Slides: Dealing With a Lack of Progress

Dealing with a lack of progress

Steve Elzinga

Signs of Trouble

Client can’t make a decision 

Client can’t stick with any decision 

Client can’t make a plan

Client never follows through with the plan

Client never does anything or does everything but what was agreed upon

Client just wants to talk, not do

Client Is always negative

Client is often late for appointments

Client fails to call or contact coach when ball is in his court

Client is a no show often 

What does a coach do?

Stick with the coaching plan. Do not start counseling or mentoring or teaching

After letting the client set the agenda for a period of time with no apparent progress, ask permission to ask a more “leading” question. If he says yes. Ask, “ Why do you think you are not making progress with our coaching process?” This now becomes the focus of your client centered coaching. 

If still no progress ask again to ask a more “leading” question. If he says no, then terminate the relationship. If he says yes then ask, “Can I suggest some areas that I think we should explore together, not as client coach, but as client teacher or client counselor or as client pastor?”

Coach as Pastor

Client needs to be saved

Believe on the Lord Jesus …

Lord and savior

Coach as Pastor

Client needs meaningful connecting habits:

Coach as Councilor

Client needs to be healed from wounds inflicted … 

Coach as Teacher

Client needs to learn certain skills in order to take advantage of the coaching relationship

Sometimes nothing works

Could be a timing issue

Could be a hunger issue

Could be a chemistry issue

Could be a unexposed blockage issue

What do you do when nothing works:

Find another coach

Find another Pastor

Find another Counselor

Find another Teacher

Terminate the coaching relationship

How to terminate the coaching relationship

Avoid blaming the client

Try to, at least in part, blame yourself

Appeal to a mutual benefit i.e. Not wasting each other’s time

Offer to check in a some future date