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Small Business Coaching: Holding the Space
One of the many challenges for the small business coach is having the skills to
navigate a conversation when it potentially could trigger the client to react in a defensive or aggressive
manner. Only the courageous small business coach will push the boundaries when the consequences
could result in his or her contract termination. This discussion focuses on how to hold the space for these
types of conversations.
Small business coaches often walk a fine line. Do they dare go where no one has dared to tread before,
or do they push the boundaries to get to the core issues for sustainable resolution? Often the small business
coaching practitioner is apprehensive to cross the line mainly due the fear of negative consequences or not
having enough know-how to hold this challenging type of coaching conversation.
One the key elements in this conversation is to create and hold the space in which it is not only safe for the
client to converse and emote, but also honouring the place where the client feels he can open up to
explore deeper issues. For this to occur, the small business coach will be required to suspend all
judgements, assumptions and beliefs about what the client might say. Any hint of this will shut down the
conversation for the client. Another crucial aspect is for the business coach to be as neutral
as possible with his/her body language. Any obvious changes in facial expressions, posture, glances and the like
will send an unspoken message.
The next key factor in holding the space is the power of silence. The natural response for the small business coach
in normal circumstances is to keep coaching conversations fluid and in rhythm and not to break the
flow especially when the direction is heading toward a favourable outcome. In this situation the opposite is true.
The small business coach will need to become comfortable with silence and long pauses.
This is a crucial aspect in holding the space for the client.
Often we feel the need to break the silence as it creates a level of discomfort. The rule here however is that
the first person to break the silence is the one that has the stronger need to have their voice heard. If the
small business coaching practitioner does so, he takes away the tension that is necessary for the client to finally
reach the place of talking truth. If this happens it will be very difficult to recreate the space a second time.
The payoff however is that when deeper conversation ensues, the client feels the need for change from a core place
inside of them and it is this place that moves them to committed action.
Holding the space is not an easy process but the rewards far outweigh the effort and risk.
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