Mastery doesn't happen overnight.

This is true whether you're learning how to ride a bicycle, teaching yourself a new language, learning to fly a plane or working on becoming a great coach.

The more you "rush it," the harder you try to get things done quickly, the more mistakes you make, the less you learn and the longer it takes.

To achieve mastery as a coach, you need to work with a few key ingredients:

Why You Need Effective Coaching Techniques

Even though they've spent thousands of hours fine tuning their craft, even though they've been working with clients for years - sometimes even decades - the world's top coaches constantly turn to coaching frameworks that include tried-and-tested coaching techniques.

Great coaching isn't just about being creative and instinctive and it's not just about foundational skills such as deep listening or asking the right questions. At the highest level, coaching is about having an all-inclusive, comprehensive approach to your work.

Yes, it's about applying basic coaching skills and tapping into your empathy and intuition to create a deep trust and connection...

But there's more.

Powerful coaching is also about working with practical coaching techniques and tools.

When you focus on developing both of these opposing and equally important aspects of coaching - the fluid art and the practical craft of using tools and techniques - you will create a level of mastery few coaches ever reach.

Countless books, programs and trainings have been created to address the artistry and creativity around coaching, but the science - the actual tools, techniques, and methodologies to create deep and lasting results for clients - isn't as easily available.

Throughout this guide, we'll be diving into 5 of the best coaching techniques and tools that you can put into practice right away, when to use each one, and the step-by-step guide on how to apply them during a coaching session. These effective coaching techniques are: The Wheel of Life, The Moonshot Technique, The Spheres of Influence, The Time Travel technique, and The Eisenhower Matrix.

Use these techniques where you feel it will bring the most benefit to your clients and allow yourself to adapt what you learn, incorporate your own style and experience, or combine one with another as you see fit.

The Wheel of Life Coaching Technique

That's why it's good to regularly assess where they are and how they feel about their current reality so they can get back on track if they need to.

One of the most effective coaching techniques to address this is The Wheel of Life.

The Wheel of Life is a powerful yet simple coaching tool that will allow your client to take an honest, non-judgmental look at some of the most important areas of their life.

This coaching technique will help them gain or regain a sense of direction, focus, purpose, and balance.

how to use this coaching technique

Start by asking your client to draw a circle on a sheet of paper.

Then have them divide the circle into 8 segments labelling each one with the following themes:

01 Family and Friends

02 Romance
03 Personal Growth
04 Business/Career
05 Finances
06 Health
07 Fun & Creation
08 Physical Envionment

Now ask your client to evaluate each segment on the Wheel on a scale of 1 to 10 -- 10 equals "extremely satisfied" and 1 equals "zero satisfaction."

Now, have them write that number in the segment.

An alternate version is to draw the Wheel and 8 segments, and then draw a line from the center of the wheel to the outer edge of each segment.

Finally, divide the line into 10 sections to mark the level of satisfaction within each category. See image below:

When your client is done, ask them to rank the weakest to the strongest segments in the Wheel, based on their evaluation.

Identify 1 to 3 actions your client can take to boost each category, starting from the weakest.

The Wheel of Life provides a visual representation of the contrast between the client's current reality and their desired reality.

It's a game-changing tool that's especially good for clients who feel a significant lack of balance, joy and satisfaction in their life.

The Moonshot Coaching Technique

The Moonshot Technique is perfect for clients who can't clearly identify life or work goals that inspire them.

This usually happens when a client has lost their sense of purpose, adventure, and excitement for life.

It's a symptom of feeling trapped in a meaningless daily routine filled with mundane activities that are boring and unchallenging to the client.

The Moonshot Goal technique will help resolve this problem.

how to use this coaching technique

Start by asking your client a series of questions that will take them out of their current thinking.

For instance...

What is a secret dream you had when you were a kid?

What are some activities and experiences that fill you with joy, excitement, and enthusiasm?

The idea is to motivate your clients to start thinking bigger and bolder and to remember long lost dreams and desires.

When they've answered your questions, have them start a list of things they'd love to do, be and have.

When they have their Moonshot Goal list, ask them to circle 1 to 3 goals. Goals that feel BIG but within reach.

Then work with them to break down each goal into smaller, doable steps.

For instance, if their dream is to write a New York Times bestseller, have them start working toward that dream by setting aside time to write every single day.

This coaching technique will help them gain or regain a sense of direction, focus, purpose, and balance.

One thing to keep in mind when using this technique is that clients may face a Possibility Hangover - they start overthinking about their ambitious goals and get stuck. This is where you step in to coach them out of that thinking spiral and into taking action.

The Spheres of Influence Coaching Technique

Sooner or later you're going to have a client come to you and say,
"I'm totally overwhelmed. I don't know what to do!"

The core feeling that drives overwhelm is a sense of helplessness... a loss of control.

The Spheres of Influence technique is incredibly effective process that will quickly empower your client to take back control in any area of their life.

The Spheres technique is simple and effective.

Your client will quickly see there are only 2 areas they need to focus on:

01. The things that are within their control

02. The things they can influence

They need to let go of everything else because it's outside their zone of control and influence.

how to use this coaching technique

Have your client draw 2 circles - a smaller circle within a large one.

Have them label the larger circle "The Things I Can Influence" and the smaller circle "The Things I Can Control."

Now, ask them to label the space outside the circles as "Everything Else."

Next, walk them through the problem or challenge they're struggling with -- the situation that's triggering the feeling of overwhelm.

Get them to think about what needs to go into each circle, the things that are within their control and the things that they can influence, and list these out.

The Time-Travel Coaching Technique

Imagine you're in a session with a client who's thinking about quitting her 9-to-5 job.

She wants to become a full-time entrepreneur so she can have more freedom and more time with her family.

You know your client is excited about entrepreneurship, but you also know she's stuck in decision-making mode.

She's anxious, worried, and maybe even a little scared of making the wrong choice.

She's wondering if she has what it takes to be an entrepreneur and if she's even ready to make that shift right now.

This would be a great place to use the Time Travel technique.

It's a simple process where you guide your client to "travel into the future" in their imagination and envision themselves and their life.

Here are a few things to help you create a structure

how to use this coaching technique

Start by having your client visualize themselves a few months or a year and up to 10 years into the future.

Then ask them specific questions...

The Spheres of Influence technique is incredibly effective process that will quickly empower your client to take back control in any area of their life.

This is a fast, effective coaching technique that creates clarity around values, desires, and purpose-driven goals. It also allows the client to envision their ideal future and start crafting a timeline of when they want it to come true and what they need to do to get there.

The Eisenhower Matrix Coaching Technique

Time management, prioritization, and productivity are huge obstacles to success and satisfaction for pretty much everyone... from stay-at-home moms and entrepreneurs to students and CEOs.

It's a core set of issues that can rapidly lead to even more challenges including health struggles, issues in relationships with family and friends, and serious problems like addiction to food, drugs or alcohol.

Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "What's important is seldom urgent and what's urgent is seldom important."

What's important is seldom urgent and what's urgent is seldon important.
Dwlght D. Elsenhower