When I first started coaching, I took copious amounts of notes during every session. I thought I had to capture every thought from the client, for fear of missing something crucial. However, I didn't realize that this came at a great cost.
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All this note taking meant I was not being present with clients. The focus became centered on documenting rather than *listening*, which is the cornerstone of effective inquiry.
Presence and curiosity are the main tools of coaching, not typing words into Notion.
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Nowadays I still take notes but far fewer. My attention is trained on what's going on for the client and how their existing frames, patterns, and stories are hindering them. The specific words and details matter less than the awareness we bring to the session.
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I think eventually I will stop taking notes during a session completely. Instead, I will simply take 10 minutes after sessions to share key insights and committed actions. No distractions, no fear of missing a detail. Just a curious, connected presence.
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thanks for this; i also started out taking a lot of notes and eventually stopped for the same reason