The International Coaching Federation publishes a full description of Core Competencies for coaches. Within the information on the competency of Direct Communication it says: “Uses metaphor and analogy to help to illustrate a point or paint a verbal picture.” The use of stories, analogies, and/or metaphors very specifically applies to the client and helps move them forward. Ideally, the coach also invites the client to use metaphors and analogies in their own exploration.
Example of a metaphor in a coaching conversation that is helpful to the client:
Client: I am questioning whether spending my time on that is going to pay me back.
Coach: That makes sense because time is money.
Example of an analogy in a coaching conversation that is helpful to the client:
Client: I am just not able to connect with my new colleague.
Coach: Seems what is happening is like attempting to mix water and oil.
In these examples the client knows the coach heard and understood them and with that acknowledgement they are more ready to move forward.
Example of how to use a story in a coaching conversation that is helpful to the client:
A client is looking for a job and feeling very discouraged because it is taking time. The coach shares a story of someone who took a job in a hurry and then was looking again in six months, another story about someone who interviewed for 15 different jobs before receiving an offer, and a story about someone who took 11 months to find a job and in the end loved it. The idea is so the client knows others are experiencing similar things. Then the coach can ask them about how they want to move forward.
