As I continue to practice and hone my art of Organizational and Leadership Coaching, I recognize that a key area of focus for me will be asking questions to my client. While I've always been comfortable with asking questions of others, and believe that I am generally a curious and empathetic person, I'm beginning to realize that those qualities may not be enough to truly provide the best support and maximum benefit to the client and coaching relationships.
Reflecting on Edgar Schein's (2013) Humble Inquiry and practicing asking more curious and humble questions to a partner was a surprisingly challenging exercise for me. Staying within the "what else" and "can you say more" line of questioning doesn't necessarily come naturally... I want to connect and share experiences with others, and I want them to feel like we have commonalities in order to build trust. However, as I've learned through the levels of listening and through Humble Inquiry, that is not the most authentic way to connect or provide support to another individual. My role as a coach is to help my clients reveal information and insights that will be most beneficial to them.
This is something I need to continue to practice. As I move forward through this journey, my goal is to incorporate this practice into my daily life with coworkers, friends, and family members. I know it won't feel natural at first, but my goal is to the best coach I can be for others, and that requires discipline and dedication.
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