Listening
The Pause That Lets a Conversation Breathe
A deliberate pause in a coaching conversation gives the speaker room to finish a thought, notice what matters and…
The reading room
All reading
Browse essays on listening, questions, goals, practice and boundaries. Each piece takes one coaching idea at a time and leaves room for readers to consider what fits their own situation.
Questions
Open Question or Narrow Question? Choosing the Next Prompt
Choose an open or narrow question for the moment at hand, so a coaching conversation can widen a person’s view or…
Practice
How the Word Coach Travelled from Carriage to Guidance
Explore how the word coach came to suggest guidance, and learn to clarify what support someone wants instead of…
Questions
The Perfect Question Myth: Why One Prompt Cannot Do Every Job
The perfect question myth makes conversation sound like a phrase hunt. Learn to choose a prompt by context, listen to…
Goals
When a Coaching Goal Needs a Smaller First Step
A smaller first step turns a broad coaching goal into an observable action, so you can try it, notice what happens and…
A thought to keep
Good coaching makes room for thought
A conversation need not rush towards a fix. Careful listening and a well-chosen question can help someone see their own next step more clearly.