What Master Coaches Had to Unlearn (the Hard Way)

Some aspects of coaching are intuitive (like, be friendly), and some aspects are paradoxical and upside-down.

For example, in Motivational Interviewing, an effective communication style used in coaching and counseling, there is something called the “righting reflex.”

The righting reflex is the instinct to help or “fix” a client, as well as give them directions on how best to change. Often, the righting reflex is particularly strong in people who really, really care.

Sounds like a great instinct to follow if you’re a coach, right?

WRONG.

We are now entering upside-down-land.

Motivational Interviewing describes how this (beautiful, well-intentioned) instinct to help can actually hinder a client’s progress.

That’s…