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key takeaways
Correcting clients’ misconceptions can be challenging, but using motivational interviewing skills, including ask-offer-ask, can empower clients through evidence-based coaching. Consider this five-step process:
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You’ve probably been in this situation before: You’re leading a group or having a one-on-one meeting with a client, and they share a fact that isn’t true.
“I can’t eat carbs because of my diabetes.”
“I avoid fruit because all the sugar makes you fat.”
“I don’t lift weights. I don’t want to be heavy.”
Engaging clients in a collaborative relationship can happen quickly and easily over the course of just a few coaching sessions. When a trusting coaching partnership is established, there is a high level of comfort and familiarity between coach and client. This strong bond has many benefits, but it can also present some challenges.
The more connected your customers feel to you, the more likely they will feel safe enough to share what they’ve heard and learned. At other times, new customers may also share strong emotions as they verbally process what they heard and believe from other sources. Ultimately, coaches want to be effective guides who empower clients to transition to the maintenance phase of change. As your customers become more independent and confident, they may begin to do their own health research, and they may be excited to share information with you and may even question the information you share and whether it differs from what they learned from other sources. This is a good thing!
But it can also put you in a position where you need to correct misinformation.
When you discover that a customer is relying on incorrect information, the situation needs to be handled delicately. You have an ethical responsibility to clear up misconceptions with your customers and share neutral, evidence-based information and resources with permission.
fortunately, strategic use of sailors interview skills and evidence–Skills based coaching allowS You To maintain business communication with thisOur customers respond to these challenges. it’s complicated that you Keep fixing turned over in the bay under the circumstances. You don’t do this want to make rescue Or Resist or otherwise embarrass thisour clients While correcting misinformation.
Let’s examine a process that can help clear up misconceptions Appreciative Inquiry is based on the spirit of motivational interviewing and, more specifically, the Ask-Offer-Ask approach.
Consider these five steps:
- step 1: Make an appreciative statement such as, “Thank you for raising this topic.”
- step 2: Acknowledge that there is contradictory information: “Information on this topic may be contradictory and may cause confusion.”
- step 3: Ask permission to provide additional facts by saying, “There is some reliable, science-based information that you might find interesting. Would you like me to share it with you now?”
- step 4: by allowing, Proposal Correct information in a factual, neutral manner. This means avoiding pronouns and imperatives that suggest the information is directly tied to the needs of the client’s individual situation (for example, research shows…, science says…, this study shows…, evidence reports…, the American Heart Association recommends…).
- Step 5: Ask An open question to invite customer feedback about the information shared. “What do you think about this information?”
It’s also a good idea to offer your customer resources where they can review the correct information themselves if interested. This could include visiting a website together during the coaching session, providing resources for them to take home, or emailing them later after the coaching session. Then, the ask-offer-ask process continues with the next “ask” in the next coaching session. For example, “I shared some information with the American Diabetes Association via email last week about how carbohydrates affect your insulin levels. What questions do you have after reviewing that article?”
Let’s revisit this process and add a scenario about a client who shares a concern about lifting weights.
Customer: “I don’t lift weights. I don’t want to be heavy.”
coach: “Thanks for sharing this. It sounds like you’re considering ways to exercise that will make you stronger and leaner.”
Customer: “Yes, I want to get fit and lean. I’m walking now, but not sure what else I can do.”
coach: “Are you considering some exercise options you can incorporate into your routine that will build a fit, lean physique. Would it be OK if I shared some information on strength training?”
Customer: “Please.”
coach: World Health Organization recommended minimum 150 minutes per week of mediumintense physical activityTogether muscle conditioning A of all muscle groups minimum Two days a week. in types of Practice can do Contribute to strengthening, But not heavy, muscles and provide Very Health benefits. Identification Will be happy to send you more information If on this you want Like.
Customer: “I would like to read more. I didn’t know it was recommended to include weights.”
coach: “Great, I’ll send you some additional resources. What do you think of the information so far?”
Customer: “I’m glad there are ways to lift weights that won’t make me look really heavy. Can we talk about some of those options now?”
coach: “Absolutely…”
final thoughts
When you rely on open questions, thoughtful consideration, and respectful communication skills, you respect the client’s autonomy, stay within the health coaching scope of practice, and empower the client to make choices based on science. Using Ask-Offer-Ask is a collaborative way of exchanging information with customers so that they can explore what they already know about a topic based on their experience and context and share relevant additional information when allowed to do so. Effective coaches can use this technique to clear up clients’ misconceptions, while also reducing defensiveness and maintaining the client’s autonomy.
| If you’re interested in learning more about how to guide individuals to create meaningful, lasting change in their lives, consider ACE Behavior Change Specialist Program (Value 2.5 ACE CEC). This program provides you expertise To have a profound impact on the health and well-being of customers by addressing Root Eliminate counterproductive behaviors and promote lasting, positive habits. |