Hilary Clarke, the founder of Potentia, works one on one with individual lawyers as a coach and thought partner. Her mission is to inspire and empower lawyers to realize their full potential and bring about positive change in their personal and professional lives.
Many lawyers have never had a coach. For that reason, a brief description of the Potentia coaching process follows.
First Coaching Session
The first session is a complimentary “chemistry session” to allow the lawyer to assess whether he or she is interested in coaching. This chemistry session gives the lawyer an opportunity to get to know the Potentia coach and to ask any questions. If the lawyer is willing, the chemistry session also typically involves a brief coaching session so the lawyer has a sense of what coaching would involve going forward.
Subsequent Coaching Sessions
Typically, coaching engagements last for 6-12 months. Coaching sessions generally take an hour and are scheduled no less infrequently than once a month.
The second coaching session starts with an in-depth discussion of the individual’s goals for coaching. Coaching is in essence a conversation, the agenda for which is set by the client. The role of the Potentia coach is to manage and direct the conversation, provide tools and strategies to help the client clarify goals, evaluate options and identify actions to accomplish the goals and to provide the support and structure necessary to move forward.