I’ve become really aware in my recent personal growth work about the danger of personal development events and also even my own work as a Counsellor and Coach and how there can be a danger of people just becoming all inspired but then not really shifting gear into a new self.

I’ve been to these events. They can be a tonne of fun but sometimes it can actually be like eating a massive chocolate cake. You’re on a high for a good few days but then you crash and there’s a reflection of wondering what actually happened, what really changed, have you changed for the better ?

Personal development is all cool but its’ vital that it involves the transformational change of the individual, however that looks. There’s this ‘fluff’ on the top which must be cleared away.

I can see how there is potential for coaches to operate purely in this domain if they really wanted. Just leaving people with the all inspired feelings but without the transformation actually occurring at all.

For me personally I can see how excited I often am about Counselling and Coaching stuff. This is great as it is my passion. I’m learning though now to strike a balance of the giving of information while really letting my clients find out their own answers and really most importantly doing their exercises themselves so they get stronger.

This is therefore not often the same ‘high’ as would be possible with an information overload but it is what helps the most.

There are times when I really need to strongly turn the spotlight onto clients. This isn’t because I’m being mean, it’s because I can see where the best growth is most likely to occur.

I really like working with ‘accountability’ thesedays if my clients are comfortable and if it is a good fit. This can be good when people are having a bit of the coaching style stuff not just the Counselling. It’s not a homework but just a saying at the end of sessions what my client would like to do in the next week. We make a shared note of it then the next time I just check in and ask how it went.

The power of just knowing someone is going to ask can be helpful. It can always give a nice platform to move from in the following session.