A glass of chicken milk

Happy Holidays to you!

I hope you’ve been taking some time to spend with family and relax, and if your holidays are anything like mine - you spent a LOT of time in the kitchen, cooking.

Even though it’s a lot of work… I always feel having delicious food to share during the holidays is worth it, and to be honest, I do love cooking!

As I was shopping for our various meals last week, I remembered how funny the “eggnog” experience was for me last year, so I thought I would share this story with you again.?

Last year, I was in the grocery store here in Quebec, picking up the ingredients for our holiday meal, when I found myself chuckling at the French label for eggnog: Lait de Poule.

Translated literally, that’s “chicken milk.” Can you imagine offering someone a glass of chicken milk? I think we can agree it wouldn’t go over very well!

That little moment stuck with me (even through to this year!), especially as I thought about how this plays out in coaching.?

Like “chicken milk,” our words can sometimes create unintended reactions. In our role as strategic thinking partners, the way we phrase questions, reflect ideas, and support exploration is critical to creating clarity and understanding.

As coaches, we know that the answers don’t come from us—they come from the client. But the way we frame our curiosity can help unlock solutions or, if we’re not mindful, create confusion.?

That’s why choosing clear, empathetic, and culturally sensitive language is such an essential skill in our profession.

For example, in our role as strategic thinking partners, the art of curiosity is key.?

Asking open-ended questions that invite exploration, such as “What approaches might you explore to navigate this challenge?” creates space for discovery.?

Contrast that with a more leading question like, “Don’t you think setting boundaries might help?”—a subtle but critical difference that shifts ownership of the solution away from the client.

Equally important is the practice of mirroring rather than interpreting.?

When a client says, “I feel stuck,” it’s tempting to reframe it as “You’re feeling unmotivated,” but doing so imposes our perspective on their experience.?

Reflecting on their exact words instead allows them to unpack the meaning on their own terms, deepening the conversation in ways that are uniquely theirs.

And, of course, context matters. Words that resonate powerfully in one setting may not translate as intended in another. As coaches, we’re called to be aware of our client’s diverse experiences and choose language that feels inviting rather than alienating.?

When we are intentional about our words, we create a coaching environment where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered to discover their own paths forward. It’s a subtle but profound way we contribute to their growth—one conversation at a time.

And so, as we continue to celebrate this holiday season, may these insights help you create meaningful relationships in your coaching practice and bring moments of reflection and growth to your conversations moving forward.

Again, wishing you and your loved ones a season filled with peace, joy, and plenty of good food.?

And now... back to cooking!

I appreciate you,

Corry

PS: In this space between Christmas and New Year’s celebrations (for those of us who celebrate these holidays)...I find that many people make decisions or goals for the coming year. Is that you?

If so, here is a gentle reminder that our Early Bird deadline for enrolling in one of our Coaching Education courses is coming up on January 12th. Will this year be the year you join me inside one of our classes? I hope so! Have a look at everything we have to offer here.