School’s out for Summer – are you singing yet?!! Time for homework!
When you start out as a Coach you have this expectation that you should be able to change your client’s world in one session! SOOOO much pressure! That’s not how it works, even with the best coaches. Yes there can be amazing breakthroughs in one session, but it’s far more likely that transformation will take place over a period of time. That’s why it’s a good idea to suggest a series of sessions, rather than standalone sessions.
One way to support a client’s transformation is to set them some homework, sometimes called ‘homeplay’. Setting homework between sessions can help to keep the client engaged in the coaching process. It can get them into the habit of taking action, help them to view different perspectives and/or change behaviours. By setting homework you’re also helping your client to think things through and work through things on their own, which is ultimately what you are leading them to.
Homework can come in as many different formats as you can think up – it could be a conversation they could have, an activity, a piece of writing, crafting … the list is endless and be as creative as you want it to be. Here are a few examples;
* Writing a list of strengths
* Gathering evidence of when they have been confident
* Asking them to set one boundary with someone
* Spending some time looking after themselves – self-care
* Repeating an affirmation
* Noticing when they are saying a particular word and replacing it with another
* Reading an article or book around a topic you’ve discussed
* Researching something they want to work on
* A worksheet you send them
* Journalling – whether that’s through paints, coloured pens or other media
These are just a few examples.
The book, Co-Active Coaching, by Laura Whitworth et al, has a really good list of homework ideas.
So this week I challenge you to put together 2-3 homework ideas and then set a piece of homework for a client. Come back and let me know what you’ve come up with. If you’re in my Coaching Rocks group why not do a bit of brainstorming around the kind of thing you might get them to do? Not a member? It’s free, just come on over and ask to join. You just need to be a new coach as we’re trying to keep it as a safe place where new coaches can ask any question and not feel silly.
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