Coaching challenges
Inhibition is parent to underlying beliefs. Inhibition may prove tricky to coach, but when mixed with underlying beliefs it would be treading the terrain of personal values. Here again, we are treading the cross cultural terrain… Pretty soon the coach might find himself up to his neck in touchy situations.
As usual, the choice of powerful and empowering questions will be the key to lead the client to obtain an understanding of their inhibitions.
Some examples of this type of questions:
- What belief, opinion, or judgement could you be reinforcing by constantly creating this outcome?
- Can you tell me more? (Yes indeed one of the most powerful one…)
- What does it mean to you?
- What is so bad about that?
Thru proper coaching methodology, the process will take its course and create the necessary awareness for the client to draw his own conclusions.
Since this can be a psychological problem for some people, the coach should remain aware of this and sense when the moment arrives to refer the client to a therapist.
And last but not least, inhibition might prevent the coaching process, from the client’s side as well as from the coach’s side. The coach should be aware of his own inhibitions when they surface and eventually refer his client to a colleague or even, get coached himself on this issue.
There is however a thing called:
Online Disinhibition Effect which can help the coach and client equally…
According to the Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia:
The core concept of the Online Disinhibition Effect refers to a loosening (or complete abandonment) of social restrictions and inhibitions that would otherwise be present in normal face-to-face interaction during interactions with others on the Internet.
Since coaching is often done by means of internet, this can be a perfect way to avoid this obstacle.
Because of the loss of inhibition, some users may exhibit benign tendencies; people may become more more willing to open up to others, less guarded about their emotions and may speak to others about what they are feeling in an attempt to achieve emotional disambiguation. During an online coaching session, just the fact of not turning on the webcam, can simplify communication. Not having to endure someone’s stare can help opening up. Someone’s look can be taken as a kind of judgment.
According to psychologist John Suler (Professor of Psychology at Rider university, New Jersey, USA), this particular occurrence is called benign disinhibition. Not to be confused with toxic disinhibition, which is the bad behaviour counterpart.
For example:
Bullies don’t have to see their victims or answer for their actions,” which seems to fit with the You Don’t Know Me and You Can’t See Me concepts. online we feel freer to do and say what we want and, as a result, often do and say things we shouldn’t. To remain within the scope of this research paper, we won’t discuss toxic inhibition any further.
Conclusion
Understanding the problem: where, how and why, is the only way to work out a strategy to cope with it.
Inhibition can indeed be an obstacle in someone’s life. It is coachable. However, let’s not forget that a certain amount of inhibition, (largely depending on upbringing) is not a bad thing. Not wanting to be conservative, it could be said that inhibition is necessary so as not to fall into decadence or immorality. These beliefs should be conscious and not fall into underlying beliefs. In this way it can be a reference to what is acceptable or not in the society we are part of.
In case one hesitates or would be confused. The best solution is to refer to a coach who has the necessary credentials.
Reference
Theoretical issues in inhibition: Michael C. Anderson & Benjamin J. Levy.UniversityofOregon.
Wikipedia encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org
encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com
ICA“Underlying beliefs” by Prabha Chandrasekhar
John Suler, Professor of Psychology at Rider university,New Jersey,USA
Roger Smith,Lancaster University,England.
Jennifer Aniston (American Actress. B. 1969ShermanOaks,California,USA)
Marlene Dietrich ( December 27, 1901 – May 06,1992,Berlin,Germany.
Michael C. Anderson & Benjamin J. Levy. Professors at theUniversityofOregon.USA
HouseMd., US Soap opera.