Homework in coaching: Why it is the key to sustainable change
As a coach, you want your coachee not only to gain insights during the session, but also to grow beyond it. Real change does not happen only within the coaching conversation itself; it unfolds in the days and weeks afterwards, in daily life, in the choices someone makes and the actions they take.
That is why homework assignments are not an ‘extra’, but an essential part of a powerful coaching process. They create depth, awareness, and sustainable behavioural change.
From insight to integration
A coaching conversation can be inspiring and insightful, but without follow-up there is a risk that insights fade. Homework assignments help anchor those insights in practice. They bridge the gap between thinking and doing – between knowing and experiencing.
By trying something out, practising, or reflecting between sessions, the coachee integrates what has been discussed. In this way, not only awareness grows, but also the ability to respond differently to situations.
Encouraging self-direction
One of the aims of coaching is to strengthen ownership and autonomy. By giving your coachee assignments, you encourage self-exploration, initiative, and responsibility. It reinforces their role as an active participant in the process – rather than a passive recipient of advice.
Homework also supports motivation: it makes progress visible. Coachees notice they are taking steps, that they have influence, that they can grow. This has a reinforcing effect.
What kind of assignments can you give?
Homework assignments do not need to be complex. What matters most is that they align with the goal of the session and the person in front of you. Some examples:
- Reflection questions: What have you noticed this week in your behaviour or thoughts? What worked well / what did not?
- Behavioural tasks: Try consciously saying ‘no’ once a day / initiate a feedback conversation / meditate for five minutes.
- Observation: What happens in your body when you feel tension? How do you respond to criticism?
- Creative tasks: Write a letter to your future self / create a values collage / keep a mood journal.
- Preparation: Reflect on a question for the next session or bring in a case example.
What makes a good homework assignment?
An effective homework assignment is:
- Short and achievable
- Concrete and purposeful
- Connected to the coachee’s question or goal
- Inviting self-reflection or action
- Can be discussed in the next session
Always discuss the assignment clearly: what is the purpose, how will the coachee approach it, and how will it be reviewed next time? This prevents it from feeling like an obligation and makes it a meaningful part of the process.
From coaching to habit
Homework assignments ensure that coaching has an impact beyond the session. They help coachees recognise patterns, take new steps, and ultimately influence their behaviour, thinking, and emotions in a lasting way.
In short, as a coach you do not only help people during the conversation – you help the conversation continue to work in their lives. Homework is one of your most powerful tools for making that happen.
Do you use homework assignments in your coaching practice?
Experiment with different forms and actively explore with your coachee what works best for them. The better the assignment fits, the greater the chance of sustainable change. This topic is also addressed in our Coaching and Counselling Year 1 training programme, where you learn how to use homework assignments effectively within a coaching trajectory.
