Hello, Silverstein! Simone, you are the best f*cking word coach lady I know. Whatever you call it, you're the real deal. It is so inspiring to see you FINALLY own it like you should be owning it. 5 star testimonial for Simone's brand of coaching!
Hi Simone. I'm one of those accredited coaches who strongly advises against dispensing advice ;) In my last newsletter I try to defend this and coincidentally I'm also talking about the word coach! If you'd like to read it, please tell me what you think. https://theconversationstarter.substack.com/p/my-problem-with-coaching
Wonderful piece, Rik. Cool metaphor and very well articulated.
I subscribe to the camp that allows room for all of these definitions, and more. Thinking of Eastern and Western medicine. One takes a holistic approach. The other takes a targeted approach. If you combine them, there's more of both. One in favor of the other leaves too much on the table.
I'd say the same is true for coaching. Quick advice coupled with long conversation is a nice balance for my style. As with the example of my brow lady, if I were coaching her over a longer period, I'd dive into the origin of the guilt she feels, however, I wouldn't delay my suggestion of alleviating the guilt until we got to the root. I'd have her working on both.
Thank you for reading, engaging, and sharing your view on this Simone, I’m glad you liked the piece. I have to go by your words here because I haven't experienced your coaching presence but I disagree :)
Although I really like your Eastern/Western medicine example, I don’t think advice is complementary to listening (in a coaching relationship), because it's not the client who's doing the work. It’s your quick fix.
It's not that we can never share information, knowledge, or an anecdote that would be helpful to our clients, but I think it’s better not to do that in the form of advice.
Because you came up with the solution for her, your brow lady ‘misses out’ on gaining her own insight, which ultimately does not help her growth I believe.
To be honest though, a few years ago I would have totally agreed with you. I was an advice dispenser myself (and good at it). Only until I was trained as a coach (and was introduced to Motivational interviewing especially) this perspective radically changed.
Now I believe that listening is always more empowering that offering advice.
“There’s a huge difference between dumping your feelings on someone because you can’t hold them and sharing your experience.”
I hope you write a whole edition on this!
P.S. I voted for The Word Coach rebrand option because I see you as a natural coach.
Challenge taken! Thanks, Alexandra. Also, thanks for the vote and the vote of confidence :)
Love the distinction between feeling wonder and wondering: And it’s damn hard to ask sometimes.
Yes, it is! ❤️
Hello, Silverstein! Simone, you are the best f*cking word coach lady I know. Whatever you call it, you're the real deal. It is so inspiring to see you FINALLY own it like you should be owning it. 5 star testimonial for Simone's brand of coaching!
YOU are the 💣 and not just because you like my services :) Love you!
Hi Simone. I'm one of those accredited coaches who strongly advises against dispensing advice ;) In my last newsletter I try to defend this and coincidentally I'm also talking about the word coach! If you'd like to read it, please tell me what you think. https://theconversationstarter.substack.com/p/my-problem-with-coaching
Wonderful piece, Rik. Cool metaphor and very well articulated.
I subscribe to the camp that allows room for all of these definitions, and more. Thinking of Eastern and Western medicine. One takes a holistic approach. The other takes a targeted approach. If you combine them, there's more of both. One in favor of the other leaves too much on the table.
I'd say the same is true for coaching. Quick advice coupled with long conversation is a nice balance for my style. As with the example of my brow lady, if I were coaching her over a longer period, I'd dive into the origin of the guilt she feels, however, I wouldn't delay my suggestion of alleviating the guilt until we got to the root. I'd have her working on both.
Thank you for reading, engaging, and sharing your view on this Simone, I’m glad you liked the piece. I have to go by your words here because I haven't experienced your coaching presence but I disagree :)
Although I really like your Eastern/Western medicine example, I don’t think advice is complementary to listening (in a coaching relationship), because it's not the client who's doing the work. It’s your quick fix.
It's not that we can never share information, knowledge, or an anecdote that would be helpful to our clients, but I think it’s better not to do that in the form of advice.
Because you came up with the solution for her, your brow lady ‘misses out’ on gaining her own insight, which ultimately does not help her growth I believe.
To be honest though, a few years ago I would have totally agreed with you. I was an advice dispenser myself (and good at it). Only until I was trained as a coach (and was introduced to Motivational interviewing especially) this perspective radically changed.
Now I believe that listening is always more empowering that offering advice.
Rik, the beauty of various perspectives. Thanks for sharing.