Coaching is a skillful and intuitive balance of stepping in and stepping back, almost like a dance. At times you’re letting the client lead the way but more often than you might realize, a client needs you to step in and powerfully lead them where they need to go.

This is where Courageous Coaching® comes into play. It’s a powerful technique for turning a challenging coaching situation into a success story.

What does Courageous Coaching® look like? Here are 3 ways that you can have a big impact with your clients:

Courageous Coaching® Tip #1: Challenge Clients to Reach for Bigger Goals

If you’ve been working with a client for a while, you’ll have a good idea of what she’s capable of accomplishing. So when you hear her set a modest goal (e.g., allowing too long of a timeframe or settling for a minimal result), use this opportunity to challenge her to set the bar higher.  She’ll have a lot more to celebrate when she stretches herself and achieves more than she thought possible.

Courageous Coaching® Tip #2:  Don’t Let Clients Make Excuses

It’s a crazy, busy world we all live in and “too much to do” is the name of the game for most of us. But if your client truly wants to succeed, she must overcome that challenge and do whatever it takes to reach her goals. That’s why she hired you. So a bold coach doesn’t accept the “too much to do” excuse  (or any other excuse) when a client doesn’t meet her goals. (Genuine emergencies excepted, of course.)

Courageous Coaching® Tip #3:  Call It Like You See It

Over time, a client’s blind spots and self-limiting behaviors become apparent.  Grab these bold coaching opportunities and provide compassionate but frank feedback on what you’re observing.  Be specific and give examples, then offer suggestions for making positive shifts. Remember, you’re not here as a friend, but as a mentor and a guide.  You may be the only person in your client’s life who can give provide unbiased reaction to her challenges.

Courageous Coaching® requires courage and a strong belief in your client’s ability to accomplish big goals.  It also requires deep listening skills and a willingness to speak up, even when it pulls at your heart to say something difficult. These are the coaching moments, though, that will define you as a coach – and will create powerful transformations for your clients.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Business Building, Mindset and Personal Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.