Foolproof ways to create more reflections for Clients

Part I: Check-in continuously

Implement a pre-coaching intake form. Include questions like:

• What do I want to accomplish, change or challenge through coaching?
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• What is getting in my way?
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• Where do I want to begin?
• When coaching is complete, how will I know it’s been a success?

While facilitating learning and results, use the intake form to reflect midway through the contracted time. Where did the client begin, and where do they feel they are now? Note progress and allow them to reflect if they want to stay the original course or change courses.

This tool helps co-create the relationship between client and coach as well as demonstrates care and attention to the client’s end goals.

To create reflection and insight about progress made over just one session, ask, “Where are you now with this from when we started the session?”

Keep curiously checking in to allow clients time and space to make associations, connections and synthesize insight.

Part II:  Use Scale Questions

If a manager, conducted a difficult mid-year conversation with an employee, ask, “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with how the conversation went?”

If he answers 6, for example, take note of the gap and ask him to reflect what would have made that conversation an 8 for him.

If he answers 5, create reflection about what made this an “on-the-fence” situation? Which direction, toward 4 or 6, does he really feel in the situation?

Scaling questions create clarity for clients because, upon reflection, each number represents something unique to them. A client’s reflection leads to learning what works, what doesn’t work, and what creates insight into different possibilities for the desired outcome.

Part III: Distinguish Evidence

Allowing clients to explore, “How true is that?” gives them an opportunity to reflect on the evidence of their beliefs.

A client’s beliefs drive action and emotion, so a coach who facilitates reflection of the truth versus limiting beliefs will have clients with greater insights and greater transformation.

• What stories are they telling themselves? (How true are the stories?)
• What rules must they uphold? (How true is each one?)
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• What was their interpretation of an experience? (How true is it?)

Asking powerful questions and using specific tools to allow a client to reflect on their experiences increases the opportunity for insight and personal learning as they choose their path to move forward.

What other practical ways do you use to instill reflection with your clients?