Add a cool tool to your coaching toolbelt

Add a cool tool to your coaching toolbelt for decision making

Adding tools to your coaching toolbelt ensures you are stretching as a coach. Furthermore, you are saying relevant. But most importantly, you are extending your ability to serve your clients and add value. It’s been a while since we have focussed specifically on coaching models in our blogs. So, we thought we would have some fun with one of our advanced coaching tools. This tool is featured in our Diploma of Organisational Coaching (10835NAT). It is particularly useful for decision making. Not only that, it is just one of the many great tools that we have included.

What do we normally do when it comes to decision-making?

In decision-making we often just draw up a list of pros and cons. Reasons that we should or shouldn’t take a certain action or make a certain decision. What this leaves us is with a list. Usually we look at that list and try to decide by weighing things up. There is some good coaching questions that we can ask about this list. For example:

What’s the better way to move forward?

How will you decide?

Which side has the most compelling reasons?

But sometimes we can just find ourselves going backwards and forwards. It’s hard to make a decision. And this causes us to spin on our wheels.

Four powerful, head-scratching questions

There are four powerful, head scratching questions that we can ask. They are designed as a cool tool to sit on our toolbelt. For just the right moment. Known as the Cartesian Coordinates or Cartesian Questions. The questions are based on the original mathematical theories of French philosopher Descartes. They were modified into a set of questions that I learned very early in my coaching from the Master Marvin Oka.

Making a stronger decision

Think about a decision you are trying to make.

For example, should I apply for that new job or not?

We have put the decision in italic to make it easier.

Think about one side of the decision, for example apply for the job.

Then ask yourself:

First, what will happen if you do apply for the job?

Second, what will happen if you don’t apply for the job?

Third, what won’t happen if you don’t apply for the job?

Fourth, what won’t happen if you do apply for the job?

The questions can appear quite confusing. They are designed to have you stop and think. For your brain to say ‘hang on…say that again’. They are not the typical questions asked in decision-making. And because of this they can allow us to access better quality information.

Now is the time to think about your coaching development

Give it a go and spend a bit of time thinking about the questions. And with that, I’m sure you will agree, this is a cool tool. If you enjoyed the brain stretch, now is the time to be thinking about your coaching development. With 65 ICF Coach Specific Training Hours attached. The Diploma of Organisational Coaching (10835NAT) is aimed at the ICF PCC level of coaching. Most importantly, it’s designed to stretch you and your coaching abilities. So that you can add value to your clients.

Guaranteed to have you and your clients scratching your head and thinking differently. Particularly around decision making. Give it a go today.