Recently I told one of my clients that he's taking a boat tour with me. In that very moment he approached his coaching session like a tourist in Venice – leaning back and half-assed listening to the tour guide while zipping on a cocktail (metaphorically speaking). I know this particular client very well and we have our own sense of humor. He got it in that moment. He took the ruder again and directed the gondola called coaching in the direction of HIS choice. This article is about how to get the most out of your coach, teacher, therapist, trainer, workshop, course, retreat etc. Here's how to extract max value.
Let me start with an example from my own life: After a complicated elbow-injury which required extensive rehab I had the first session with my new physiotherapist. The session went well and he gave me an exercise to do at home until we'd meet again a few days later. My response was: »Can I do more? From your expert-perspective, what's the most I could do for perfect recovery? I'm ready to train every day, multiple hours if needed. Just tell me!«
His eyes lit up! He was used to a much older clientel with very different resources available. Now here I come along, full of energy and willpower. It sparked something in him! Not only did he give me a whole array of exercises and tools to work with, we also increased the number of sessions, became friends and worked out in the gym together. He treated my arm for free many times. I helped him out with his studies in osteopathy and recommended a ton of clients to him.
How was all this possible? By asking the maximum out of the rich and extensive resource right in front of me! Not to exploit it but to extract max value and soak it up like a sponge. All-in intensely involved in the present moment.
I'm sharing this story because he's amazing. I simply saw it and took my chances. If you read this... thank you so much my dear Alex. You've saved my arm brother. I'm so so grateful!
A few more examples of the same mechanism:
One client showed up to our sessions with a stack of paper containing texts, lists, mind-maps and drawings. She took extensive time to reflect and came in prepared like no other. Every single time!
One client was terrified of coming in UNprepared, so she knew that that was exactly what she needed to do. With all her courage she showed up, fully present and without any preconceived idea.
One client asked me to do his session on the phone, audio only, while he's out walking in the forest. He knew that walking and being in nature both helps him to process difficult emotions. He connected the dots and asked if it was possible.
One client listened to every single podcast episode that I had published and read all my books before even showing up for the first session. Needless to say she had a hell of a head start!