CLEAR — Contract, Listen, Explore, Action, Review
Structuring a complete coaching session, framed by an explicit contract at the start and a review at the end: Contract, Listen, Explore, Action, Review.
Framing a complete coaching session, from the contract to the review
Structuring a complete coaching session with an explicit contract at the start, active listening, in-depth exploration, an action plan, and a review of the session itself.
What sets CLEAR apart from GROW and OSCAR. CLEAR opens with a contract — an explicit agreement on what the person wants to get out of this specific session. The session is framed, not open-ended.
The 5 steps of the method
- CContract — the session's explicit goal, set at the start.
- LListen — active listening, with no interruption.
- EExplore — an in-depth exploration of the subject.
- AAction — the commitment, specific and dated.
- RReview — a review of the session itself.
From interview preparation to a career change
CONTRACT: "We have 45 minutes. What would be most useful for you by the end of this session?" → "I want to feel more comfortable with questions about my achievements."
LISTEN: [Let the person describe how they feel about this type of question, with no interruption.]
EXPLORE: "When you say you don't know how to answer, is it more that you're short of examples, or that you don't know how to phrase them?"
ACTION: "Let's work through a STAR example together right now. What will you do before our next session?"
REVIEW: "What will you take away from this session? What was most useful?"
CONTRACT: "In the next 60 minutes, what do you want to have clarified or decided?"
LISTEN: [Full listening, 10 minutes, no interruption.]
EXPLORE: "You say you want to change but something's holding you back. If you had to name that in one word, what would it be?"
ACTION: "Of all the options we've explored, which one energises you the most? What will you do with that?"
REVIEW: "If we'd had this session 6 months ago, what would be different about your path today?"
Freelance variant
CLEAR is the ideal structure for career coaches working with IT consultants. It professionalises the session, creates a safe frame, and produces a measurable outcome every time.
Common mistakes
- ✕A vague Contract: "we're going to talk about your development" — not specific enough to frame the session.
- ✕A Listen phase that's too short — interrupting before the person has finished laying out their situation.
- ✕An Explore with no depth — stopping at the surface of the problem.
- ✕No Review — with no close to the session, the person doesn't consolidate what they've learned.
Quick checklist
- ✓The Contract is made explicit at the start of the session.
- ✓The Listen phase is respectful and uninterrupted.
- ✓The Explore digs deep (at least 2-3 levels of questioning).
- ✓The Action is specific and dated.
- ✓The Review assesses the session's usefulness (a meta-level check).
CLEAR in one sentence
CLEAR = a complete, framed coaching session. Contract (the session's goal) + Listen (active listening) + Explore (depth) + Action (commitment) + Review (a session review). The difference from GROW/OSCAR: the session is explicitly contracted and evaluated.
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