My son’s preschool teacher once sent me a great article on what children say vs what they mean:

“I had it first” = “I want it. Now!” 

“I hate you!” = “I’m angry.”

“You’re a meanie” = “I’m mad at you. I want my way.”

Just like little kids, your clients often don’t say what they mean… 

A great coach listens between their clients’ words 

They listen for what is not being said. 

They listen to the question behind the question. 

They pay attention to the real issue, not the presenting issue.  

Your clients don’t always mean what they say, or say what they mean.

It’s your job to decipher what’s really going on.   

Draw out their secret desires and their deepest fears. 

Draw out their gifts, their hidden gifts and the dark side of their gifts.

Get curious about how they think, not just what they think.

Get curious about where their motivation and their energy come from.

Listen to the content of their stories and then draw out the real context of the situation.

Love. Rich