YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN DETAILS

The next item on the list of things that could go wrong in coaching is “You get caught up in the details.” This is a very common problem for new coaches. And it is very easy and seductive to get caught up in the details. After all, here is a person sitting in your coaching chair opening up and talking about intimate details of his life for the purpose of gaining insight, developing new skills, and making changes. Within the seductive nature of these details is the idea that your client needs your advice. Yet in reality, he does not!

The sooner you can dissuade yourself of that non-sense, the quicker you will master the art of coaching. Your client does not need your advice! Put that as a sign in your coaching room so that you can constantly see it— so that it stares at you. Now, I didn’t say your client may not want your advice. For many clients do. Some will tempt you with directly asking for it. “So what do you think?” “What should I do?” But don’t get seduced into that game, it is destructive to the coaching process.