STUDENT COACH
Student Coaches are in the process of developing their coaching skills. Their communication has become less impulsive and more thoughtful. They didn’t understand some of the questions and their answers lacked specificity. They have adopted phrases and questions they’ve heard trainers use in classes, and are in the process of developing their own set of questions and discovering structure. They are more tentative and aspire to listen and attain coaching tips. They are aware of how they communicate and make a conscious effort to understand the client. This is continuously developing. They read between the lines and feel that they make assumptions. Student Coaches believe that language is the basic form of communication even though other factors play into it. They use the art of unspoken language to listen to what the client says or does not say and believe it improves as clients become more familiar. They deduce what the client is saying by listening to tone of voice, and try to create a space so they are not emotionally drawn in. Information they receive is processed through individualization, but some coaches stereotype clients.
CLIENT
Clients fully understood the questions and answered with specific examples. They are brought into a new place of self-awareness through deeper insight about their truths. Clients notice their coaches’ tone and acknowledge it. Through verbal reflection the client learns to be open and self-reflective. Hearing the coach recap helps clients recognize and solidify issues. Repetitive phrases or questions resonate with clients and help them move toward their goals. As the sessions progress, clients become comfortable and attune to the frequent themes of the conversations.
What are you going to commit to?
motivates clients to move forward. Takeaways solidify sessions. Clients do not observe structure but are comfortable with the silence that helps them work through their thoughts. Imagery brings clarity, and visualization helps them attain their goals. Metaphorically, stories give new meaning to the clients’ internal representations. The tools coaches use, help reframe their perspective. Questions asked create ‘aha’ moments that help them to further explore. Clients feel coaches generally understand what they are trying to say by paying attention to detail and sensing their apprehensiveness. Coaches are viewed as caring and understanding. The communication style of the coach validates them and assists in forward motion.
NCNC
NCNC are not fully aware of their communication techniques and could not effectively answer the questions. Because of lack of self-awareness, they cannot easily obtain information from others. Feedback from people and courses they’ve taken influence their communication style. NCNC acknowledge using phrases by other people but have not developed their own set of phrases or questions they use frequently. NCNC come prepared to engage in conversation, but these are static. They don’t remember using visualization, imagery or metaphors but do use communication tools. They are unaware of the way they communicate their thoughts or ask questions, and of their effect on people. NCNC listen to literal speech and sometimes read between the lines. They feel language is one of several communication styles and body language plays a part in how verbal messages are received. NCNC do not give people space to express themselves or think through their thoughts instead they may coax. They are into their own issues rather than those of others. NCNC have a misunderstanding of coaching.
Conclusion
Trainers and Coaches have developed a dynamic way of communicating with clients to move them strategically toward their goals through language nuances and intuition. They have learned to process messages they receive and express them in a way that penetrates, draws out answers and uncovers hidden places inside the client. This transforms the cognitive processes of the client into a forward moving mechanism rather than a regressive or static outcome. When the client receives information through simple questions or comments from their coach, they are brought into a revelatory place through self-awareness and discovery. The language of dynamic coaching impacts clients in an explosive manner versus the language spoken by leaders or mentors.
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