coachingtarget

Coachingtarget is a term used in coaching practice to describe the clearly defined objective that a coach and client agree to pursue during a coaching engagement. It represents the endpoint of the coaching relationship—the measurable outcome toward which sessions, exercises, and accountability efforts are directed. The concept aligns with established goal-setting theories and is often operationalized using SMART criteria or similar frameworks such as OKRs. In practice, the coachingtarget is set early in the relationship, reviewed periodically, and adjusted as circumstances change, ensuring relevance and feasibility.

Coachingtargets are typically expressed in concrete terms, including performance indicators, behavioral changes, knowledge acquisition, or attitude shifts. They guide the structure of sessions, determine the types of assignments given to the client, and provide a basis for progress assessment through metrics, feedback, and self-reflection. In both corporate and athletic coaching, clear targets help align expectations between coach and client and create accountability without sacrificing autonomy or learning.

Critiques of the coachingtarget concept point to the risk of overemphasizing measurable outcomes at the expense of process, well-being, or intrinsic motivation. Effective use requires ethical handling of data, sensitivity to individual differences, and a willingness to adapt targets as growth unfolds.

Related concepts include SMART goals, OKRs, and performance coaching.