You may have heard the refrain from student after student: Starting can be the hardest part. Many of today's students, managing countless distractions and perhaps navigating ADHD and other focus or mental health issues, struggle to get started on a task, whether it is a 15-page paper or a 250-word discussion post. If and when they do manage to get going, they often find that continuing the task feels easier than the heavy lift of starting it. 

Students are not the only ones who find starting something particularly difficult. Coaches can often find it awkward to begin a coaching conversation, especially if they are new to the profession. However, there are ways to get into the flow more easily. One essential element to a productive session is mutual understanding of how a coaching session works. A coach can introduce themselves and ask a student if they've been to coaching before, and if they have not, a great way to start the conversation is to describe the goals of coaching and how a session generally proceeds.

Once this common ground is established, coaches can ask questions like these to engage a coachee:

• What is at the top of your mind to talk through today?

• How would you describe the story of yourself as a college student up until now?

• What brought you to coaching?

• How would you like to improve how you operate as a student?

• What takeaway would make this a productive meeting for you?

Join LifeBound for training that can help you become more comfortable with each phase of a coaching conversation.

Visit our website to sign up for LifeBound Coaching Classes.

1-Day Introduction to Inclusive Coaching

June 17

(In-person, pre-conference class at the GlobalMindED 10 Year Anniversary conference in Denver, Colorado)

3-Day Inclusive Coaching

July 15, 17, 19

(additional dates below)