Yoga for the Mind | Lynne Sees the Benefit of Sideways
The other day I saw a truck and trailer on the highway. The trailer was strange. Instead of the traditional long rectangle with a door on the back, it had canvas sides. The sides could be removed for easy unloading.
Since I’ve loaded a truck or two during several cross country moves, I was struck by the elegance of this solution. It would be much easier to load and unload a trailer if you could go in sideways.
Can you do this with clients?
- Is there a way to cut through the traditional ways of communicating and get to the heart of the issue easily and quickly?
- What would ‘going in sideways’ look like in your coaching practice?
- Could you take a process that you’ve always used and tweak it?
- How would it feel to be innovative and fresh, both for you and your clients?
Andrea, I enjoyed considering the possibilities after reading this post. Considering a sideways view is a wonderful way to change our perspective. I’ve often used this technique when attempting to solve a physical challenge. By stepping back and walking around it to view it on all sides we see openings that we were once blind to.
This seeming indirect approach can actually be far more productive than addressing matters head on. One way to “go in sideways” with a coaching client would be to ask them a question around a fearful issue that would allow them to observe themselves. Here’s a favorite question I’ve used. If Spock-like visitor from another planet observed you right now, with no emotional ability, what facts would he report?
What options might he suggest?
This metaphor brings to mind the idea of building on the client’s strengths instead of trying to help them get up to speed on their weaknesses. It’s easier, faster, more effective, more uplifting, and less expensive!
This is a pretty basic tenant of coaching, for sure, but it never hurts for me to be reminded of the basics!
Thanks,
Susan Cleaver
Creative Living Coach
I’m not trying to sound Machiavellian here but in this area, isn’t the result more important than sticking to traditional communication strategies? Those were created to address a certain issue. If they don’t work for the client, then there’s no sense in sticking to them. Sometimes, there really is a need to be out-of-the-box.