{"id":4596,"date":"2023-01-17T09:51:28","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T09:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingoutsidethebox.net\/staging\/?p=4596"},"modified":"2025-01-13T14:34:13","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T14:34:13","slug":"curiosity-coaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingoutsidethebox.net\/staging\/curiosity-coaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Curiosity in Coaching: A Key Principle"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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How to Build and Develop Curiosity in Coaching<\/h2>

By Karen L. Bruns<\/p>

The role of the coach is to listen, ask questions, and to help the client reach their objectives. To be successful, the coach must be able to develop curiosity as a fundamental skill and one of the principles of coaching.\u00a0 We are each born with varying degrees of curiosity, so it is a natural occurrence in us all, and it is a skill that can be practiced and developed further to build us into better coaches.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is Curiosity?\u00a0 A Fundamental Principle of Coaching<\/h2>

In his blog post, \u201cCuriosity: the key to growth through coaching,<\/a>\u201d author Tom Krapu defines curiosity as \u201ca skill at the foundation of good coaching and is a state of Being [sic] that is characterized by openness and accepting the psychological state of \u201cnot knowing\u201d.\u201d<\/p>

Oxford Languages on Google<\/a> defines curiosity as \u201ca strong desire to know or learn something,\u201d and it uses the example sentence of \u201cfilled with curiosity, she peered through the window.\u201d\u00a0 Yes! Curiosity is like peering through the window of the client\u2019s story, straight into the journey itself, even into the soul of the person to see what unfolds. While Merriam-Webster\u2019s definition 1b<\/a> is, \u201cinterest leading to inquiry.\u201d Frankly, I love this one for a coach because it tells us to inquire, to ask, right there in the definition.\u00a0 Brilliant!\u00a0<\/p>

When I contemplate what curiosity is to me, it is resting in the unknowing and dancing with wonder at the potential story yet to unfold. It\u2019s listening at a deeper level and offering silence when silence needs to be offered, and asking the questions the client needs asked. It\u2019s also about letting go of controlling the narrative. Letting go of the need to second guess, or the need to problem solve. We aren\u2019t the hero of their story, so it\u2019s not up to us to know ahead of time and rush in to save the day; we can sit and wait for the experience to unfold.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

International Coaching Federation (ICF) competency 5 \u201cMaintains Presence<\/a>\u201d is defined as \u201cfully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident.\u201d Can one be curious without being fully present, have an open style, be flexible and grounded?\u00a0 I think not.\u00a0 5.2 states \u201cDemonstrates curiosity during the coaching process.\u201d and more important, 5.5 states, \u201cIs comfortable working in a space of not knowing.\u201d This is crucial for us to coach with curiosity, to be open, to work in a space of not knowing, to set aside our biases, and to ground ourselves before a coaching session. If you are new to the concept of grounding yourself before a coaching session<\/a>, you might try a method I made up that works for me.\u00a0 Curiosity invites the client to think deeper, to examine, to reflect, to share. Think of what a coaching session without these elements would be like. It would feel surface level, possibly even just a gripe session, and rather than move the client forward, we\u2019d end up just sliding them around the room leaving them tired and frustrated that they leave in the same spot or a worse spot than when they arrived.\u00a0 Frustrating for us both!\u00a0<\/p>

There is value for the coach too in remaining curious. It keeps us in the present moment, listening at a higher level, comfortable in not knowing, and open and flexible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to Build and Cultivate Curiosity in Coaching<\/h2>

There are different ways to build and promote curiosity in a coaching relationship:<\/p>