Employee coaching plan template [Free download]

Learning at work is a game-changer. It helps employees tackle challenges, spark new ideas, build confidence and keep skills razor-sharp. Professional development has always mattered in Canada’s competitive economy, but right now, it’s more important than ever.

This free employee coaching template is designed to set your people up for personal and professional growth. Inside, you’ll find the core areas where coaching can make a difference, plus step-by-step guidance to build a coaching plan that supports real progress.

Ready to get started? Share the doc with your employee, ask them to fill it out, then book time for a conversation. Walk through each section together and put coaching into action.

What is an employee coaching plan?

An employee coaching plan is a clear, practical strategy that empowers you to support your team’s ongoing success.

With this plan, employees get a direct path to align their goals and coaching needs while managers gain clarity on how to give effective support. This is the kind of document you’ll reference again and again as your people work toward their objectives.

How does employee coaching help with professional development?

Coaching and professional growth go hand in hand. When you invest in coaching, you create space for ongoing improvement.

Sometimes coaching means formal learning opportunities—think employee learning management system—but often it’s about simple conversations and sharing wins and lessons. No matter the approach, a structured coaching process helps employees grow, boosting confidence and motivation.

If you’re wondering when to step beyond coaching and invest in targeted upskilling, check out our guide on leadership training for your managers.

How do you write an employee coaching plan?

This template helps you start strong.

Structure matters. Without it, coaching plans drift off track. By writing down a simple, focused plan, you’ll clarify what motivates the coaching, the why behind it, how it aligns to your company goals, what great outcomes look like and what steps both manager and team member will take.

Key elements of a coaching plan

Here’s what’s inside this template and why it matters.

The why

Start with a clear reason for the coaching plan. Maybe your employee wants to overcome a challenge, get ready for a promotion or move into a new role or department. Whether their drive comes from setbacks or successes, coaching is an opportunity for growth.

The game plan

Drill down into the practical steps. List up to six clear actions your employee will take with your support. Make these actions specific, actionable and ordered logically. Simplicity is key—no over-complicating things.

The timeline

When will things happen? Map out timelines for each action. Setting deadlines keeps everyone accountable and pushes progress forward.

What is the best way to coach an employee?

Every manager brings their own style to coaching. There’s no single formula. But don’t confuse ‘coaching’ with ‘telling’. The best coaches empower their teams to find their own solutions rather than jumping in to fix things at the first sign of trouble.

If you’re coaching a swimmer, you don’t jump in the pool to finish the race. You cheer from the sidelines and help identify strategies to keep going. The same mindset applies at work. Well-timed coaching, especially empowered by leadership training, level-ups a manager’s support.

If your employee hits a roadblock, encourage them to brainstorm and talk through their ideas in a one-on-one meeting. Use open-ended questions like:

• What do you think your options are for removing this roadblock?
• What’s the main issue causing the roadblock?
• Are there ways we could pivot to avoid this challenge?
• What are three unexpected solutions that might move things forward?

Support employees as they develop their answers and confidence. That’s what real coaching looks like—and it pays off for the whole business.

More resources and templates for professional growth

Want more ways to help your team thrive? Check out these resources.

Performance review toolkit

We’ve built this end-of-year performance review toolkit for managers. It’s a go-to for review conversations with your team. Plus, see how our HR software can make performance reviews fast, easy and insightful.

Professional development plan template

If you’re looking to take your team up a notch, start with our professional development plan template. Implementation turns potential into real progress.

Career progression plan template

Help junior and mid-level employees think bigger about their futures with a career progression plan. This template gives structure to their ambitions and helps define the steps to get there.

It’s time to put people first

Building a culture of coaching isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s how you future-proof your team and keep your business moving forward. When you invest in real growth conversations, you create more engaged, resilient employees who are ready for what’s next.