Coaching Conversations. Part III

After the coachee has provided where he/she is now or what the current problem /situation is… ask another powerful question… one that makes the coachee stop and think about the answer. Like: ‘what do you think things would rather be? If there is a goal, what would that be?

Once the current state and the future state are understood… it is time to talk about various pathways to the goal…have the coachee talk through and discover these pathways. Like: “If it is possible, what would your options be?” Help the coachee find possibilities, pathways and options.

Once various pathways are exhausted… ask the coachee which of these pathways he/she wants to try first… and when… have the coachee identify baby steps towards the goal… set the dates for the steps and goal achievement…and ask the coachee to describe what success looks like… i.e. what does the objective achievement indicator look like? The coachee to schedule a meetup for a follow-up conversation.

The pathway (solution) towards realizing the goal came from the coachee! The art of thinking towards a solution (solution-centric; not problem-centric) is revealed. Both the coachee and the coach smile with joy and satisfaction…

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.