The Power of Journaling in Coaching Relationships
Coaching has become an increasingly popular way for people to achieve their goals and grow personally and professionally. Working with a coach provides accountability, support, and an outside perspective as you work towards change. While the coaching relationship is invaluable, keeping a journal can further enhance the coaching process. Here are some of the benefits of journaling alongside coaching:
Reflect on Insights Gained
In each coaching session, you likely gain new insights about yourself, your goals, and possible actions to take. Journaling allows you to fully reflect on these discoveries, cementing the learning and insights. Writing down takeaways, ah-ha moments, and action items helps you process what was discussed and record it for the future.
Track Progress Between Sessions
A journal helps you actively track progress on your goals between sessions. Documenting how action items are going, any changes you’ve noticed, challenges you’re facing, and wins along the way keeps your momentum going and gives you valuable information to discuss with your coach. Without journaling, it’s easy to forget details and progress can stall between meetings.
Gain Clarity on Your Thoughts
Journaling about your desires, frustrations, roadblocks, and confusions gives you clarity. Writing helps you pinpoint exactly what you want to work on, what’s standing in your way, and any mixed emotions you’re experiencing. That clarity then allows you and your coach to have more productive, targeted sessions.
Decide if Coaching Is Helpful
If you’re unsure about starting the coaching process, keeping a journal can help you decide. Spend a set period journaling about your current life and desires, challenges you’re facing, and action items you come up with. Then you can assess if you were able to move forward on your own or if the additional support and accountability of a coach would be beneficial for you.
Journaling and coaching work hand-in-hand to provide insight, accountability, and action. Committing to journaling will enhance your coaching sessions and growth. Consistently writing about your thoughts, progress, insights, and feelings makes your coaching journey even more fruitful. So grab a notebook or open a document on your computer and start writing your way to your goals!
References
An article in Psychology Today called "Journaling and the Coaching Relationship" that discusses how journaling facilitates the coaching process by deepening self-awareness and boosting motivation between sessions. (1)
A 2018 study published in The Coaching Psychologist that found journaling about one's best possible self enhanced goal attainment and the coaching relationship for goal-focused coaching. (2)
A chapter in the book Leveraging the Impact of 360-Degree Feedback by Center for Creative Leadership authors that encourages journaling after receiving 360 feedback to help make meaning of the results. (3)
A Forbes article "Reflecting On A Coaching Relationship Through Journaling" that provides tips for reflection questions and prompts to explore the coaching relationship through journaling. (4)
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