WORKING THE CLIENT’S ANSWER

In coaching the basic dance is that you ask a question and the client gives you an answer. But then what? Is that the end of the communication exchange? Of course not! It is the beginning of the dialogue. It is the beginning of how you and your client co-create meaning for the client’s outcome. So, when you begin and you ask the well-formed outcome questions, after you receive an answer, you usually have to work that answer over in order to harvest from it the high quality of information that you need to coach.

What does it mean to work over the answer? How do you work over an answer? How do you know when you are doing it right and when you are not?

This last week at the PCMC training, I found myself numerous times recommending that the coach “work over” the answer. “You’ve got the answer. It’s in your lap, now work it.” “Your client has just given you the key, but you need to work it over. Do you know what to ask now?”