| Even though coaching is an interactive process, the | | | | situation when clients keep going in circles or keep |
| responsibility for the outcome lies with the client. The | | | | telling elaborate stories, avoiding the main point that is |
| coach needs to acknowledge this and respect it. | | | | being discussed. The client might do it unknowingly, |
| However, there are times when the coach is allowed | | | | getting wrapped up in his/her own story-telling, but |
| to "step onto the client's territory". | | | | mostly he/she does it to avoid confronting a difficult |
| One of these times is when various options are being | | | | topic or situation. In cases like this, it is the coach's |
| discussed and the coach knows that he/she might be | | | | responsibility to "draw a bottom line" and bring the client |
| able to add a few valuable options into the client's | | | | back to the point where the whole situation began. |
| "pot". However, in order to maintain his/her position and | | | | To do this effectively, the coach needs to use his/her |
| role in the coaching process, the coach needs to ask | | | | intuition and find the right moment to step in and cut |
| the client permission to participate in the brainstorming | | | | through the unimportant detail. |
| activity. There is always a possibility that the client will | | | | The third skill is the so-called "championing", which is |
| refuse, in which case the coach needs to accept that | | | | when the coach treats his/her client as a champion |
| and allow the process to continue as per the client's | | | | whenever needed. This is important, especially when |
| wishes. In most cases, though, clients will be more than | | | | clients go through a tough patch or find it difficult to |
| happy to have more options added to their thinking | | | | stick to their goals. By championing them, the coach is |
| process. | | | | showing his/her appreciation as well as support for the |
| Another skill that helps to maintain the coach's position | | | | client. It is important, though, that this is done sincerely |
| is the so-called "bottom lining". This is useful in a | | | | and timed for when it matters most. |