A study of consequences

Here’s an example.  You are contacted by a potential client.  An initial conversation leads you to make a decision - discovery call or not? What’s the consequence of that decision?

You decide on the discovery call and then, in the course of that call, you glean some information about the client that raises a question - is this really a coaching requirement, is it mentoring they need or is it possibly borderline therapy? You have a decision to make - what’s the consequence of that decision?

You decide to take that client on and all is going well. Yet, you are still constantly monitoring your language, your interaction, your ‘attitude’ to the client and their progress.

At some point, the client raises an action they are considering. Listening to that idea, you might ask them to think through the possibilities and consequences thereof. Not to deter them but to ensure they have thought things through thoroughly - that’s part of what you are there for after all, is it not?

At every step of the journey, a professional and ethical coach will be checking for consequence and ensuring their client does the same.

THAT is ecology in coaching.

Some useful questions to ask might include:



1. If you do that, what’s the best that could happen?
2. If you do that, what else could happen?
3. If you don’t do that, what are the possible benefits?
4. If you don’t do that, what are the possible consequences?
5. What other options are there? (And repeat the above questions)

So here’s another line of thought:

1. Are YOU an ecological coach?
2. What’s the possible consequence of that?

If you'd like to know more about the Association for Professional Coaching and its stance on ethics and ecology, visit our web pages.