1. File Name Based on Szabó & Meir by Bob Garvey r.garvey@easynet.co.uk
Brief Coaching
Based on Szabó & Meir
by Bob Garvey

2. Brief Coaching - some assumptions
It must be brief……and …..
Solutions building is the fast track to problem solving
Clients are experts in their own life and work
When in doubt, trust the client
Not knowing is useful

3. Brief Coaching – Summary
Focus on capabilities not deficits
What works? not What’s missing?
Develop ideas on the future not analysis of the problem
What does the world look like beyond the obstacles?

4. Elements of a Brief conversation
Contract before you start
Reach a coaching agreement
Discover a preferred future
Find precursors of solutions
Progress clues
Session conclusion

5. Brief Coaching – contracting before you start
Clarify the client’s purpose.
Ask what will be the consequences of achieving the purpose.
How will client notice that the coaching has come to a successful end?
Be open about how many sessions will be needed.

6. Brief Coaching – reaching agreement
(If they say what they don’t want) What would you rather instead?
How will you notice that things are good enough and it is time to end?
What would you like to achieve by the end of this session?
How will other people notice that things are good enough now?
What are the first small signs that tell you that you can manage from now on?
What could you start with?
When you walk out of this door, what will be the first sign that you have already started towards your purpose?

7. Brief Coaching – finding resources & precursors of solutions
What was the most recent time when something happened that was at least a little bit like (the miracle) your solution?
What other examples of such precursors come to mind?
How did you manage to do that?
What did you contribute to make this possible?
On a scale of 1-10, where are you at the moment?
What is different now compared with being at 1?
What helped you get to where you are now?
Where were the precursors on the same 1-10 scale?
What would your best friend say about where you are on the scale?
What would your friend admire about your progress?

8. Brief Coaching – defining progress clues
How will you notice that you are a small step higher on the scale?
How would other people notice?
What would you be doing then that you’re not doing now?
When you leave here, what would be the first small sign that you’re on your way up the scale?

9. Brief Coaching – discovering a preferred future
Ask the ‘miracle’ question – “Let me ask you a somewhat strange question. Suppose our conversation finished – you do whatever you’ve planned this evening; then you get tired and go to bed. In the middle of the night, when you’re fast asleep, a miracle happens. The miracle is that everything you brought to this session is solved somehow. When you wake the next morning you don’t know there’s been a miracle because you were fast asleep. How will you start to notice that a miracle had happened?”
Suppose....
What else?

10. Brief Coaching– coming to a session conclusion
Before we end today, is there anything we forgot to talk about?
How can we best close the session to bring it to a complete end for you?
In relation to your purpose for this session, where do you stand on a 1-10 scale? Can we leave it at that for now?
Thinking about what you’ve said, I’m really impressed by....
How should we proceed from here?