The positive psychology of coaching assumes that people are basically happy, healthy, and possess the virtues and strengths needed to grow and thrive. They may lack knowledge, motivation, inspiration, or goals, but they are poised to succeed with the right kick in the butt!

Words Matter – Express Yourself for Success

One of the most neglected areas in the positive psychology of coaching is the power of words. Words do matter, and positive psychology coaching should incorporate the power of vocabulary in helping people reach their goals and dreams. Your clients should use words that motivate and empower. They should avoid words that restrain or depress.

Language is Powerful

Language is an extremely powerful tool – the way you express yourself will affect how your message is received – whether the message is to someone else of to yourself. If you are speaking about a specific failure, expressing it in the most positive terms possible will make it less dramatic, damaging, and depressing. It may turn a negative into a positive; at the very least, it will turn a negative into a much less negative!

Using Words That Enhance the Positive Psychology of Coaching

Changing vocabulary only slightly can make a huge difference in attitude. It won’t happen overnight, but an effort to modify a client’s use of words can help them find more motivation, inspiration, and perseverance.

Here are a few examples of ways to modify vocabulary to reflect a positive psychology of coaching framework:

Use “possible” instead of “impossible.” Even if you realize something is impossible, don’t say “impossible.” Say “not possible.” There is no way I will ever be able to play center for the Los Angeles Lakers. Even if I had NBA basketball talent, my lack of excessive height would preclude me from playing the center position in the NBA. Always use the positive in speech – it makes it a habit, even if you need to put a negative such as “not” in front of it.

Use “able” instead of “unable” for the same reasons detailed above.

I am exhausted can be changed to I need to rest or I need to take a break.

Just changing “never” and “always” to “seldom” and “often” can make a big difference when leading others or motivating yourself.

You “should have” done that can be changed to say you “could have” done that. Using “could have” suggests you may make changes the next time you do something – learning from your mistakes!

Negative Words Vs. Positive Words

The positive psychology of coaches can often be seen in the language they use, and the results your clients get can be enhanced by using positive language.

Negative words or phrasing tells you or others:

• What you can’t do.
• What you don’t want to do.
• What you will not do.
• How hard something is to do.
• How much you blame others or circumstances for what can’t be or wasn’t done.
• How much stress something will cause you.

Positive words or phrasing tells you or others:

• What you can do.
• What you want to do.
• What you will do.
• How much you will work to get something difficult completed.
• How you take responsibility for things that weren’t done.How you will work through the stress to get something done.

Language is a powerful tool. Combining positive words and phrases with the positive psychology of coaching can provide your clients with faster and higher quality results. If you can find more higher quality outcomes in less time for your clients, imagine how fast your coaching business will grow.

Would you like an endless stream of new coaching clients? Simply click the image to the right and email and I’ll send you free videos with step-by-step blueprints for generating a massive income from high paying coaching clients.

Fred Philips
Business Coach
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