Executive Coaching: Step 3 is Problem Definition

Problem definition in executive coaching is a science and an art. Where should you focus your interventions? A client will tell you about all sorts of problems at all sorts of levels. It is really important in the coaching that you help them discern what problems are root causes, and which are symptoms. This influences the order of intervention.

In this podcast we will talk about three levels of problem definition. Clients can be stuck at the behavioural level - for instance in the way they communicate or express themselves. They can be stuck at the relational level - for instance in the games they play with themselves and others. Or they can be stuck at the existential level, in the narrative they have built up about themselves, others and life.

For an executive coach it is really important to understand at what level your client is stuck.