Barnabas File

One of the questions that comes up in coach training is, “How do you coach someone who doesn’t want to be coached?’’  My usual answer is, “You don’t.”  Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that you can’t coach someone who does not want to be coached. The client in a coaching relationship must have a growth mindset; that is, the person must realize that he or she is responsible, creative, and capable.  If a client tells me that he or she is incapable of change, there is no point in continuing the conversation.  I can ask questions, encourage the client to seek clarity, and even push a bit, but I cannot motivate him or her to grow. There are situations where an employer, a supervisor, or a personnel committee will approach a coaching professional and say, “This person needs a coach and we would like for you to work them.” How does a coach handle this process? First, ask the initiating person or group the reason for believing the person needs to be ...