Wellness coaching is a rewarding and
challenging skill to develop. In the role of fitness trainer, we give
advice, make suggestions, and provide solutions concerning the mechanics
of movement and physiological adaptations of exercise, as well as techniques
for skill acquisition and improved exercise performance. However, the
key to being a great wellness coach is to listen, inquire
and reflect. According to Moore and Tschannen-Moran (2010), these
three skills are the core of coaching.
1)
Mindful listening asks the wellness coach to be completely present
in the moment and give undivided attention, without judgment, to what
the client is saying. According to Moore and Tschannen-Moran the motto
of a great coach is “listen until I don’t exist.” The skill
of mindful listening requires that we set aside our own ideas for the
plan of action and focus on the client’s agenda. This can be challenging
for those of us use to designing exercise prescription. When a client
comes to you with movement issues the first thing we do is to analyze
the situation and provide a solution, however the goal of wellness coaching
is to allow the client to find their own solution.
How does the client know I am listening?
Applying the five
key elements of active listening
will let your client know that you are completing engaged in listening
to what they have to say. The purpose of mindful listening is to allow
the client to tell their stories, and in the process reveal their experiences,
values, feelings, challenges and goals. Periodical summarize what the
client has said provides an opportunity to clarify meaning, encourage
deeper thinking, and promote open communication. Moore and Tschannen-Moran
have provided the following five tips for mindful listening.
Quick tips for mindful listening
- Do not interrupt or plan
your respond until your client has completely finished speaking.
- Create silence and pause
between your client’s thoughts and your response.
- Use the client’s last
words to begin open-ended inquiry.
- Use the client’s story
for perceptive reflections.
- Listen for emotions.
- Reflect back to client what
you have perceived whenever possible.
2)
Open-ended Inquiry prompts the client to elaborate and elicits more
of their story. This is contrary to closed ended questions which elicit
short, usually yes or no, responses that halt deeper communication.
Examples:
Closed Ended Questions
Do you like to exercise?
When did you exercise last week?
Have you heard about the nutritional
value of fruits and vegetables?
Open Ended Questions
What do you enjoy most about exercising?
How did things go with your exercise
last week?
What have you heard about the nutritional
value of fruits and vegetables?
According to Moore and Tschanned-Moran,
“What” and “how” questions encourage more elaboration and are
the key to great coaching, where as “why” questions can be more
challenging. For example the question, “why didn’t you exercise
last week?” asks for some type of analysis and may stimulate resistance
or even be perceived as judgmental. However, if properly used, “why”
questions can also help gain deeper insight. For example, “why do
these goals deeply matter to you?”
3) Perception reflection
provides an opportunity for clients to hear what they are saying from
the perspective of another person. The purpose is for the wellness
coach to elicit statements of change from the client. Rather than the
coach providing the rational for making the change, the client is encouraged
to present his or her own case for change. In Motivational Interviewing
this is referred to as eliciting “change talk.” The researcher’s
that developed Motivational Interviewing have found greater progress
moving toward behavioral change adoption when the client provides the
reasons for change rather than the coach. The job of the coach is to
use perception reflection to identify “change talk” and make the prospect of
change sound positive, rewarding, and inviting.
Skill acquisition requires practice,
practice and more practice. This coming weekend I’m going to a party and I plan to change
all close ended-questions to open ending questions, employ active listen
skills and use pauses before responding. I am looking forward to the
opportunity to practice valuable skills and elicit deeper communication
throughout the evening.
Karen Moreno, MA Candidacy Kinesiology/Exercise
Physiology
BA Social Science/Education
Co-Founder Fitness In Action
Reference:
Moore, M., & Tschannen0Morean,
B. 2010. Coaching psychology manual. In E. Lupash (ED.), Coaching
relationship
skills (pp. 22-24). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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