Frequently Asked Questions

What is coaching?

Check out our Coaching Definitions page.

Why are we incorporating coaching into our culture at UNTHSC?

Coaching assists all of our employees with having meaningful, individualized, and future-focused goal-driven discussions to impact performance, increase engagement, and improve retention.  

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as “Partnering with [individuals] in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” 

Do I need to have a Coaching Plan?

All staff team members and faculty will complete at least 3 coaching plans per year (every 4 months).  These plans are a tool to drive your formal coaching conversations and help provide a foundation for consisting coaching throughout the year.

Who fills in the Coaching Plan?

Team members will complete your own coaching plan before each formal coaching session.  You may or may not have something in every box, but be prepared to discuss the elements with your coach.  In the formal coaching session, team members and coaches will use the form to frame a collaborative discussion about the team member’s performance.  There may be changes to the plan during or after the formal coaching session.

Where can I access the Coaching Plan?

Check out the coaching plan page.

What is a SMART goal?

SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Get more information about setting SMART goals.

What is a stretch goal?

Stretch Goals are goals that are beyond current capability, require learning and application of new skills, cannot be achieved by incremental steps or small improvements, and are challenging enough that few will actually achieve. These goals are aspirational in nature, but within the realm of possibility.  What is a stretch goal for some may not be a stretch goal for others. These are individualized and require growth to achieve.

What is a collaborative team goal?

Collaborative Team Goals are goals that require collaboration within the team or cross-functional effort to achieve.

For collaborative team goals, do I have to collaborate with my whole departmental team?

Not necessarily. These goals may require working with your whole departmental team, with a portion of your departmental team, with another department, or with another team member. Collaborative team goals require you to collaborate with someone else to achieve them. This can take many forms.

If you do not see an answer to a question you have, please email your questions to the Office of Strategy and Performance at OSP@unthsc.edu.