Last week, our coaching community delved into some engaging conversations. Members focused on strategies for enhancing client engagement, discussing both practical tools and theoretical approaches. There was a lively exchange about the best ways to maintain resilience and communicate effectively, with many sharing personal experiences and resources. Additionally, the role of humor in business was a recurring theme, sparking a debate on its effectiveness in various professional settings.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Schedule pre-mortems that win bids
This discussion is all about how pre-mortems can be used strategically to enhance proposal success rates. It’s a practical look at proactive problem-solving. Read more
Elevator pitch met an elevator
A unique take on making your elevator pitch truly effective when the moment counts. Members share real-life scenarios and tips. Read more
Best CE for resilience and communication
Dive into recommendations for continuing education programs that focus on building resilience and improving communication skills—two core areas for coaches. Read more
The day profit met punchline
Explore how humor can be integrated into business strategies without undermining professionalism. It’s a fresh perspective on client engagement. Read more
CE options that teach coach self-regulation
This topic covers educational choices that enhance a coach’s ability to self-regulate, ensuring they bring their best to each session. Read more
Looking forward to another week of insightful discussions. Keep sharing your experiences and expertise.
On the practical tools theme from last week, test a 10-second ‘micro-humor’ opener in your next session — one context-specific line, then gauge and pivot to the agenda. It can boost warmth without undercutting competence when it’s light and relevant; if stakes feel high, skip it. Quick read that backs this up: Leading with Humor, and I’m curious who’s tracked engagement shifts after adding this.
I’ve started setting a 30-second ‘humor budget’ in 60‑min sessions — tie one light line to the client’s stated goal, then move on. If their pre-check energy is 3 or lower, I skip; otherwise I log whether it boosts engagement like any other practical tool from last week, because if it lingers, , it derails focus. Curious, @sophie_jones88, what signal do you use to know humor will help rather than undercut resilience?
Treat humor as a reframing drill: mid-session ask, ‘If this were a headline, what’s the playful version?’ It’s a quick, practical tool that bumps engagement while supporting resilience, and I drop it immediately if it starts to feel minimizing.
And > drop it immediately if it starts to feel minimizing. I keep humor self-directed and low-stakes (like my own tech fumbles), then pivot straight back to their goal; if it doesn’t land, I name it and reset. Do you find self-deprecating works better than situational with execs?
@amelia_h12 your headline check is great — before sessions I add a tiny ‘humor tolerance 1–10’ in the intake, then ask, ‘Ok to keep things light for 60 seconds if it helps loosen thinking?’; if that number dips mid-session, I switch to curiosity-only mode. Curious if anyone else tracks this slider in notes; it’s my dad-joke governor.
I treat humor like seasoning, not the meal: a quick ‘laugh then label’ move; if a joke lands, we immediately name the insight and jot a 7-word note so it sticks. I skip it when the topic touches identity or trauma. @lewis30 have you tried a simple hand signal to pause the jokes if momentum wobbles?
I go with a simple rule: “If it clarifies, keep it; if it blurs, park it.” In practice, I keep levity to a quick 20-second window and immediately jot the client’s exact words that surface right after so the insight sticks; it’s a window crack, not a wide-open door. I skip it during values-conflict or trauma-adjacent topics to avoid accidental derailment.