How can Coaching & Mentoring professionals effectively identify problems and find solutions?

As an experienced coach and mentor I often find that a Q & A session will highlight the real problem is very different from how it is initially described. That is why engaging a coach will add value and bring a positive return on the investment. Asking the questions the client may be avoiding or didn't consider, drilling down to the real root cause opens up the dialogue towards finding the appropriate solution. It is essential to be supportive and avoid being critical as that will initiate a defensive response potentially inhibiting real progress. The coachee or mentee has to feel comfortable and willing to be honest and engaged with the process. Being objective and avoiding subjective conclusions will create a practical way forward.

An often overlooked aspect of defining the problem during a Time Between Worlds is that the coach or mentee may not understand the grand cycles playing out. Collapsology teaches us that uncertainties are inherent in civilizational shifts, making precise problem definition challenging yet crucial. Embrace Clare Graves' Three Scenarios, focusing on evolutionarily coherent solutions. Utilize foresight scenario building to anticipate diverse challenges. Remember, in this liminal space, problem definition is an art form, weaving threads of complexity into a tapestry of understanding. How can you guide individuals to see the nuances within the chaos?

C & M professionals excel in problem identification and solution-finding through an intricate blend of empathy, active listening, and strategic questioning. By deeply engaging with individuals or teams, I facilitate open dialogues to uncover underlying issues, fostering trust to explore challenges candidly. Through active listening, I grasp nuances, allowing me to pinpoint core problems. Utilizing probing questions, I guide individuals to self-discovery, empowering them to outline potential solutions. Drawing on experience and expertise, I offer diverse perspectives, nudging towards innovative resolutions. Continuous support and feedback further refine these solutions, ensuring sustainable outcomes for professional growth and development.

En Coaching systémique, nous préférons laisser le coaché exprimer rapidement le problème et poser des questions sur les symptômes plutôt que sur le détail du problème lui même. L objectif est de faire rapidement passer le coaché dans les solutions possibles

#1. Sensing to detect the psychological state. #2. Conversing to define the current mindset of the issue. #3. Reframing to alter the mindset for a solution.

It is easy to identify problems but many struggle with coming up with solutions. A mentor’s role is to support the development of a mentee and help them in discovery and exploration. Insight from experience is a great reference.

The labyrinth of causality is particularly complex during a Time Between Worlds, because the cause of an issue may lie well beyond the scope of anything the client is able to perceive. Apply Peter Turchin’s Cliodynamics framework to discern the historical currents shaping today's challenges. Elisabet Sahtouris' Maturation Cycle guides us in understanding the evolution of societies—from competitive infancy to collaborative maturity. As a coach, illuminate these interconnections for your clients, revealing the intricate dance of factors shaping their experiences. In this chaotic dance, what patterns do you perceive, and how can you guide others to unravel the complexity of causation during this Time Between Worlds?

I somewhat agree that exploring root causes can provide valuable insights as not to repeat it again, but professional coaching focuses more on facilitating a future-oriented mindset and forward-thinking. This approach is less about uncovering past justifications (answering the why) and more about empowering the cochee to envision and work towards their desired future of the situation, designing and taking the current steps to a achieve it. To facilitate this process and to encourage self-exploration and personal growth, one of the coaching question I like to use is "What outcome would you like to create from this situation? Or What would you like to have happened”

What I have found is simple observation or asking to be shown how something is done can quickly illuminate any inefficiencies.

It's paramount to guide your mentee in developing a comprehensive understanding of the problem's context. This involves a meticulous examination of both internal and external factors. For example, in a business environment, this could mean analyzing market trends, competitor, and industry standards, alongside internal operational processes and team dynamics. Utilize data-driven insights and benchmarking tools to provide a factual basis for this analysis. Encourage the exploration of innovative solutions by fostering an environment that values creative thinking and open dialogue. This holistic approach not only aids in addressing the immediate problem but also equips them with the skills to anticipate and mitigate future challenges.

While a coach is supporting their coachee to find solutions, it's important to not let his/her own urge of suggesting solutions come in the way. Holding space and silence and prompting through the right questions at right junction is very important to this process of finding possible solutions and ideas.

While it's important that the coach doesn't impose solutions, the right coach during a Time Between Worlds will utilize foresight scenario building to envision diverse futures, anticipating challenges and opportunities. S/he will employ systems thinking to generate solutions that ripple across interconnected realms—acknowledging the power of comprehensive change. The coach will also suggest that solutions may emerge from unexpected intersections of economic, social, and cultural domains. As a coach, foster a mindset that sees problems as gateways to innovative solutions. How can you empower your clients to become architects of possible futures rather than merely searching for solutions?

Ouvrir le coaché à l infini des solutions en challengeant ses réflexions, en questionnant les hypothèses mises de côté, sans jamais suggérer.

The solution doesn’t have to come from you. When generating solutions, a coach/mentor should let the mentee come up with ideas that would help them solve the problem. Even if you don’t personally think that it would help, give it a shot, and if it doesn’t work, help your mentee come up with a better idea and try again.

A Time Between Worlds is when a coach must even more carefully evaluate solutions. Apply a critical lens informed by systems thinking—acknowledge the ripple effects across interconnected realms. In this era of transition, understand that solutions are not one-size-fits-all; tailor them to the nuanced interplay of economic, social, and cultural factors. As a coach, empower your clients to assess solutions with resilience and adaptability. How can you guide them to discern the most potent paths forward amidst the uncertainties of the Time Between Worlds? How can you guide them to see *potentialities* rather than looking merely for solutions?

The most important aspect to remember during a Time Between Worlds is that this is a dynamic phase; in other words, all potentialities and/or solutions must be agile and responsive, rather than set in stone. As a coach, guide your clients in translating visions into tangible actions, fostering a sense of empowerment. How can you inspire and support them as they become architects of transformative change rather than "fixers of problems" during this Time Between Worlds?

Usually the hardest step with any plan is taking action. Ensure the coach and mentee are in agreement about what is do-able, set the plan accordingly. Even if it's a baby step to start that can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. Start slow. Start small. Get on the same page about what is reasonable. This is perhaps the most essential part; having buy-in on both sides of the table. Having deadlines and check points holds everyone accountable. Knowing there is an expected goal due at a certain date often helps drive the action taking.

To complete this comment, I would like to remark that it has to be necessary to check during the conversation if there are still any limited beliefs remaining. Because all these suggestions mentioned in point 6 would not be enough to avoid any repetition of the coachee's traumatic situation. On the contrary, all these suggestions mentioned in this point N° 6 Le, would be not enough to avoid any repetition on the

I believe that the best way to identify problems when coaching individuals is to build deep/meaningful interaction based on trust. Thereafter, it is mentor’s responsibility to frame the questions creatively and supportively to enable the mentee to work towards identifying root causes for their problem.Carefully framed questions open up analytical pathways to examine situations/behaviors critically and find solutions which may include a shift in one’s own perspective. In my experience, the deeper the trust , the more fruitful will be the interaction. And, the more incisive and open-ended the questions, the greater the likelihood of successful mentoring outcomes.

I recommend accompanying the coaching activity with friendly tools that help the coachees identify their limiting beliefs. Thanks to these tools, selecting specific images makes it easier for them to connect with their problems. At the same time, they serve to break the ice and create a more relaxed but, at the same time, more productive environment, taking into account that the coaching sessions should not exceed 45 minutes; otherwise, they would turn into coffee talks. Tools such as ¨Point of You¨, Faces, and Punctum are highly recommended and have demonstrated significant efficacy.