The author recently had a coaching conversation that, while acceptable, was not totally satisfying in terms of being focused and genuinely supportive. This caused me to reflect on what factors might have contributed to my inability to support the person in a manner that I would have liked to. I examined my energy level, my filters of perception, my consciousness in using the maps and tools, as well as the context. While I am still not certain what was the nexus of all of the factors, the process of self-searching was renewing and valuable.

We do learn from our experiences only when we take time to reflect on them. Take a few minutes this week and analyze a relationship or coaching relationship that is less successful than you might like. Here are a few questions for your consideration:

How are my mental models impacting this relationship?

What am I aware of about trust and rapport in this relationship?

How craftsmanlike am I in using the maps and tools I have learned?

How are my states of mind affecting this relationship?

How are states of mind of the coachee informing my decisions?