A Smart, Educational Look At What POWERFUL SILENCE VS. AWKWARD SILENCE *Really* Does In Our World
A Coaching Power Tool Created by Melanie Brown (Retirement Preparation Coach, SWITZERLAND) To hear, one must be silent. Ursula K. Le Guin, 2012 Introduction Silence as a power tool was inspired to me by a peer coaching experience. I was a fairly new ICA student and having my second peer coaching session . My peer client brought a very personal topic to the table: her estranged relationship with her sister. Every time she reflected after answering one of my (many) questions, I was already ready with the next one, rushing in to fill the gaps, instead of just pausing and giving her the space she needed to reflect on this sensitive and emotionally loaded topic. I wanted to ensure that all PCC markers were covered and most probably also wanted to avoid any awkward silences as I was doing my best to be present, actively listening, and gaining more coaching experience. During the feedback discussion after the session, she rightly pointed out that she had Asian roots, and brought to my at...