Coaching Core: Reflective practice

Reflection is a key tool for coaches to learn and grow. Insight gained through experience can guide us to better performance - meaning your clients benefit and you continually develop. But before I discuss how to, why bother reflecting? how does one build a reflective practice?

From my work as a coach supervisor and from my own journey to PCC I find a reflective practice is essential for effective coaching as it has several benefits:

Self-Awareness – Helps coaches identify personal biases and assumptions that may affect their coaching process.

Professional Growth – Reflection fosters insights that contribute to skill development and coaching competency.

Client Impact – When coaches reflect, they enhance their ability to be present and serve clients authentically.

One of the things I enjoy about reflective practice is its ability to meet me where I am on my development journey...

• ACC Level: Reflection at this stage helped me become aware of my instinctive reactions, such as discomfort with silence, or biases. Reflective practice aided me in building confidence and aligning with core coaching competencies.

• As I worked toward my PCC reflection became more nuanced. It included evaluating client dynamics, adapting techniques to varied personalities, and refining the use of intuition and empathy.

• As my aspirations to MCC have emerged I am finding reflection is more transformative, helping me define and refine my “coaching presence”, find where and how I stay "in the dance" most successfully and adapt to increasingly complex client scenarios.

Key Elements of a Robust Reflective Practice

This is not an exhaustive list, but simply what I have found works for me. You are on your own journey. Part of the pleasure of a robust reflective practice is developing your own.

a. Mindfulness and Presence

• Encourage moments of mindfulness before and after sessions to enhance present-moment awareness.

• Example: Take a few deep breaths after a session to become aware of any emotions, thoughts, or judgments arising.

b. Journaling and Note-taking

• As I've written before, journaling is a powerful tool to capture immediate reflections post-session, noting personal insights, client reactions, and areas for improvement.

• Example: Journal about a challenging session, exploring how you navigated a difficult question or why certain emotions arose.

c. Seeking Feedback

• Peer or supervisor feedback assists in gaining perspectives that may not be self-evident.

• Example: You can can review sessions with a mentor, gaining valuable insights on subtleties you may have overlooked.

• Client Feedback. Yes you read that, asking the client how the approach for a session or how the journey overall is working for them can give you amazing insight. as uncomfortable as it might seem, the best coaches I know ask their clients.

• Example (session end): After each session you might ask, "Before we close, I’d love to know what worked well for you in today’s session and if there’s anything I could do differently to support you more effectively."

• Example (During journey): "As we’re midway through our coaching journey, how would you describe my approach in supporting your goals? What adjustments do you feel would help us make the most of our time together?"

d. Reflective Questioning (works well with Journaling)

• Introduce questions that encourage deeper reflection:

  • What surprised me about this session?

  • How did my assumptions influence the interaction?

  • What strengths did I bring, and where can I improve?

• Example: After a session where you felt tension, you might reflect on your emotional response and its impact on your questions and reactions.

Making Reflection a Habit

• Scheduling Reflection Time: Offer practical advice on setting aside regular time for reflection, such as after every session, weekly reviews, or quarterly peer reflection sessions.

• Digital Tools for Reflection: Introduce note-taking or journaling apps that can make reflective practice easy and accessible.

Reflect, Learn, Grow

A strong reflective practice strengthens both the coach and the coaching process. It can help you be more professional and provide you sign posts on your journey to additional learning and self development. Reflection is a lifelong commitment that enriches you journey and deepens you impact with clients.

Example

Earlier this year I wrote about the trust equation and the elements that make it up Credibility, Reliability, Intimacy and Self Interest