What are great ways to get to know a new client? - Episode 102
Understanding a client beyond the surface is crucial if coaching is going to create meaningful change, so in this episode we share and discuss creative ways of getting to know the person behind the presenting issue. How can music reveal a client’s values, identity and emotional world? What can a life timeline tell us about the experiences that have shaped them? How can storytelling help clients make sense of where they are and where they want to go? We’ll explore tools including the Wheel of Life, the WIFLS method, character strengths and personality assessments, as well as prompts such as “Where in your story do we need to begin to understand the person you are today?” We also discuss how to use assessments as conversation starters rather than fixed labels, when to keep an exploration open and when to offer more direction, and how to adapt your approach to the client’s pace and comfort. Ultimately, we ask what coaches need to understand about their client’s emotional, social and spiritual worlds in order to build a strong relationship and support lasting transformation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Client Deepening Techniques 00:40 Using Music to Understand Values and Emotions 02:17 Pre-Session Questions and Storytelling 04:30 The Power of the 'Fight Club' Question 06:24 Letting Clients Show Up Authentically 08:05 Creative Exercises: Wheel of Life and Values 10:16 WIFL and Burn Exercises for Emotional Clarity 12:09 Using Assessments to Uncover Blind Spots 16:05 Life Audits and Numbered Goals 18:16 Storytelling and Pivotal Moments 20:24 Timeline Exercises and Meaning-Making 22:29 The Four Worlds Model for Holistic Exploration 24:48 Balancing Focus and Holistic Understanding 26:27 Experimenting with Tools and Assessments 29:16 Final Reflections and Practical Tips Key topics Using music and art as emotional entry points Pre-session questions to understand client goals and fears The 'Fight Club' question for unlocking deep insights Life audits and value exercises for holistic understanding Character strengths and personality assessments in coaching Timeline exercises to explore pivotal life moments The four worlds model for existential exploration Creative tools like imagery and cards for engagement Resources The VIA Character Strengths Assessment - https://www.viacharacter.org/ Gary Crotas' The Unlock Moment Podcast - https://theunlockmoment.com/ The Wheel of Life - https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm Enneagram Personality Test - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ Colby Assessment for Entrepreneurial Behavior - https://colby.com/ Keywords coaching, client onboarding, storytelling, psychological assessments, life coaching, mental models, personality tests, life audit, character strengths, coaching tools Support the show - Never miss an episode : https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/ - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets : https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/ - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode. - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab . Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/ Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/ Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!









