I have found intuition in coaching to be a valuable ally. When I am in this more spacious place, I not only have the capacity to connect, feel, and process my impressions and observations about another person, but something interesting happens. I start to have notions about the client that I don’t have any way to know based on what has been said or is in evidence. I’m careful to notice them as “impressions” and not facts, but often, they are true. And I know this because…
At the core of mindful coaching lies our capacity to be fully present. This means:
- Tuning into our internal state
- Calming our nervous system
- Focusing intently on the person before us
When we achieve this state of heightened awareness, something remarkable happens. We begin to pick up on subtle cues and impressions that go beyond the words being spoken.
Intuition: A Coaching Superpower
These impressions, which we might call intuitions, can manifest in various ways:
- A curiosity about a specific aspect of your client’s life
- A sense of their past experiences
- An idea about what might be beneficial for them
It’s important to note that these intuitions aren’t about being psychic or having supernatural abilities. Rather, they’re the result of our finely-tuned attention and ability to process information on multiple levels.
Navigating Intuitive Insights
When you receive an intuitive impression, consider these approaches:
- Frame it as a question: “I’m curious, do you have a special connection to water?”
- Offer it lightly: “This might sound odd, but I’m getting a sense that writing is important to you. Does that resonate?”
- Use it to guide your inquiry: If you sense an underlying issue, you can steer the conversation in that direction without explicitly stating your intuition.
Remember, the goal isn’t to always be right. It’s to open up new avenues of exploration and deepen your connection with your client. At the same time, you are learning to refine your intuitive skills by learning what “lands” and what doesn’t land with the client and if there are differences in how those insights arise in you.
When Intuitions Miss the Mark
Not every intuitive hit will land. That’s okay! If a client doesn’t resonate with your intuition, use it as an opportunity to:
- Reinforce their certainty about what they do know
- Explore why that particular idea doesn’t fit
- Redirect the conversation in a more relevant direction
The beauty of intuition in coaching is not in its infallibility but in its ability to spark deeper conversations and insights.
Cultivating Your Intuitive Abilities
Developing your intuition is a practice. Here are some ways to enhance this skill:
- Center yourself: Before each session, take a few moments to ground yourself and clear your mind.
- Practice open awareness: Allow impressions to arise without judgment or attachment.
- Trust the process: The more you work with intuition, the more refined it becomes.
- Reflect and learn: After sessions, note which intuitions were helpful and which weren’t. This will help you calibrate over time.
The Ethical Use of Intuition
As with any powerful tool, intuition must be used responsibly:
- Always prioritize your client’s agenda over your intuitive impressions
- Be clear about the difference between intuition and fact
- Use intuition to enhance, not replace, your coaching skills and techniques
Embracing the Space Between
Intuition allows us to tap into what I call the “meta field” or the “space between” – that invisible realm of connection that exists beyond words. By honing this skill, we can create deeper, more meaningful coaching relationships and help our clients in ways they might not have anticipated.
As mindful coaches, our work is not just about what’s said, but about what’s felt, sensed, and intuited. By embracing our intuition, we open ourselves and our clients to a richer, more holistic coaching experience.