When a client asks something you don't know, don't panic. Susan Britton MCC says established coaches welcome the uncertainty and reframe it: "That's a fantastic question, let's explore possible answers." This keeps both of you calm and curious instead of anxious.
Hello friends, it's Susan Britton at the Academy, and I've got a coaching tip that will take you from sounding potentially beginner-like in your coaching to very established. We've all been in that space where perhaps the client is in a little bit of a frustrated fight-flight state and they wish they had an answer to some pressing question. And as they struggle with not having the answer, what can happen in a beginning coach is you start worrying and struggling with not having the answer as well. And all of a sudden we're creating this sort of negative emotional contagion of both the client and the coach feeding off each other with not having the answer. So instead, what you can do is when a coach— or excuse me, when a client asks a question that you don't have an answer to and they don't have an answer to, to instead welcome the unknown, welcome the uncertainty. Say something like, wow, that's a fantastic question, and let's explore what the answers might be, right? There's probably more than one answer. Or, wow, that's a great question, and how do you typically navigate uncertainty when you don't immediately have an answer? And in doing that, in welcoming that, you've created now a blue zone state where you're inviting openness and vulnerability and uncertainty and strengths to come forward. And in that process, your client will now know how to navigate what, what previously looked very scary. So there's just one coaching tip. There's lots more at the Academies for Brain-Friendly Coaching. Join us in changing minds for good.
Susan’s ICF Educator Award | The Heart Behind the Impact Katy Montgomery, PCC
