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Elevating Your Coaching Practice: Making Every Session Count with Strategic Tools and Assessments

21 May 2025
 
 
 
 
 

The Power of Visual Coaching Tools

Have you ever noticed how a simple visual and conversational prompts can unlock a profound conversation? Coaching cards, like those available through MLR, serve as powerful catalysts for meaningful dialogue. These aren't just ordinary cards; they're conversation starters that help clients articulate thoughts they might otherwise struggle to express.

Consider this scenario: Your client is grappling with team dynamics issues. Rather than diving straight into problem-solving, you spread out the visual  coaching cards and ask them to select ones that resonate with their current situation. Suddenly, patterns emerge, and insights flow naturally. The visual nature of the cards bypasses traditional communication barriers, allowing for deeper exploration of underlying issues.

Strengthening Your Approach with CliftonStrengths

While coaching cards excel at facilitating dialogue, the CliftonStrengths Assessment brings scientific rigour to your coaching toolkit. This isn't just another personality test – it's a comprehensive analysis of natural talents that, when properly understood, can be developed into strengths.

The beauty of CliftonStrengths lies in its positive psychology foundation. Instead of fixing weaknesses, it focuses on enhancing what people naturally do well. For instance, when a client discovers they possess high 'Strategic' or 'Relator' talents, it often explains why certain approaches have worked well for them in the past – and more importantly, how they can leverage these talents more intentionally in the future.
 
 

Creating Synergy in Your Sessions

The real magic happens when you combine these tools strategically:

  1. Start with CliftonStrengths to establish a baseline understanding of natural talents

  2. Use coaching cards to explore specific challenges or opportunities

  3. Reference back to strengths when discussing action steps

  4. Document insights using both visual and analytical frameworks

This integrated approach helps clients:

  • Gain deeper self-awareness

  • Identify practical application of their strengths

  • Develop concrete action plans

  • Maintain momentum between sessions

Making Sessions More Meaningful

The key to impactful coaching lies in creating moments of genuine insight. When a client sees their CliftonStrengths results and then uses coaching cards to explore how these strengths manifest in real-world situations, the conversations become richer and more nuanced.

For example, a client with high ‘Achiever' and ‘Responsibility' talents might select cards relating to delegation challenges. This combination often leads to powerful discussions about balancing personal excellence with team development – conversations that might not have emerged through traditional coaching methods alone.

Measuring Impact

The effectiveness of this combined approach becomes evident through:

  • Increased client engagement during sessions

  • More specific and actionable development plans

  • Better follow-through on commitments

  • Improved ability to articulate progress and challenges

  • Lasting behaviour change

Ready to Transform Your Coaching Practice?

Experience the power of these tools firsthand.

Book your own CliftonStrengths Assessment and 75-minute Coaching Debrief session today. For £300+VAT, you'll receive:

  • Complete CliftonStrengths Assessment

  • Comprehensive personal insights report

  • 75-minute professional debrief session

  • Practical application strategies for your coaching practice 

Contact us at +44 (0)1793 686512 or book directly by the website to schedule your session. Transform your understanding of strengths-based development and enhance your coaching toolkit today.
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