Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques course

In this course you learn the basic techniques of coaching. You practise questioning, feedback and self-reflection, so that you actually get a coachee moving.

8.4 from 20 reviews 4,6 on Google NRTO quality mark

Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.

For a team or department? Arrange your own group, at your premises or ours. In-company for your team

In brief. Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques is a 2-day classroom course. You can take it in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, among other places, or online, in a group of no more than 8 participants. The price is € 1250,- excl. VAT per participant, including course materials, lunch on location and a certificate of attendance. For a team or department we also deliver this course in-company.

  • Practical basic techniques for every coach
  • A clear picture of your role as a coach
  • Trust and equality in conversations
  • Giving feedback that really lands
  • Self-reflection as the engine for growth
RobChristyJorisMarjorie

Your trainer: Rob, Christy, Joris or Marjorie 857 evaluations in total, averaging 8,8. View the trainers

As a coach you get others moving. In this training course you work on the basic techniques: building trust, asking the right questions and encouraging self-reflection. You find out whether coaching suits you and go home with practical skills.

Description

In the course Coaching skills: practical basic techniques you become acquainted with the fundamentals of coaching and practise the basic techniques you need as a coach. You learn how to get a coachee moving by encouraging, facilitating, guiding and analysing, while the coachee remains responsible for the next steps.

You gain insight into the difference between training and coaching, and you discover how to build trust and equality in a coaching relationship. You also work on communication skills such as asking follow-up questions, encouraging self-reflection, confronting and giving clear feedback.

The course is practice-oriented: you work actively with exercises and realistic situations, so that you can apply what you have learnt straight away. The small group size leaves plenty of room for personal attention and individual feedback.

Topics

During this course you gain a solid grounding in the most important topics around coaching. You work on techniques that you can apply straight away in conversations with your coachee.

  • The basic principles of coaching
  • The role of coach and coachee
  • Creating trust and equality
  • Understanding communication processes
  • Recognising different levels of communication
  • Encouraging self-reflection in your coachee
  • Using confronting conversation techniques
  • Giving clear feedback
  • The difference between training and coaching
  • Your own qualities and pitfalls as a coach

Result

After this course you know what coaching involves and how it differs from training or advising. You will have discovered whether the role of coach suits you and gained insight into your own qualities and pitfalls.

You have a set of practical basic techniques that you can put to use straight away:

You build a relationship of trust with your coachee and work on the basis of equality, you recognise different levels of communication and steer the conversation deliberately, you ask questions that encourage self-reflection and personal responsibility, you conduct confrontational conversations and give clear feedback without damaging the relationship, and you get your coachee moving towards concrete next steps.

Target audience

This course is particularly suitable for participants who recognise themselves in one or more of the points below:

You want to start working as a coach or already do so, but have not yet taken any education or training in this field; you want to get a clear picture of the core values of coaching; you want to know what it means to work as a coach; you want to sharpen your conversation techniques and guide colleagues or staff better in their development.

Doesn't this description quite match you? No problem. During the intake we look together at where your learning needs lie, so that the course ties in well with them.

Teaching method

You work in a small group of no more than eight participants, so there is plenty of room for personal attention and practice. Beforehand, the trainer holds an intake with you to identify your learning objectives. On that basis, the trainer puts together the final programme.

During the course the emphasis is on doing and experiencing. You practise with realistic coaching conversations, receive direct feedback from your trainer and fellow participants, and reflect on your own approach. Short theoretical explanations alternate with practical exercises, role plays and peer review in small subgroups.

The trainer provides a safe learning environment in which you can freely experiment with new conversation techniques. This way you gradually discover which coaching style suits you and which skills you would like to develop further.

Prior knowledge

You do not need any specific prior knowledge for this course. An open attitude and the willingness to practise new conversational techniques are enough. Do you already have experience as a coach or manager? That's a bonus, but not a requirement.

Practical information

Number of days
2 days
Course times
from 10 am to 5 pm
Teaching hours
12 hours
Education level
Suitable for all levels
Preparation time
None
Included
Course materials and lunch on site
Certificate
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance
Cancel
Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)

Language

The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote More about Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques in-company

All start dates

2 training days. In order of date.

  • Wed 4 & Wed 18 November 2026 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00 Enrol
  • Mon 30 Nov & Mon 14 Dec 2026 The Hague · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 2 November Enrol
  • Mon 30 Nov & Mon 14 Dec 2026 Online · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 2 November Enrol
  • Mon 21 Dec 2026 & Mon 4 Jan 2027 Rotterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 23 November Enrol
  • Tue 5 & Tue 19 January 2027 Groningen · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 8 December Enrol
  • Tue 5 & Tue 19 January 2027 Zwolle · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 8 December Enrol
  • Tue 19 Jan & Tue 2 Feb 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 22 December Enrol
  • Thu 18 Mar & Thu 1 Apr 2027 Arnhem · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 18 February Enrol
  • Thu 1 & Thu 15 April 2027 Eindhoven · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 4 March Enrol
  • Wed 26 May & Wed 9 Jun 2027 Utrecht · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 28 April Enrol
  • Mon 2 & Mon 16 August 2027 Rotterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 5 July Enrol

No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.

This course for your team?

Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.

  • Your date and location
  • Tailored content
  • Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
  • More than 25 years' experience
Request a quote No obligation, an adviser will be in touch shortly How in-company works

What others say about this course

8.4
Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques course: average 8.4 from 20 reviews

“Learnit Training comes across to me as an organisation that is flexible and personal. The personal service and willingness to look for solutions and possibilities in particular are definitely a plus.”

F.J.M. Koevoets
Stadsbank van Lening
8.4

“An enormously illuminating course for exploring my own learning needs in the field of coaching further. Intensive because it was one-to-one, but all the better tailored to my own learning objectives and wishes. Good! There was a pleasant variety of methods and good, direct feedback.”

Anonymous9.0

“The trainer was very experienced, calm and pleasant to work with. The course gave me tools to strengthen my coaching activities.”

A. Bloem
NUON
7.6

“Good course in a small group. Time for the subject matter and time to work on each other's learning objectives. Clear explanations from the trainer and a very readable book included. I came away with a good impression of what coaching involves and what I can do with it going forward.”

B. Rekker8.2

“Very good. The trainer inspires confidence and puts himself in our shoes as individuals.”

J. de Graaf
Van Voskuilen Woudenberg
8.8

“What I liked was that the trainer put everything on paper (flip chart) and did not do everything from the book. The same information could be found afterwards on the slides and in the book. The pace was fine.”

N. Beentjes
Tauw
7.5

Training formats

Classroom

2 days€ 1250,-
  • Pleasant venue with a good trainer
  • Small groups
  • Inspiring and motivating
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Online

2 days€ 1080,-
  • Online with a trainer
  • Personal
  • Practical and interactive
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In-company

Bespoke trainingOn request
  • 100% for your group
  • Bespoke training
  • At your place or ours
View in-company

Workshop

Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request
  • Suitable for events
  • Interactive and inspiring
  • Large groups too
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Private training

At our place or yoursOn request
  • 100% just for you
  • Achieve a lot in little time
  • Whenever you want
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Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel free of charge?

Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.

What is the difference between coaching and training in the Coaching Skills course?
A trainer conveys knowledge and has participants practise new behaviour through practical assignments. A coach mainly asks questions to encourage self-insight and leaves responsibility for growth with the coachee. In the Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques course (classroom-based) you learn how to fill this coaching role: encouraging, facilitating, guiding and analysing instead of telling.
Who is the Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques course suitable for?
The course is suitable for (starting) coaches, managers, HR professionals and consultants who want to develop or sharpen their coaching skills. No prior education is required. You take the course in a classroom setting with a maximum of eight participants, so there is room for personal guidance, practice and feedback. Those who already coach without formal training will also get a great deal out of it.
Which topics are covered in the Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques course?
During the classroom-based course you learn the basic principles of coaching, the roles of coach and coachee, and how to create trust and equality. You also practise with communication processes, encouraging self-reflection, challenging conversation techniques and giving clear feedback. You gain practical skills that let you get started as a coach straight away.
What is the approach of the Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques course?
The course is classroom-based, with a maximum group size of eight participants. Beforehand there is an intake in which the trainer takes stock of your personal learning objectives and tailors the programme. During the course you actively practise basic techniques in a safe atmosphere, so that you can apply what you have learned directly in practice.
Do I receive a certificate after the Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques course?
Yes, on completion of the Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques course you receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. This certificate confirms that you have actively practised the basic techniques of coaching, including asking questions, giving feedback and encouraging self-reflection. You can add the certificate to your CV or LinkedIn profile to demonstrate your development as a starting coach.
When should you choose this classroom-based Coaching Skills course instead of an online course or self-study through books and podcasts?
You learn to coach above all by doing. A book or podcast gives you theory on GROW, LSD (Listening-Summarising-Probing) and solution-focused working, but you don't practise conversational technique with real feedback. Choose this classroom course if you want to test your skills in practice conversations with other participants and a trainer who gives immediate feedback on your attitude, your questions and your interventions. The group has a maximum of 8 participants, so you practise several times. Self-study is sufficient if you only want to understand the theory. E-learning is suitable if coaching is a small part of your role. This classroom version is the right fit when you are actually going to hold coaching conversations and want to know whether the role suits you.
How do I know whether coaching really suits me before I present myself as a coach?
The Coaching Skills: practical basic techniques course (classroom-based, a maximum of eight participants) is partly intended to help you find that out. One of the explicit outcomes is: you know whether coaching suits you. You gain insight into your own strengths and pitfalls by practising basic techniques such as encouraging self-reflection, confrontational conversation techniques and giving clear feedback. The difference with training is made concrete: as a coach you ask questions and facilitate, you do not transfer knowledge. Does that fit your natural style? Are you comfortable leaving the responsibility with the coachee? Practising in a small group gives you a more honest answer to that than a book or an online test. And if you find that it doesn't suit you, that conclusion is worth something too.
What will I actually be able to do after Coaching Skills, and what falls outside its scope?
After the classroom course you will have mastered the basic techniques: asking questions that encourage self-reflection, recognising different levels of communication, building trust and equality, giving clear feedback and conducting confronting conversations. You will have insight into your own strengths and pitfalls as a coach, and you will know when to stay in a coaching role instead of falling back on the role of trainer or adviser. What this course does not cover: this is a basic course, not a complete coaching programme. You will not be taught in-depth methods such as systemic work, transactional analysis or advanced NLP techniques. Nor is this an accredited professional programme leading towards NOBCO or ICF registration. For coaches who have been practising for some time and want to deepen their skills, a follow-up course makes more sense than this basic one.
Which conversational skills from this course can I also use straight away in my role as a manager or colleague, aside from a formal coaching role?
The techniques covered in this course can be used more widely than in a coaching relationship alone. You practise asking questions that encourage self-reflection, giving clear feedback and using confrontational conversation techniques. You also learn to recognise different levels of communication and to create trust and equality in a conversation. These are skills you use in appraisal interviews, in one-to-ones with team members or in difficult conversations with colleagues. The difference with a management or conversation techniques course: here the emphasis is on encouraging the other person to take responsibility, not on steering or convincing. Bear in mind that the course takes the coaching attitude as its starting point; you translate the techniques to your day-to-day role yourself. The group is limited to eight participants, so there is room to bring in your own practical situations.
How does this basic course relate to a full coaching programme such as an ICF or NOBCO track?
This course is an introductory course, not a full coaching programme. You learn the fundamentals: the difference between training and coaching, creating trust, recognising levels of communication, encouraging self-reflection, challenging others and giving feedback. That allows you to hold coaching conversations in your work or to take a first step towards the coaching profession. An accredited programme through the ICF (International Coaching Federation) or NOBCO (Dutch Association of Professional Coaches) usually takes 6 to 18 months, includes supervision, peer review and a final assessment, and leads to a professional qualification. You need that if you want to register professionally as a coach or invoice clients. This course is suitable for finding out whether coaching suits you and for using basic techniques in your current role. A follow-up programme is required for professional registration.
What is the difference between the role of a coach and that of a mentor or adviser, and which of those roles do I learn in this course?
In this classroom course you explicitly learn the coach role, not the mentor or adviser role. The difference lies in where the answer comes from. An adviser provides solutions based on their own expertise. A mentor shares experience and gives direction from a senior position. A coach asks questions so that the coachee arrives at insight and next steps themselves; responsibility for growth lies with the coachee. You therefore train skills such as encouraging self-reflection, recognising levels of communication, confronting conversation techniques and giving clear feedback. Advisory skills, transferring subject-matter expertise or mentorship fall outside the scope. So only choose this course if you want to learn to work from questions and facilitation, not from giving answers.
What does the Coaching Skills: Practical Basic Techniques course cost and how long does it take?

You can find the current price at the top right of this course page, along with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

Next start: Wed 4 & Wed 18 November 2026 in Amsterdam

Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.

€ 1250,-excl. VAT · next start Wed 4 Nov
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