3 reflection methods for coaches and their coaching business

How important it is for our trackees to reflect to doIt is so important for us as coaches to go beyond ourselves (self-reflection. 

And reflection is a skill. By doing it more often, you get better at it. This can be done using the methods below, but of course also in your own way. Sometimes you ask a question, sometimes you go through the entire list. It's all okay as long as you do it. 

3 (self) reflection methods for you as a coach

Below you will find several (self)reflection methods that you can use: A list of 27 in-depth reflection questions, the goal-oriented reflection method and the logical levels reflection method. When you start working on this, take some time. Make sure you are in a comfortable space and away from distractions. 

For example, outside in a quiet environment, away from home, away from work. Look for a place where you can feel completely free.

Reflect openly, lovingly and answer honestly.

If you don't immediately know the answer to a question, you just pretend you do know the answer. (May sound lame, but it really works.)

Method 1: 27-question annual method

1. What are the 10 best experiences I've had? Why were they my best experiences and how did they make me feel?
   • Best experiences 
   • Why? 
   • How did it make me feel?
2. Who was involved in my experiences? And is there an overarching theme? Am I experiencing a pattern?
3. Looking back on last year, what was my greatest achievement or what gave me the most satisfaction? And why?
4. How did I feel when I accomplished the above? Who was involved?
5. If I could do the past 12 months over again, what would I do differently?
6. What are the 10 things I am grateful for in the past year?
7. What were my biggest goals last 12 months?
8. Was I successful in achieving those goals? Why or why not?
9. What would I do differently in the next 12 months if I had the same goals?
10. Who has been my biggest support over the past 12 months and why?
11. How can I show my appreciation for her or his support to ensure it continues over the next 12 months and even beyond?
12. When I think about my coaching business, what has been the biggest achievement in the past 12 months?
13. How has the above helped me achieve my goals in my life and in my coaching business?
14. What are three things I would do differently in the next 12 months to contribute to my coaching business?
15. What has made me angry, stressed, worried or anxious over the past 12 months? And why?
16. How did I overcome this feeling? What can I do differently over the next 12 months to minimize these feelings?
17. Who or what has inspired me during the past 12 months and why?
18. Who or what has challenged me in the past 12 months and why?
19. Who or what has stopped me from achieving my goals in the past 12 months?
20. What was the most time-consuming habit or activity I did during the past 12 months? What can I do differently in the next 12 months to minimize or eliminate this?
21. How have I grown emotionally in the past 12 months?
22. How have I grown financially in the past 12 months?
23. How have I grown physically in the past 12 months?
24. What hidden power have I discovered in the past 12 months?
25. What three words summarize or describe my last 12 months?
26. What are the three most important things I have learned in the past 12 months?
27. What would I do differently in the next 12 months? And why?

If you have taken the time to reflect on the past 12 months, you now have a better understanding of what you are proud of, what makes you happy, who supports you, what holds you back and where your strength lies.

You may also have a better sense of what you can do differently in the next 12 months to get you closer to your goals.

And you can possibly use this information to adjust your mission.

Method 2: Goal-oriented reflection method

A typical NLP way to reflect is through the NLP working model. It is a super effective and insightful way to gather the necessary information, how you would have liked to get a different result in the past or how you can prepare yourself for a desired situation in the future. It is also called the “Closing the Gap” method.

Based on the past: What desired result did I want to achieve? What result did I achieve? What stopped me from achieving the desired result? What did I need to get the desired result?

Based on the future: What exactly is my desired result? And where am I now in relation to the desired result? What is stopping me from achieving the desired result? What do I need to achieve the desired result?

If you would like to work on this in more depth, you can ask yourself the questions below. These are based on the future and you can also distort them if desired so that you can reflect on the past.

Desired situation

• What exactly do you want to achieve?
• What do you see and hear when you have achieved this? And what else?
• Where, when, how, and with whom do you want to achieve this?
• How does it feel when you have achieved this?
• What does the result give you or what becomes possible?

Current situation

• Specify your current situation.
• Where are you now in relation to your goal?

Obstacles

• What's stopping you from achieving your goal?
• What has stopped you from achieving your goal in the past?
• And what else?

Resources

• What do you need to achieve your goal?
• What resources do you need?
• For each resource:
  • Have you ever had or done it before?
  • No? Do you know someone who has it or is it?

Method 3: Logical levels reflection

Another reflection method that I really like and use regularly is using Bateson's logical levels. You can also apply these to reflect on your past or your future.

When I use this method, I start with the first question, run that question around in my head, and eventually notice what kind of answer comes up. No rush. I do this in pure silence. Perhaps you could say that I am reflecting here in a meditative way. I'd say experiment with it.

First of all, you want to create the context you want to investigate. This can be you as a coach in a coaching session. This could be you as an entrepreneur in your coaching business or perhaps as a partner in your relationship. Choose the context in which you want to work. And then you read a question like that and just let an answer come to mind. Sometimes they occur in images, sometimes in words or sounds. It may also be that feelings arise. All fine!

• Environment: What do I respond to, when and with whom?
• Behaviour: What do I do, how do I act? What are my habits?
• Skills: What can I do, how do I approach it?
• Beliefs: Why do I do it, what is important to me?
• Identity: Who am I?
• Mission: Where do I trade from? What is my life purpose?

Of course, this is just a selection from the full range of reflection methods. If you use a different method for yourself or your trackees, I would like to hear which one. Perhaps it is a very nice method that other coaches can use for themselves or for their trackees. Sharing is caring 🙂

I hope you have gained inspiration on how reflection can work for you and your trackee. In addition, you now have an idea of how to apply reflections within Trackler, so that it works for your own business.

Do you have any additions, would you like to add something or do you have other ideas? Let me know. Our mission is to make a major contribution to the coaching world. And we can use all the help with that.

To the extent that, 

Tom

Reflection methods for coachees

What are the benefits of reflection for coachees? How do you apply reflection in your coaching sessions? Which tools can you use for this? We have dedicated a separate blog post to this: Reflection methods for coachees.

Reflection methods for coachees

Tom van Ruiten

Enjoy reading!