Raising awareness to identify the clients learning goals and needs

In this next short article I want to look at how to raise awareness in the client by facilitating their learning and thus getting results. To be able to do this you need to listen carefully and gather as much information about your client as possible. Understanding your client's needs and concerns is essential, in your role as the coach, to help the client gain their own self-awareness and then achieve the goals which have been agreed.
We often have clients who may express concerns about succeeding. You can reframe these thoughts - for example, when they say, 'I can't do this', you might say, 'You can't do that yet but you will be able to if you ……………'. This helps them identify their underlying concerns and what is stopping them moving forward. It is their thoughts and feelings that often get in the way of them taking action.
As coaches, we are looking to help clients discover for themselves new positive thought patterns by selling beliefs that will strengthen their ability to take action and achieve their goals. When we communicate with passion and belief it helps to inspire commitment and is part of the process in shifting their viewpoints and finding new possibilities for action. If we can help the client to see how their thoughts, emotions, beliefs and opinions affect their behaviours we may help them gain insight in how to change their behaviour.
You can help this process by focusing on their strengths and using those strengths to motivate their continual learning. Sometimes, when training, trivial issues get in the way of the more significant issues - this may be because certain situations trigger certain behavioural responses in our clients. Like, being first in the queue at the traffic lights with an uphill start and they are just waiting for a car horn to sound to go into meltdown. Being aware of their body language and inspiring them to have positive thoughts in their own ability to rely on their previous knowledge and skill will build their confidence so they can apply these skills to the new situation. Celebrating their success when they handle the situation will also reinforce the learning.
Of course I am aware that you may do this already but I find it useful sometimes to be reminded of what I am supposed to be doing so as I can reflect on my own performance and look to improve as we all have those moments with clients that have lacked self belief and they can challenge us even at the best of times.
Good luck with your coaching and if you are interested in improving your skills then our BTEC Level 4 Professional Award in Coaching for Driver Development maybe the course for you.
My next article will look at designing actions to create opportunities for ongoing learning.
Kind regards
Graham