I have to admit that during this class, I learned so much, not just about coaching but also about myself. It still surprises me how a couple of days can change my whole perspective and the way I see things.
During the class, I learned the “communication model” and the body gestures to assist in finding and understanding a suitable model. People are different in how they receive or listen to situations and how they want to receive the information or answer.
If a person is visual, it would be hard for them to understand or get an auditory answer. I learned an essential thing: “the power of words.” A visual person will talk more visually like I don’t see, so the other person needs to show more actions than words. It showed me much clarity about where some conflict can come from: neither is wrong; they just need something different.
When I heard that every word has a world behind it, I was fascinated by this statement. How the same statement with the same meaning can feel totally different if we change the words. “I don’t want to be broke, and I want to be a millionaire.” Both can deliver the same meaning, but hearing them gave me a totally different feeling.
I learned the hierarchy of ideas and the ways to the conversation’s purpose and goal, which will lead me to the power of “questions.” With questions, I can lead the conversation, bring more clarity and focus, build rapport with clients, and direct them to the solutions within them.
When the trial sessions started, it put me on the real ground and gave me an idea of how the sessions are. When I started, I had a slightly different idea about coaching, and attending these sessions helped me a lot to understand more. How amazing it is that someone can trust you, open up to you, and share their deepest feelings, and you are there to help bring more clarity and awareness to their thinking process to find out what they need or want.
During the sessions, I practiced the huge effect of active listening. It shows that you care and creates a space of trust without even having to say any words. Focus on your client’s movement and even breathing, as this will show you lots of things that they might not say. When you point at it, you can let them open up more and share how they feel and what they think.
I always thought it was ok to suggest something or a solution during a conversation with my client. I was confused about why I couldn’t recommend this solution as I think it would help, but here comes the keyword: “I think.” It’s me who thinks, not the client or the actual person who’s in the situation. Then I realized that we are already whole, and if we are used to getting suggestions or solutions from someone else other than ourselves, I won’t be able to solve my issues and problems waiting for someone to solve them for me. My role is to help them reach clarity and awareness and find the solution they feel and know is suitable for them and their situation.
I learned how to build rapport with my clients. I thought that building rapport was only talking and keeping the conversation going, but I learned that matching and mirroring the client or even pacing with them is building rapport. It creates a safe space and makes the client feel trust.
I also learned how to pay attention to the metaphor they use in their conversation as I can use this metaphor and reach to an analogy.
During the class, I learned many things about myself. It showed me where I want to be in life and what I want to do. I spent many years trying to find out, and in a couple of days, it gave me clarity. I learned to open up not just to myself to someone but also to my mind and senses to clients. How important it is to show my empathy without having to say any words.
Every move and every word is important, whether it’s from the client or myself. How can a single move or gesture change the whole state of the mind and the thinking process?
In the class, I witnessed the change in people and the impact of the sessions on their lives. I see people now have more clarity and awareness, including myself, and for that, I will always be grateful for this class.
It was amazing and huge to listen to people I met for only a couple of days open up, talk, show their emotions, and even share things and stories that they didn’t even share with their closest people. It showed me how coaching can be important in someone’s life.
It brought us all closer as if we had known each other for years, not just days. It was so deep for me to know their journey and story, even their struggle, and how they are willing to change and look for clarity and happiness.
This class broadened my horizons of thinking and how to act in certain situations, and everyone around me noticed this. Now, I notice where people are coming from in their thinking processes and how I can help them gain more clarity.
I will always appreciate these couple of lessons and how much they impacted not just me but everyone around me. Now, I’m so excited and eager to continue this journey and move forward on my own coaching path.
