In this column “Heart to Heart with Julie”, Julie Johnson MCC shares sample coaching conversations and situations to help us grow. These are real coaching experiences that illustrate common issues we face as coaches. Julie also shares her learning, ideas and practical tips to help you become a better coach.
Please share your thoughts, takeaways and your own experiences in the comments below! These articles were first posted on Julie”s blog, The Coaching Cube, and have been updated for inclusion here. |
In this article we take a closer look at the power of silence, because good coaching often involves unusually lengthy silences.
But what’s actually going on during this still space?
Well read on! Below we review a short conversation and then explore the kinds of things that could be happening…
The coach now lets the silence hang. What might be happening for both COACH and COACHEE during that prolonged pause?
What ideas can you think of that the coachee may be doing in this crafted silence?
What ideas can you think of that the coach may be doing in this silence?
So what’s next? Well, the coach could (and I believe probably should) wait until the coachee responds, and be ready for …anything!
Silence gives our coachees a rare and precious moment to pause, learn and grow. Silence is also one of the biggest compliments you can receive as a coach—you’ve created a moment of deeper reflection.
This means that when you create a moment where the silence hangs, you’re probably ‘on a roll’—inside, sparks are flying! So let it hang heavy to allow the space for both coach and coachee to get A LOT DONE.
Consider that the pauses and silences we generously—and purposefully—offer our coachees are a beautiful opportunity for realisation and transformation.
And remember that during a well-crafted silence, your coachee is BUSY, and so are you!
Share your thoughts with Julie in the comments below.
Contributing author: Julie Johnson MCC, MIM is an Executive Coach, Coach Supervisor and Author. Her purpose is to help motivated people be at their best. She’s passionate about spreading quality coaching conversations farther and wider, impacting the lives of people she’ll never meet. Julie helps leaders develop an authentic Coaching Leadership Style so they grow next-generation leaders – and scale their own leadership. She also loves creating synergies by connecting ‘the right people’ with each other. Meet Julie in this short video here and learn more about her on her website here. You can also sign up for her monthly blog The Coaching Cube.
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Image of Coachee pondering during silence by Gorodenkoff via Shutterstock
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