Blog series by Joann Evans
Joann Evans holds a B.S. in microbiology and chemistry. She is also a certified Paralegal. She has 20 years’ experience in quality assurance, control and engineering in fields such as pharmaceutical, medical device, IVD, biotech and blood banking. This blog series is her journey through being coached and then earning her coaching certification.
Then, our coaching certification class had the last required webinar regarding Focus and Motivation. If you were to ask me what the key word is that can sum it all up it would definitely be, “Focus” and also “Motivation” – hmm. You can forget about getting the client to focus first because getting it right on the coaching side is critical. I am learning that coaching appropriately isn’t really as easy as one might think.
I don’t want to give away too much of the class but, one of our tasks was to listen for certain words our client might use, their pace, and how they interacted. This was helping in identification of their primary learning style so that we could adjust to them and also understand part of motivating them. Then, we also had to learn to listen for Meta Models and/or Meta Programs. Is the client using toxic words and/or displaying forward or backward thinking? Wow…there is a lot to think about in coaching! Learning to focus as a coach is going to take some practice.
While at a meetup group after having this webinar, I told myself I was going to remember to keep these principles in mind then while engaged in conversation it was very hard to be fully cognizant of it all. I think it’s more about being aware of these concepts in the back of your mind so you will catch it. As a coach you must have a solid understanding of these principles. At this point in time, when I am listening to someone’s story it’s hard to say oh they used a word that tells me they are a visual thinker and here is how to adjust and what to ask. Perhaps when I am more experienced from coach training and not trying so hard it will just be evident and come naturally.
