How can we overcome ambivalence when coaching our clients?
Continuing my exploration of common coaching challenges, let's highlight a significant one: Ambivalence. Addressing ambivalence is key to fostering a thriving professional-client relationship and achieving the outcomes clients desire.
Effectively managing ambivalence often involves the coach gently exploring its underlying causes. To help the process, it could involve asking the client a few thought-provoking questions like this: 💡 You can of course add and explore more, this is just a few to give an idea :)
1️⃣ Why do you feel unsure about this? 2️⃣ Have you attempted similar changes before, and if so, what were the results? 3️⃣ What do you think will happen if you try it again? 4️⃣ Can we list the ideas you're assuming are true? 5️⃣ How long have these assumptions been with you? 6️⃣ One effective strategy for handling assumptions, especially those rooted in the past, is to create a safe, modest test for them. Are you open to experimenting with this assumption? 7️⃣ Then, we can check if these ideas are accurate. Sometimes, it takes a few tries.
Are you okay with checking if your ideas are right? 8️⃣ Often, realizing these ideas that hold you back is the first step. With careful watching and testing, you can eventually overcome these ideas that have slowed your progress. Do you think you can tackle this challenge?
📌 Coaching can be many things. Empowerment, transformation, and navigating ambivalence is just one part of that inspiring journey, for both you and your client.