries and confidentiality are also important aspects of the coachee’s role.

The coaching process usually follows stages such as contracting, goal setting, exploration, action planning, implementation, and review. Coachees work with the coach to identify outcomes, gather insights, and experiment with strategies in real-world contexts. While the coach facilitates learning through questions and feedback, the coachee retains responsibility for choice and accountability.

Coachees are distinct from students or mentees in that coaching emphasizes facilitated self-directed change rather than instruction or mentorship. The coaching relationship is professional and goal-oriented, with a focus on current performance and development rather than therapy. When issues beyond coaching scope arise, ethical practice may call for referring the coachee to appropriate professionals.