Use of Metaphors and Stories in Executive Coaching

A good coach usually has a lot of tools in his/her toolkit.

A proficient coach would know when to use just the right tool.

I have often found in dealing with my executive clients that the use of metaphors and story telling goes down very well with them. Suddenly they become the anxious little childern wanting to know what happened in the story next and Voila ! they have already put the jigsaw together !!

Using a story can influence the client without being directive. The client gets into a relaxed state of mind and can think clearer, better and faster.

Likewise Metaphors (Greek metapherein ) can be an excellent tool to assist the client out of a ’stuck-state’. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Metaphors take us beyond one meaning and open up new possibilities and avenues.