Listening Skills
In life coaching, one of the most important skills a coach can have is the ability to listen. Many times it is easy to be “hearing” and forget to “listen”. In order to conduct a proper coaching session, the coach must be well versed in the techniques, skills, and obstacles in listening. Listening is not only important to the coach, but also to the client. Both parties need to have a mutual understanding and comfortable communication. By gaining a more full understanding of listening skills it enables the coach to listen and guide the client to his or her goal. The success of the client-coach relationship is dependent upon the ability the coach has to put aside their personal thoughts and fully engage in effective listening of the client.
Professional Listening
Listening versus Hearing
Listening is not only a skill for a life coach, counselor, teacher, or friend to have but it is also important for children engaging in education. For life coaches and counselors concerned with training these children there are techniques to help optimize the effectiveness of listening. One of these skills is careful presentation of stimuli that is audible by the client (Estes, 2010). By supplying stimuli causing a focus on the client’s ability to listen, asking appropriate questions, and helping the client learn how to be an effective listener the coach is improving his or her academic abilities and future communications. Moreover, in a coaching setting it is important for the life coach to utilize skills optimizing the effectiveness of their listening. By understanding emotional, physical, and verbal signals the life coach is better equipped to listen to what the client is saying, instead of just hearing them (Estes, 2010).
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Listening is a vital and important part of communication. While speaking clearly and concisely is imperative, true listening is central to speaking with mindfulness and in the case of the counselor, this mindfulness has the possibility of leading clients to their own solutions to life’s tough circumstances. In his book, Petersen (2007) breaks down the communication cycle so that we can be aware of how we react when people share their emotions with us, and how to effectively communicate by listening and speaking in turn to build strong and supportive relationships, whether they are personal or professional.
In conclusion, Gary Collins, through his book, Christian coaching: Helping others turn potential into reality enables individuals to fully understand their potential through a God-centered way of coaching. He simplifies his coaching methods and develops his practical skills like how to use diverse situations, insights based on the Bible and customized forms in coaching people who desire to depart the past way of life, and come to live according to the will of God.
There are many different assessment models developed which enable the coach to assess the client from a number of varied perspectives. The majority of these models are simply used as a tool, providing a schema for noting observations. An ideal assessment model is an instrument used to obtain structure within the framework of the coaching encounter. The coach is never limited to the parameters of the model, but the model should provide a guide in the evaluation of the client. In other words, the model allows the coach to develop a frame of reference for client observation. Although, there is no single correct coaching model, the coach must rely on a broad range of coaching techniques to adequately assess the client’s condition and present circumstance. It is the multiplicity of views that offers the greatest coaching models (Watts & Corrie, 2013).
Listening is an important part of education. In order to gain knowledge of a subject, a student must carefully listen to their mentor and
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Coaching is one vital service to the community because you can help individuals transform negative thoughts to positive actions to succeed. More so, coaches help companies and individuals realize their potentials and see opportunities for advancement and success. However, it is not that easy to succeed in this business venture because there is tough competition in the market and there are several fields of specialization to consider.
.... Through the evaluation of reactions from both myself and others, I have realized the significant impact the misuse of a particular listening style may have. These effects reach beyond social and professional environments, and in some cases may produce unintended negative effects with family. I had not realized that the two listening styles I use most commonly could be so incredibly polarized when it comes to employing critical listening. As a result, I have devised appropriate steps which I feel will assist in creating a more balanced conversational environment and improve my overall effectiveness in communication. I was surprised to discover that my listening styles are not always conducive to the environment in which I am listening; however, I am consequently compelled to take the steps necessary to achieve higher-quality communication in every aspect of life.
The coach has to act and support the client’s decision. Because my coaching peer was an experienced professional coach, I learned where I was hitting the mark and where I needed improvement. The experience in this assignment was enriching because it was actionable as I was actually able to demonstrate coaching and discover areas where I was strong and internalize and reflect on those areas, after personal critique, where I needed improvement. This assignment further contributed to the importance of cultural understanding pockets we have in the United States as well as my continued and personal growth as a global leader in
My style of coaching is one that will challenge my clients to grow and attain their goals. Each relationship that I build with my clients is extremely important. Each coaching sessions is designed to focus on the client’s agenda to encourage, empower and help each client develop and grow spiritually, emotionally. There are times when I will be direct but try to keep things lighthearted and fun. I am passionate and committed to seeing each client reach their fullest potential because of this I want to work with clients who are committed to the coaching process. If a client has a desire to develop, grow, be empowered to succeed then I am excited to support and coach them to
Coaching is a short-term personal and confidential learning process to improve performance and provide personal feedback of both strengths and weaknesses. (CIPD, 2004)
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It is very important to listen and pay attention because as a Counselor you do not want to miss out on any important information that can help determine the root of the problem. I also find that being a good listener is one of my strengths as well as being compassionate, open-minded, and sympathetic. I overcame many personal hardships in my life, and because of those hardships I am a stronger person, with a positive outlook on life that can help make a difference in someone. One of my personal characteristics that I feel that I need to improve on is that I become too emotionally involved because I care about those I will work with. I want to be able to do my job without my emotions getting in the way. The best way to do that is to learn strategies and techniques to help me improve. I am willing to learn and work hard to make sure I become a qualified professional for this
Having completed this project, I have learned that coaching can be interconnected with the business and emotional aspect to provide life-changing results. Furthermore, I have learned that coaching is a new helping field that is on the rise. Coaching does not only focus on the client’s goal but also on a partnership between the coach and the client. Having that interpersonal connection with the client creates a strong rapport between the two parties.
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As a professional in today’s society, it is greatly important to be able to communicate effectively with other professionals, with clients, and with those that are encountered in daily living. In order to communicate in a proper manner, not only is talking and non-verbal communication, but a large aspect is the ability to listen. Listening is a vital task in order to build a relationship and find meaning in someone else’s words. In order to find this meaning one must follow the characteristics of active listening, face the challenges to listening, and reflect upon one’s own listening skills.