The CORE coaching framework.

Most coaching conversations produce good intentions. CORE produces action. A four-stage structure moves every session from understanding the situation to owned, measurable change.

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CORE is our proprietary coaching framework. It gives coaches and leaders a shared language and a reliable structure that works across roles,levels, and contexts, from a first-time manager's weekly one-on-one to a senior leader working through a complex challenge.

why core works

Structure from the coach. Thinking from the person.

When people arrive at their own answers through a structured conversation, they act on them. When solutions are handed to them, they rarely do.

Many coaching conversations feel productive in the room and produce little outside of it. CORE removes the two biggest failure modes in any coaching conversation. Jumping to solutions before the real issue is understood. Ending the conversation without a clear next step.

The structure sits with the coach. The thinking sits with the person being coached. The distinction separates CORE from prescriptive advice giving.

the four stages

Context. Observation. Response. Evolve.

Blue ear
context

Understand the situation before trying to fix it. The Context stage stops coaches jumping to solutions and gives the person room to name what they are actually dealing with.

Blue mirror
observation

Name the behaviour and its impact. Not personality. Not intent. This is where vague feedback becomes specific development.

Blue lightbulb
response

The person being coached does the thinking. The coach holds the structure. The stage ends with a named action, a clear timeframe, and an owner who chose it.

Blue timer
evolve

Track progress so insight becomes lasting change. When planned actions do not happen, the reason surfaces here and feeds the next conversation.

Two women in a coaching session
where core is used

Where CORE shows up in our work

CORE runs inside every program of ours. It structures the one-on-one coaching in Known By Name, where 360 feedback data anchors each stage. It underpins individual coaching inside our leadership development programs. It shapes the coaching conversations embedded in our team engagement and resilience work.

Managers trained in our leadership programs use CORE in their own one-on-ones. Their teams get structured coaching without needing a formal coach in the room.

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faqs

Common questions about CORE

Is CORE suitable for managers who want to coach their own teams?
Yes. The framework is practical enough for managers to use without formal coaching training. The four stages give structure to what would otherwise be an uneven conversation. Many participants in our leadership programs use CORE in their regular one-on-ones within weeks of being introduced to it.
How does CORE differ from other coaching models like GROW?
GROW is widely used and effective. CORE differs in two ways. The Observation stage specifically targets the gap between intent and impact, relevant when coaching is paired with 360 feedback data like Known By Name. The Evolve stage functions as an ongoing accountability mechanism rather than a single-session endpoint. Better suited to programs running across multiple conversations.
Is CORE used in group coaching as well as individual sessions?
 Yes. The framework translates to group settings. Context and Observation are worked through collectively, with each participant contributing their perspective. Response and Evolve commitments are individual.
Do leaders use CORE with their own teams?
Yes. Teaching leaders to use CORE in their own coaching conversations is a core component of our leadership development work. A manager using CORE consistently will coach more effectively than one relying on instinct. Not because the framework is complicated, but because it removes the two biggest failure modes. Jumping to solutions before the problem is understood. Ending conversations without a clear next step.
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We help teams build practical skills that support real performance. We design learning that fits your goals and gives your people clear ways to grow. You get support that feels human and focused on outcomes that matter to your business.
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