As coaches, our minds our greatest assets.
But just like most jobs,
we also have tools
to help us be better at what we do.
Painters use brushes and paint,
actors use props,
musicians use instruments,
and coaches use coaching tools
that will allow them to experiment,
innovate and create more results.
Hi, this is Ajit Nawalkha
and today I'm sharing with you
4 simple tools you can use
to create more impact with your clients.
One thing that I love about coaching tools
and techniques is you can never have too many.
Often we get overwhelmed by the amount of
information available on coaching and how to coach,
but when it comes to tools,
having many options is actually better.
Get aside, I'll show you how to fix it!
Well, once you learn how to use them, of course.
You get to test them, see if they work for you,
tweak them to fit your style
or just skip it if it doesn't serve you at all.
This way, you get to create your own coaching toolkit
and be always ready for any situation.
Here are 4 of my favorite coaching toolkits.
The first tool is active listening.
We know how important it is listening to our clients,
but how do you do it effectively?
There are four things that you want to pay attention to
when in session with your clients.
First, listen to the words that they use.
Are they being descriptive?
Are they being detail-oriented
and giving you all of the details
or are they holding back a little bit?
Are they being restrictive and concise?
Notice if they're talking in the past,
present or future tense.
This could be a great lead
for you to understand where they're coming from
and how to help them.
Listen for ambition.
What topics, what questions,
what type of conversations are bringing
that twinkly feeling in their eyes?
Picture the look on a kid's face
when they are at Disneyland.
Great glittering galaxies!
That's what you're aiming for.
Watch out for body language,
tone of voice and key words
that can reveal hidden passions and desires
your clients might not even realize they have.
You also want to listen for emotions.
Humans are emotional beings.
Emotions are a part of who we are
and shapes our everyday life
which is why understanding emotions
is the key to interpret
what your client is really saying.
Listen through their pauses,
their choice of words,
their body language and their reactions.
Being aware of how your clients are feeling
will not only allow you to get to know
your client on a deeper level,
but it will also give you
more clarity on how to create a transformation
for your client.
And last but not the least,
listen for frustrations.
We all have fears.
We face them on a daily basis.
Some of us overcome them to achieve our goals.
Some of us, don't.
Just get it over it.
I can't do it.
Yes, you can.
Bringing clarity on what is standing in the way
between your client and their dreams
is crucial to get them the results
they're looking for.
What is holding them back?
What is the frustration, the challenges
that are stopping them?
What are the fears that are stopping them
to make progress?
What is demotivating them
or annoying them during this journey?
If you identify the frustrations,
you'll be able to help them change any behavior.
The second tool is thinking.
How are you inspiring
thinking in your clients' mind?
And by inspiring I mean eliciting,
not controlling.
Because that only looks like fun in movies.
In real life, we have Trump supporters
and that's just crazy.
Your role as a coach is to enlighten your client.
You don't give them the answer,
but you do have the power to spark ideas
and thoughts they couldn't have seen before.
Four effective ways are using metaphors,
stories, case studies, and questions.
All four of these can paint a picture for your client.
Depending on your own style
and your clients' personality,
some of these ways will work better than the others.
My personal favorite is telling stories.
Stories that may be inspired by my past life
or people that I've worked with.
I truly believe in the power of storytelling
in creating a stronger bond with your client
and also helping them create true transformations.
The third tool is communicating.
As we covered earlier in this video,
the tool of active listening is about
paying attention to how your clients
are expressing themselves,
but that's only 50% of your job.
The other half is paying attention to
to how you are communicating back at them.
Be conscious about the language you use,
tone of voice,
the body language you use
while replying back as it might
break the connection you're building with your client.
If you come out as somebody who is
judging instead of empathetic
or uninterested instead of supportive,
your client might not feel like
you are the right person to help them anymore.
Another element you want to consider
when it comes to communicating is
understanding the difference between
an absolute truth and a relative truth.
An absolute truth is something that is always true
no matter what, at all times and in all places.
Like, for example, the notion that the earth is round.
Wait... what?!
A relative truth, on the other hand,
is the opposite.
It is still truth
but it can change
depending on the circumstances
and frame of reference.
Most of the times, your clients will share
their thoughts and opinions and beliefs
as facts, as absolute truths
thinking there is no other way.
It's not only important for you
to differentiate between these two,
but to be careful on how you communicate
your perspective and help your client
open their minds to other possibilities.
The fourth tool is transforming.
Everything you do as a coach
has one purpose and one purpose only.
To create transformation in your clients' life.
But after all your hard work and powerful conversations,
how do you know
that your clients are really transforming?
We all know that change is hard,
but for some it's nearly impossible.
You want another one?
Yes.
You got it, you got another one right there.
That's another one, pal.
Cut it out!
You're through?
Not even close, bud!
Good. You got one more right there.
You really think I give a shit?
Another.
And the secret to lasting transformation
is helping your clients
develop the right behaviors,
beliefs and mindsets
to not only achieve the results,
but maintain them,
make them long-term.
And this has to be done through change.
Creating a proper system for your clients
is what they need to make sure
they stick to their new habits.
Some great exercises you can use with your clients
include journaling,
habit trackers
and weekly check-ins.
Let's quickly recap these four coaching tools.
The first is active listening
for words, ambitions, emotions, and frustrations.
The second is thinking
through metaphors, stories,
case studies, and questions.
Third is communicating
with empathy and respect.
And fourth is transforming your client.
Which of these tools
are you most interested in trying out?
Which ones are the ones that
you may already be using?
Share with us in the comment section below.
Don't forget to smash that subscribe button,
so we can send you a notification
when we post our next weekly video.
Go ahead and share it with a friend
that you think will find this valuable.
Thank you so much for watching
and have a phenomenal day!