How long do you wait for a client to turn up to a session?

Your session is due to start on the hour. The clock chimes but your client doesn’t arrive. Five minutes after the hour, and your client is still not there. Ten minutes later, and you’re still waiting and they haven’t been in touch. How long do you wait? Do you remain available for them for the length of the planned session?

The answer to these questions are in your coaching agreement. At the outset of a coaching relationship, you should have a clear agreement in place that outlines the parameters for working together. This includes cancellations and late arrivals. Your clients should be clear about how long you will wait for them to arrive at a session and what it means if they are running late. It’s best practice to provide this kind of information to your clients in writing.

Do you use a written client agreement with all of your clients? If so, when was the last time you reviewed and updated it? How clearly does your coaching agreement spell out what happens in the case of cancellations and late arrivals?

Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC

ReciproCoach Founder and Global Coordinator