I’ll be honest - this was the first class I’ve taken where I’ve been like, “WTF? That’s ridiculous.”

We spent the whole class talking about a coaching method that relies on the coach to alternatively & repeatedly ask the client “What’s favorable about that?” or “What’s unfavorable about that?” I was the client in this exercise, and I just hated this! It forced me to come up with an answer - any answer - to the question, even if it wasn’t honest. I felt that it also halted any real breakthroughs because when I had an eye-opening moment I was led to move away from it. I have no idea what this has to do with UACs at all.

What I did take away from this class is that a study proved that the best coaching sessions happen when the coach speaks 2% of the time. 2%! That seems a bit ridiculous, but it really hit home for me what a large part listening plays in being a great coach. Angela also remarked that “coaching is only hard when the coach gets in the way.” I can definitely see myself getting in the way, putting pressure on myself to say the “perfect” things and ask the “perfect” questions. But if you focus on powerful listening and nothing else, you’re mostly there.

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I’m grateful today for the offer I received to do a musical comedy here in NYC, where I do what I do best - play multiple characters - and get to be a leading role. I’ve spent so much time in the chorus, where multiple characters live, that this will be a big challenge for me as well as an opportunity for exposure. Here’s where my work/life balance techniques kick in!