When we engage with our clients, we listen really carefully in order to frame a purposeful question to support their thinking and emerging solutions. We are well trained to listen out for limiting beliefs and unhelpful assumptions blocking the client’s progress which we highlight and challenge.

Do we pay the same attention to the client’s change talk? What happens to all the client’s comments which indicate that they are ready, willing and able to move forward? My experience of observing hundreds of coaches is that much of the change talk, however tentatively expressed by the client, is often overlooked as the coach beams in on the ‘but’, of the ‘yes, but’.

In this interactive workshop, we will unpick the concept of sustain talk and change talk. What types of each talk are there? How can we effectively harness the change talk? What happens when we help the client focus primarily on the change talk?

Come along and refresh your skills around effective reflecting to enable your clients to capture their motivation for implementing solutions to their challenges.

Lesley Matile established Peak Performance Coaching in 2000 following an earlier career in the Probation Service. She delivers executive coaching, coach training and coach supervision. She is accredited by the EMCC at Master Practitioner Level and accredited as a Time to Think Coach.