Hi guys, on my previous post I had the opportunity to present a good framework that helps coaches to develop their skills. This post is a continuation of that post, I want to write about “What´s going on in the coach´s mind during a coaching session. For this I will use the same framework and the same levels of listening presented on my previous post. Let´s take a look into it…

Level I - Internal Listening
At this level the coach is thinking just about him. During a coaching session he thinks something like: “I hear you. I have some things to add about what you said”. Basically the coach hear what is being said by the coache but we are concentrated on what it means to for us. For example, during a coaching session never happened to you that you end up in a situation thinking for yourself: “Hoooo I know the solution for that, I have the experience to solve that”? In my opinion that is a good example of Level I. You should force yourself to be fully concentrated on the speaker.

Level II - Focused Listening
On this level the coach hears the coache and accept him. He gets curious about what the coache says. He is more focused on what the speaker says. On this level the coach can interpret the words on coache´s context rather than on his own. The coach accepts what the speak says and also how is it said, it is not uncommon for the coach to use the same words or expressions back in reflection.

Level III - Global Listening
This level reveals a more global form of listening. The coach is focused on the coache but not just on his words, he can use his own posture, emotions and body language to help the coache. The coach perceives the environment around the speaker. He can place the speaker´s words, expressions, experiences and emotions in the speaker´s own context.

This blog like all the previous ones were taken out from Lyssa and Michael training. For more information about their trainings go to Agile Coaching Institute.

Thank you so much for your time.

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Thanks guys,
Luis