What coaching has taught me...
- Athma
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
I completed my coaching training at Erickson International, an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-accredited institution, last year. The past twelve months have been quite busy. I want to take a moment to reflect on this journey, focusing particularly on awareness, presence and listening skills.
Awareness
When I began my research on brain function, the first thought that came to mind was "Mount Stupid". I read about this in Adam Grant's "Think Again" - this is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. Simply put, as you start learning about a subject, you often express your opinions more loudly but without much depth.
I am aware that I am writing this blog while sitting on Mount Stupid.
This awareness wouldn't have been possible without the rigor in Coach training and the hours spent in coaching. I intend to use this awareness to move further along the horizontal axis on this chart, rising on the other side as I gain a deeper understanding of the brain.
And, I now apply this awareness in every conversation, noting changes in individuals and helping my clients gain a clearer understanding of themselves.
Presence
We live in a world dominated by multitasking. I used to get easily distracted, often finding myself in a Zoom meeting while simultaneously writing an email and having lunch. Coaching taught me Presence, doing one thing without distraction. As I evolved as a Coach, I got better at reining in my thoughts and staying in the current conversation. I now bring this Presence to each Coaching conversation.
Listening
In my corporate career, I've attended numerous meetings where participants talk over one another without truly listening. Through coaching, I learned to remain present and listen. I enable my clients to hear themselves as they speak, helping them become aware of their subconscious patterns. Together, we work to unravel these patterns and unlock untapped potential.
If you'd like to see these at play in a coaching conversation, you know what to do...
Talk soon.
Coach Athma
Life Coach, Toronto, Canada