Diagnostic Active Listening

Beyond words: Total listening

Active listening in performance coaching transcends the simple biological act of hearing.

It is not a passive silence while the other person speaks, but a physical and mental commitment to total absorption of information.

The expert coach listens to what the athlete says, but pays even more attention to what he omits, the tone of his voice and the energy underlying his speech.

This competence requires suspending internal judgment and the urge to offer quick advice.

The goal is to create a "fertile void" that the athlete must fill with his own reflection, allowing truths to emerge that would remain hidden in a superficial conversation.

Paraphrasing as a validation mirror

A fundamental technical tool in listening is paraphrasing and rephrasing.

The coach gives back to the athlete what he has understood to ensure that the message has been accurately captured ("You seem to feel that your effort is not reflected in the timing, is that so?").

This technique has a double effect: on the one hand, it validates the athlete's emotion, making him feel deeply understood and reducing his defenses; on the other hand, it acts as a mirror that allows him to listen to himself from the outside, which often triggers an awareness of the irrationality of certain fears or complaints.

Listening as a diagnostic tool

Ultimately, active listening is the coach's main diagnostic tool. It makes it possible to discern whether a blockage is technical, physical or purely mental.

The professional must observe the coherence (or lack thereof) between verbal and body language.

An athlete may say "I am motivated" while his shoulders are slumped and his gaze is averted.

Catching these micro-signals of incongruence is what allows the coach to ask the right question at the right time ("Your mouth says yes, but your body says no, what's really going on?"), transforming a conventional talk into a high-impact transformational intervention.

Summary

Active listening transcends the biological act, demanding a mental commitment to total absorption. The expert captures what is being said and the underlying energies through fertile silence.

Paraphrasing validates the athlete's emotions, reducing his or her defenses and facilitating understanding. By acting as a mirror, it allows the athlete to listen to him or herself, triggering deep insights.

This competence is vital to diagnose whether a blockage is technical, physical or mental. Observing micro-signals of bodily incongruence allows for interventions with high transformational impact on performance.