The Power of Coaching Part 3: Powerful Questions
Just when you seem to yourself
nothing but a flimsy web
of questions, you are given
the questions of others to hold
in the emptiness of your hands,
songbird eggs that can still hatch
if you keep them warm,
butterflies opening and closing themselves
in your cupped palms, trusting you not to injure
their scintillant fur, their dust.
You are given the questions of others
as if they were answers
to all you ask. Yes, perhaps
this gift is your answer.
~~Denise Levertov
Welcome back to the third and final installment of our series on the Power of Coaching! In Part 1, we talked about the gift of a safe and non-judgmental space. Part 2 delved into the art of deep listening. Now, in Part 3, we explore the magic of powerful questions.
We've all had those times when we find ourselves swimming in the sea of overwhelm, our minds swirling with doubts and uncertainties. It's in these moments, when we're trapped in a spiral of doubt, that coaching can bring the precious gift of honest, open, and powerful questions. Powerful questions open up the possibility of coming home to yourself. They're not just any questions; they're a precious gift. They may not provide an immediate answer, but they have the power to invite you to explore avenues you had never even considered.
In Denise Levertov's poem, she talks about holding the questions of others as a precious gift. It's a bit like being handed a box of fragile treasures - like those songbird eggs that can still hatch if you keep them warm or butterflies trusting you not to harm their delicate beauty.
Where does the power of a good question lie in coaching? They don't simply provide quick fixes. They encourage you to explore, to reflect, and to grow. Coaching isn't about a person giving you all the answers. It's about guiding you to find your answers. Powerful questions are the guideposts on your journey. They challenge you to look within, to confront your uncertainties, and to emerge from the chaos with newfound wisdom.
Coaching isn't about finding a single destination. It's about embracing the adventure of grappling with our questions. The questions aren't roadblocks; they're the stepping stones to your growth. Coaching isn't about someone telling you what to do. It's about partnership, trust, and the beauty of questions that lead to self-discovery.
When you find yourself caught in that web of confusion, don't be trapped in self-doubt when the answers don't come quickly. Cherish the questions. Let them be your companions on your journey.
