Coaching Beyond the Office: Insights from Home

Is there a place for coaching at home? Absolutely, and here’s a memorable encounter with my daughter that beautifully illustrates this.

One hectic Monday afternoon, my daughter burst out, “Mooooommmmm! I CAN’T go to gymnastics tonight—I’ve got too much homework!”

Amidst her protest and my desire to support her commitments, I decided to apply a bit of coaching right there in our home.

Steps I Took:

1. Encourage Dialogue: I simply asked her to elaborate more about her homework. “Tell me more. What homework do you have? How long will each assignment take?”
2. Visualize the Overview: We discussed when each assignment was due and she mapped out her week. This helped her see her available time.
3. Empower Decision-Making: Instead of giving a direct answer, I encouraged her to make her own decision based on the discussion. “You know best. You decide.”

To my surprise and pride, she took a deep breath and decided, “Ok! I’ll go to practice tonight.” That week, she managed her commitments effectively.

This experience wasn’t just about deciding whether to attend gymnastics; it was a profound learning moment for both of us in managing responsibilities and making informed decisions. I could help her analyze the situation and then she would make an informed decision. This has played out many times since then.

It also highlighted a fundamental coaching principle: people are naturally creative and resourceful.

Our job as coaches—whether professionally or personally—is to facilitate self-discovery and empower others to take action based on their insights.

While my daughter generally valued our many conversations, one moment stands out vividly. She approached me one day, exasperated, and exclaimed, “Mom!!! I’m going to ask you a question. But this time, I DON’T want you to say ‘You decide, Honey!’ I just want you to tell me what to DO!”

This was a pivotal reminder that the flexibility of coaching must adapt to the needs of the individual at that moment, whether a client or a loved one.

Lessons Learned:

• Coaching is Universal: The principles of coaching apply just as effectively at home as they do in the workplace.
• Empowerment through Autonomy: Allowing individuals to make their own decisions increases their engagement and commitment to the outcome.
• Supportive Inquiry: Asking the right questions can shift someone from feeling overwhelmed to feeling capable and equipped.

While this experience unfolded at home, the approach applies anywhere. As coaches, it's crucial to help our coachees make sense of chaos and empower them to take ownership of their decisions.

? How do you empower others to decide for themselves? I'd love to hear your stories and insights.

If you find this insightful, follow me in order to receive more reflections on coaching both in and out of the office, and feel free to reach out to discuss the transformative power of coaching.

P.S.

You can also check related JJC Coaching Cube Article: https://www.julie-johnson-consulting.com/blog_view/October_You_Decide_Honey