I’m sure you’re aware of the expression, if you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right. This very nicely acknowledges the impact the beliefs we hold about our ability have on what we try to achieve. Establishing these beliefs with the person you’re working with is really useful but it can take a bit of unpicking and in many coaching settings it may not be appropriate or you might not have the time.
But because this can be so important, finding a way to move quickly when you need to is key and I’ve found asking the following question as part of discussions is a great way to help…
Do you see this as something to work on or something to work around?
A work on – I know I can do this and just need to find a more effective way of approaching it.
A work around – this behaviour or way of thinking is just too ingrained so we’ll have to find a way to limit the impact.
While I don’t let people off the hook if a work around should really be a work on, I’ve found asking this question is a quick and effective way to establish what might be possible to allow us to make the best use of (often limited) coaching time.
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