If you are hired by a company to coach one of their executives, who is the “client” … the company or the coaching subject? And how does that impact confidentiality?

When I’m hired by a company to coach someone on their staff, the company itself is the “client” and the person I’m coaching is considered the “subject” of the coaching assignment. Unless the process is left completely up to the subject, there is usually a meeting with the subject of the coaching and his or her supervisor to discuss the process and coaching goals. I encourage openness in the process when subject and the payer (or “client”) are two different people. In other words, I encourage the subject and client to meet regularly about progress on achieving coaching goals. I also provide regular summaries to both the subject and the client, although the actual conversations and specifics of the coaching meetings are held in confidence.