The way a client uses language provides the coach with insight.\u00a0 For example, because of how much information we all process every day, we delete detail or generalize situations to manage the flow.\u00a0 When a client is generalizing, specific words let the coach know and then they ask more questions.\u00a0 If detail is left out, words point to this and a coach probes further.\u00a0 For example, if a client says, \u201cTypically\u2026\u201d the coach knows this is a generalization and asks about different possibilities.\u00a0 If a client says, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t work\u201d the coach recognizes that detail on the reasons is missing and probes further to discover how it could work.<\/p>\n
Language also indicates focus.\u00a0 When a client focuses on what they don\u2019t want, the coach will ask them about what they do<\/em><\/strong> want.\u00a0 If a client says, \u201cI don\u2019t want to work in a chaotic office\u201d the coach realizes that the goal remains undefined.\u00a0 The coach then asks the client what office environment they do<\/em><\/strong> want.<\/p>\n When motivated externally, the client\u2019s language lets the coach know.\u00a0 A statement such as, \u201cI am going to do this because I don\u2019t want to get in to an argument\u201d tells the coach the client does not buy-in to their own action plan.\u00a0 The coach will ask the client what they would do if an argument was not a risk factor.\u00a0 The coach will then explore what it means to the client personally to get the result.<\/p>\n If a client is waiting on others or circumstance before taking action, their language includes such phrases as \u201cafter they do this\u201d or \u201cwhen that happens\u201d.\u00a0 The coach then explores what actions the client does control now to support the desired outcome.<\/p>\n