The role of neuroscience in Coaching - Series
Episode 1
One thing common about all human beings is that we have same wirings in our brain with varied degrees of neural connections that are formed through experiences, knowledge, influences and more. To that sense then, coaching in its most basic element is one human brain connecting with another.
Understanding how the nervous system, how the different parts of our brain react and respond to different situations, is a game changer in the field of coaching.
For instance, did you know that in the brain, social threat and social reward or recognition are processed by similar networks to those processing physical threat and reward. Practically meaning that what you experience socially - distress, inferiority, uncertainity lack of control, lack of fair treatment etc. create a similar response in your brain when you experience a physical threat that may physically hurt or harm you. Similarly, the physical impact of reward, recognition, appreciation, clarity, autonomy, fairness and more create similar responses in your brain.
So next time, when you are in a coaching discussion, consider these to connect better with your client/coachee:
1. Listen more -
Allow them to speak and share their innate thoughts and feelings. The more they speak, the more you listen better, the more effective the connection, the process, the experience and the outcome. This creates a sense of pride helping them feel involved... a sign of reward
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2. Provide clarity -
Provide your coachee clarity about everything possible, the process, the approach, the goals, the progress, what you can do, what you cannot etc. This enables them to feel certain and in control of the process.... another sign of reward
3. Speak less -
Coaching can be often mis-understood with mentoring. A coach may feel the responsibility and need to provide the answers to their client. On the contrary, coaching is absolutely opposite to it. As a coach your job is to sit back and let your client lead the conversation, the ideas, the solutions and the action plan... steering them on the right path through effective techniques.
Author
Ariana B
Dynamic people leader with 14 years of experience skilled at Client Service, Operations, Data Analysis and Project Management with a proven track record of building highly engaged teams and driving innovation.
6 个月Great insights on the neuroscience of coaching! Understanding that our brains process social threats and rewards similarly to physical ones is a game-changer. Coaches must leverage this by prioritizing listening and providing clarity, creating a powerful, brain-aligned connection that drives real change. Looking forward to further articles in this series.