The question of the week seems to be, “What’s a good coaching strategy to help clients overcome fear?” “What are some good coaching tips to get people past their fears?” Fear is just your imagination. Remember when you were a kid, and your mom would say, “Oh, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just your imagination running wild.” I would still look under the bed. And just like children have nightmares, as adults we still have fears. We usually call it ‘stress.’ There’s more than one coaching strategy for every result you want to get, so here are my top 3 coaching tips to harness the fear and get people into action.

Coaching Strategy #1: Know the Fear

The first of these coaching tips is to understand what the fear is about. One way of looking at fear is through the acronym, False Evidence Appearing Real. The coaching strategy here is to access what is real and what isn’t. Ask your clients, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” and “What’s the likelihood of that happening?” These questions alone may be enough to put their fear into perspective and move forward.

Coaching Strategy #2: Discover What Need is Being Met By the Fear

After you and your client are clear about what the fear is, you’re ready for the next coaching tips. This coaching strategy is about finding out how your client’s needs are being met by having the fear. For example, having a fear about making cold calls might protect your client from loosing significance if someone hangs up on them. You can then point of to your client that making the calls is the only way to become the top salesperson in their office and really gain significance.

Coaching Strategy #3: Direct Your Clients Imagination

The last of these coaching tips is to direct your clients imagination. This coaching strategy is based on the premise that faith is your imagination with direction. The best way to do this is to create a goal with a problem. The fear will still be there, but it won’t be running the show. Having your clients focus on their goals, make a living, take care of themselves, and track progress will help shift their focus away from the fear and onto the action steps they need for success.

These coaching tips are effect ways to get people to look beyond their fears and start taking action. Sometimes one coaching strategy is effective, but often there are multiple layers that need to be addressed. The real key is to put the fear into perspective and shift your clients focus to what it is they really want to achieve.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach