Staying Put

Maybe it’s a reaction to all that thinking about Metaphors Of Movement, but in teaching my Clean Language students this week I’ve been concentrating on staying put!

When coaching with Clean Language, it’s not that you want the client to not move.

But by holding their attention in a single place for longer than usual, they will usually achieve greater clarity, greater depth, and greater insight.

At the Jubilee fete in Brentford this weekend I had a go at archery. Apparently, for your first few arrows, it’s great just to hit the target. Then you aim for the gold zone in the middle.

But when you want to move to the next level, the thing to focus on is “grouping”: a sequence of arrows landing close together. That indicates a steady hand and steady focus.

Similarly, Clean Language beginners fire their questions all over the client’s metaphorical landscape. Then, they get the notion that the gold is in the outcome, and aim their questions consistently in that direction.

And the next level is in the grouping: asking a sequence of perhaps three developing questions about one specific thing the client has mentioned.

Why not try it? You’ll be amazed how this practice both builds your confidence and skill, and generates new insights for your client.