The Difference In EQ At Work Coaching?

July 1, 2008

She asked, “So, what’s different about EQ At Work coaching?”

That’s a great question and one that I frequently asked when talking about the EQ At Work EQ Coach Certification Training

There are many differences and here’s one of the biggest and most important: EQ At Work coaching focuses on the level of cause and not just the level of effect. Or, to use medical terms, EQ At Work coaches are trained to address the level of cause instead of just dealing with the symptom.

In my experience of training and mentoring coaches over the last 10 years, I observe that it is most common for coaches to work on the “symptom” and not the causes.

Always Late

For example, let’s consider the client who is always late. The effect or the symptom is lateness. Focused on that effect, the solutions offered tend to be things like: Get a new calendar system or PDA, Set a reminder in your Outlook calendar so that you hear the tone or get reminded by email. Or, set your watch ahead so that you actually show up on time. Or make your appointment at an easier time to keep. etc.

This approach doesn’t deal with the underlying issue of what is really causing the client to habitually be late. Asking the client, “Why are you always late?” is not the best coaching question. It may cause defensiveness or excuses. And if the client could really honestly answer that question they might have solved the problem.

Most effective coaching doesn’t give much weight to the externals either, like: “my car broke down, my kids slow me down, my alarm doesn’t wake me, etc.” If we focus there we go to things like, “get a better car, baby-sitter or alarm clock.”

Those ideas might be useful but, no matter how many different corrections are made to correct the symptom, the client frequently ends up with the problem persisting. If you want proof, check your own experience for times when you have tried to make a change by working on the “symptom.”

The Emotional Agenda

It is important to recognize that being late is a choice and one that is made for a good reason, stimulated by an important emotional agenda. The client has a blind spot and doesn’t recognize the choice or the agenda. But, until you get to that level nothing will really change. You get the appearance of change, temporarily and the back to business as usual.

Coaching Can Help - EQ Coaching Enables A Quantum Leap

Please hear me correctly. I am not saying that most coaching isn’t beneficial. Coaching can increase awareness and support the client to develop new behaviors in pursuit of their goals. And, there are many competent coaches. By focusing at the level of cause coaches and clients can make a quantum leap in transforming limiting behavior into purposeful action.

EQ At Work Certification

What the EQ At Work Coach Certification does so well is give coaches a method to help the client discover the combination of thoughts, feelings and actions that are the cause and make new choices that are consistent with their real purpose and values.

If you believe that the real measure of success in coaching is lasting beneficial change of behavior, then learn to work at the level of cause. I invite you to explore our EQ Coach Certification. And, your questions and comments are welcome.

Joseph Liberti
EQ At Work