Coaching Case Study By Grace Pan
(Leadership Coach, CHINA)
- Who are the main players in this case study
My coachee, L, is herself a trained career coach, who has practiced career coaching for one year and aspires to help her clients achieve better careers and life.
Her situation: she coached a client sponsored by a government program four times, who had little acceptance of her coaching and was unwilling to change her status quo. L was deeply compassionate about her client’s situation.
Complication: she consulted another experienced coach, who advised her to give up the client. She was upset by this advice.
Her Question: What did she want to do with her client and how to do it?
- What is the core problem or challenge to you in applying your coaching skills?
- Why is it a problem?
- How long has it been a problem?
- What is the worst thing about this problem?
- Why has no one been able to solve it so far?
Coaching Scenario
In this case, the key was to have my coachee understand what really motivated her and reflect on more possibilities. Specifically, she realized that her not-wanting-to-give-up comes from her desire to conquer a tough client. She even admitted that she put her desire above her client in this case. I noticed that L’s voice was elevated with energy and a sense of joyfulness when she declared what she came to be aware of.
Challenge
Our conversation didn’t trigger L’s further reflection on other possibilities about her findings or options.
Implications
L may have missed opportunities to come out with alternatives and make a better-informed decision.
Root Causes
There are two possible reasons for this situation. 1) L’s underlying belief might be that it was Ok to put her interest above her client. 2) She didn’t understand why her client would reject her help, namely think from her client’s shoes.
- What specific coaching skills or approaches