Other Aspects of Effective Sessions (Silence, Summary, Preparation, Notes)

Refining the Coach's Practice

Beyond the physical environment, rapport and questioning, there are other important issues to consider to optimize the effectiveness of your coaching sessions.

These are practical details and subtle communication skills that make a significant difference in the quality of the interaction and the depth of work that can be done.

Mastering these aspects complements the fundamental skills and contributes to creating a smoother, more productive and client-centered coaching experience.

We highlight four of them: the strategic use of silence, the summarizing or repetition technique, pre-preparation and note-taking.

The Art of Silence

It is essential that, as a coach, you know how to be silent at the right moments. This means not rushing to speak to fill every pause in the conversation.

Silence is not an unproductive vacuum; it is a necessary space for the coachee to process their thoughts, connect with their emotions or develop a deeper response.

In addition, being silent allows you to carefully observe the coachee's nonverbal reactions (facial expressions, postural changes) before deciding on your next intervention.

Learning to tolerate and use silence strategically is a mark of maturity and skill in coaching, allowing insights to emerge that an ongoing conversation might stifle.

Summarize or Repeat: Reinforcing Listening

A simple but effective verbal technique is to summarize or repeat the last sentence, or the last significant part of the sentence, that the coachee just said. This behavior has multiple benefits.

First, it denotes genuine interest in what the client is expressing.

Second, it conveys non-judgment, as you are simply reflecting their words without adding your own immediate interpretation.

And, third, it often helps the coachee to continue talking, feeling heard and encouraged to go deeper into their thinking or feeling.

It's a way to keep the flow of the conversation focused on the client and ensure understanding.

The Importance of Advance Preparation

Although coaching is a dynamic and adaptive process, this does not mean that it should be improvised. Every session should be prepared in advance.

This involves reviewing notes from the previous session, recalling the client's objectives, reviewing the agreed action plan, and reflecting on possible approaches or tools to use in the current session.

It is good practice to prepare some key questions in advance, not as a rigid script, but as possible starting points or lines of inquiry to ensure that the session is productive and aligned with the coachee's overall process. Preparation demonstrates professionalism and respect for the client's time.

Note Taking: Memory Support

Finally, since memory is unreliable, especially when handling the amount of information that can come up in a coaching session, it is best to take notes.

Recording key points, agreed-upon actions, important reflections, or emotions expressed will help you remember details, prepare for the nex