Magical Prague is home to the famed astronomical clock and Prague castle with its tiny Golden Lane. If you have not yet visited Prague, add it to your bucket list. But Prague is also where you will find Charles Bridge and this is where our story takes place.
A poor Jew who lived in Kazimierz, Poland many years ago once dreamed that there was hidden treasure buried under Charles' bridge in Prague, some 450 km away. He tried to dismiss the dream but night after night the dream recurred. Eventually, he decided that this was a message and he made the trip to Prague.
Upon reaching the bridge he was fascinated to see that it looked exactly as it had in his dream and he knew precisely where he would find the treasure. The only problem was that the bridge was guarded by soldiers, therefore digging was out of the question. Itzik was troubled; the treasure was tantalisingly within his reach. Eventually, one of the guards asked why he was loitering there. When Itzik revealed his dream, the guard burst into laughter declaring him a fool. "Why, if I would believe my dreams I would be in Kazimierz, now digging under the stove of the poor Jew Itzik, for there lies buried treasure."
Stunned, Itzik took this as a sign and hurried home, where he hastily moved the stove, dug and discovered great wealth.
In coaching philosophy, the answer lies within us, although sometimes it is necessary to search for outside help in order to help us access that information. The coach's task is not to advise rather to help the coachee discover his inner solution.
It is actually far easier for the coachee if you tell him what you do. You would then be doing the difficult work by removing the need for contemplation and introspection. Therefore, initially he may try to make you decide for him. If the coachee tries to throw the ball in your court or challenges you by saying something like, 'Well, you should know. After all, you are the coach, you can respond, “I know what I would do, but this is not about me,”
This is essential because as much as we want someone else to decide for us, we instinctively resist instructions. If you facilitate the sessions so that the coachee is coming to his own conclusions, in the long run the benefit will be far greater and enduring.
Not limited to coaching, you can use this coaching concept in all interactions. Next time someone asks you what to do, resist the urge to tell, but ask instead, "What do you think?"
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