The true value in coaching comes through reflecting and learning from what we do. Yet, many coaches miss valuable learning opportunities with their clients only debriefing what happened and what the client did. That’s a great first step, however, you’ve got to keep going to find out what he or she learned by doing it. The learning could be an insight, a reminder, a principle, or lesson to remember.

But don’t stop there! Take that learning and ask your client how he or she can apply to in another situation in life. The more a lesson is integrated into our lives, the more we can benefit from it. Follow these three steps when debriefing with a client:

1. What?
What did you do? What happened as a result?

2. So What?
What did you learn or relearn as a result?

3. Now What?
How can you use this learning in other areas of your life?

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