CHAPTER 3
FOCUS
COACHING THE PERSON, NOT THE PROBLEM
The client always knows more than you do about what to do next.
—MARCIA REYNOLDS
MOST PROBLEM-SOLVING FORMULAS, and even some coaching models, focus on finding a solution to a problem. Coaching sessions generally start with clients describing a dilemma they are facing or naming a topic they want to discuss. It’s a good place to start. However, once clients share their stories and define what they believe to be the problem, it’s the wrong place to focus the rest of the conversation.
If you believe the person you are coaching has some experiences to draw from in seeking a resolution to the issue presented, then the focus needs to move away from the external problem and onto the person. Remember, ...
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