Many people express frustration to us about their intention to coach and their strongly held beliefs about the power of coaching coming into conflict with their day-to-day demands and unplanned events. This week we will provide some ways of thinking about that typical dilemma.

The challenge of shifting from responding, reacting, fixing, and problem-solving to building capacity for self-directedness is one of consciousness. Ask yourself this week when a surprise or unanticipated dilemma comes to you, “How would coaching serve me here?” After such events, ask yourself, “What kept me from coaching?” At the end of the week, consider the patterns in your answers and construct generalizations about what might be your most personal block.