Almost all of us know the biblical Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Fewer people know the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would have you do unto them, not as you would have them do unto you.
And, even fewer know the Coaching Rule:
"Do not do unto others that which they can do for themselves."
This rule applies both to coaching and to teaching, and it was driven home recently as I taught a graduate course with some insightful professional learners.
As part of our coursework, we have live coaching sessions and provide feedback to one another. One person serves as the coach and another serves as the client, who brings a real life situation to work on. Everyone else observes and then I lead a debriefing of the session.
Today, I want to share some of my students’ insights as well as some of my own.
When we debrief I ask the “client” and observers questions like:
“What did the coach do that supported you to have a new awareness and make forward progress?”
Here are some insights we came to.
The Importance of Space
A coach has to create space — through silence, acknowledgment of emotions and thought of the client. This enabled a shift of thinking and feeling in the client.
The Value of Witness
There is power in simply witnessing and being present to a client’s thoughts and emotions and listening non-judgmentally. This supports the client to vent if they need to, clear negativity, and step into a new frame of mind. It provides freedom, like shedding old skin.
The Necessity of Trust
Trust in the relationship between coach and client is key to the client feeling safe enough to deeply share one’s warts. The client trusts that the coach will meet them in a state of support and curiosity vs. judgment. I also impart that real trust is hard earned: "You don’t deserve simply by labeling yourself as a coach, but by demonstrating your willingness to share in the struggle to find a solution."
Implementing the Coaching Rule
Who is doing the work? If you, as the coach, are feeling tired from working so hard, trying to come up with questions and drag things out of the client, you are working too hard. Put the work back into the lap of the client. It is their success and they must take responsibility for their portion of the work. If they don’t own the process, they can’t implement and own the result.
Bottom line
Successful coaching requires the co-creation of the coaching relationship. The overlapping space between the coach and the client is where magical things happen for both the client and the coach. What is the most important insight you have learned in this co-creating process?
About the Author
Dr. Laura L. Hauser, MCC, MCEC
Founder, Leadership Strategies International
Dr. Laura Hauser, MCC, MCEC, works with organizational leaders and their teams (and the professionals who support them) to build healthy workplace cultures. She is an internationally-recognized thought leader and researcher in the highly specialized space of team coaching. Using art and science, she teaches, coaches, supervises and consults in a way that expands mindsets and capabilities needed to navigate through disruption. Laura has been honored for her contributions to the coaching profession. She is the developer of the Team Coaching Operating System®, an ACSTH coaching school accredited by the International Coach Federation. Contact Laura by email or on LinkedIn.
When referencing this material, please acknowledge the source: ©2020 Dr. Laura L. Hauser, MCC, www.leadership-strategies.com