Coaching for Social Change Tools

Designing coaching tools is an essential aspect of a coach’s work. These tools provide structure, guidance, and support during the coaching process. They help clients gain insights, set goals, track progress, and take action toward their desired outcomes. Here is my take on how to create coaching for social change tools.

What are Coaching for Social Change Tools?

These are tools used when coaching social changemakers. They may include:

Frameworks

Exercises

Experiments

Reflection tools like journals

Storytelling

Resources (articles, videos, or podcasts)

Forms

Tests

Specific questions

Role plays

Visual aids

Examples

Perspective-taking or getting

Coaching Tool Purpose

I use coaching tools for 4 main purposes during a social change coaching session:

Clarity

I sometimes employ tools to help the client gain clarity in a decision or objective. Tools can also aid us in reaching a common understanding of gaps or goals.

Insights

Clients sometimes achieve aha moments through specific tools.

Learning

Changemakers face complex and dynamic environments, which require constant learning. Coaching tools can help them acquire new skills and knowledge.

Practice

Coaching encourages transformation through mindset shifts and action. Clients practice new ways of being by doing exercises and conducting experiments.

Design Process

My coaching toolkit is ever-evolving. I am always on the lookout for new techniques and resources that may prove useful to my social change clients. If you have not started your own toolkit, the time is now!

Gathering Tools for My Toolkit

I normally gather tools in these categories:

Toolkit Category	Description
Tool Type	I have already listed the tool types under “What are Coaching for Social Change Tools?”
Client Style	Different clients respond to different tool types. A verbal client may embrace storytelling while a data lover might prefer a test. Some clients love doing coaching work outside of sessions and others do not.
Coaching Moment	I have tools that are geared to each coaching moment in a session: agenda-setting, planning, etc.
Coaching Tool Purpose	I have already listed the various coaching tool purposes above.
Social Changemaker Type	There are different types of social changemakers working in disparate settings. For a list of social changemaker types, click here.
Social Changemaker Challenge	Social changemakers tend to face certain types of challenges. For a list, click here.

I try to mix and match these categories to ensure I have powerful tools to call upon during a specific coaching session.

Testing Tools

As a coach, I firmly believe in testing by doing. So, when I have what may be the right tool according to the diagram below, I use it! I then consider my client’s reaction and if the tool achieved its intended purpose. Once I have reflected and done the appropriate tweaks, I test it in other sessions. If it works, the tool goes into my toolkit.

Using Tools

Now, it is just a matter of practice in finding the right tool for the right client at the right moment. Be open to exploring, learning, and sometimes getting it wrong!

An Exercise for My Fellow Coaches

You are in a session with a client. She is an art teacher experiencing burnout. It is the middle of the session and she is not sure what to do about her predicament. Do you consider offering a coaching tool at this moment? How could you choose which to offer?

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