Janine Garner

What if the true value of a coach isn't in the answers they give, but in the questions they ask? It's a common misconception that a life coach's role is to provide advice and solutions. In reality, the process is far more profound and empowering. I was recently reflecting on the film 'Dear Zindagi', which offers a brilliant, albeit cinematic, glimpse into this dynamic. Shah Rukh Khan's character doesn't hand Alia Bhatt a roadmap; instead, through metaphors and insightful questions, he helps her see her own patterns and navigate her own path. This is the essence of authentic coaching. It's a collaborative process designed to: ✅️ Elicit Your Own Insights: A skilled coach acts as a sounding board, helping you articulate your challenges, uncover your underlying belief systems, and understand your core values. ✅️ Facilitate Self-Discovery: By asking powerful questions, a coach helps you connect the dots and identify recurring patterns that may be holding you back. The "aha!" moment comes from you, which makes it all the more impactful. ✅️ Empower You to Find Solutions: Once the root cause is clear, the coach introduces appropriate strategies and techniques. They provide the framework, but you build the solution that is authentic to your life and goals. In an industry with many self-proclaimed experts, it's crucial to seek out professionals who understand this fundamental principle. Promising to "give you the answers" can be a red flag. True, sustainable growth comes from within. 🧠 Before engaging a coach, consider performing your due diligence: ➡️ Analyze their background and credentials. ➡️ Understand their methodology – does it align with this principle of empowerment? ➡️ Trust your intuition during an initial conversation. The goal isn't to find someone with all the answers, but to find someone who can help you discover your own. Cheers ✨️ #LifeCoaching #Mentorship #PersonalGrowth #Leadership #Empowerment #SelfDiscovery #Coaching #punitanlp

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Do you talk too much? I had three conversations this week with clients who didn’t give space to their own content or to the other person. They rushed from one point to the next without pause. And so their point, or their connection... didn't land the way they'd hoped. Now, I get it. I’m a fast talker too. I talk a million miles an hour. Maybe it's because I also speak Spanish... but most likely, speaking quickly is just my most natural cadence. And I know a lot of you do the same. Adjusting your natural speaking pace is incredibly challenging. And unless you're looking to become a professional speaker, might not be worth your time. But here’s what you CAN change if you need to create more space in your speech patterns: you can PAUSE. You can let your audience catch up. The question I always get from my clients is: how long do I pause? The answer is: it depends. If you’re in the room, watch the person in front of you. Wait until someone nods or smiles. That’s your cue to move on. If you’re on a virtual call and you can’t see anyone, count in your head: one one-thousand, two one-thousand. What feels like forever to you is only a second for them. And here’s the big idea: the pause isn’t for you. It’s not about calming your nerves or buying yourself time. It’s for your audience. It’s how you show you’re present with them, and it’s how your words actually land. Because it's about THEM. Not about you. Or about your point. Pause for them. And when you do, you'll notice that your point, and your impact, will benefit from it. Pause.

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I recently ran an online workshop for a New Zealand organisation that deploys staff internationally. The feedback was overwhelming, in the best way. Not only did participants engage deeply during the session, but many also reached out afterward to share how much it impacted them personally and professionally. Over time, I’ve refined my approach to workshops. I’ve moved towards creating an experience that can resonate with everyone in the workshop. Here’s what I’ve learned and what you might consider applying to your own work: 🔹 Know your audience - Before every interaction, research the organisation’s culture, needs, and expectations. Tailoring your delivery starts with understanding who you're speaking to. 🔹 Invite curiosity – I begin by saying, “Don’t believe a word I say.” Most laugh, yet it’s not a joke; it is an invitation to question, explore, and engage. Try opening with something that sparks curiosity. 🔹 Create psychological safety - Make everyone feel welcome, regardless of background or experience. When people feel safe, they participate more fully. 🔹 Draw in the quiet voices - Encourage those who hesitate to speak. Often, their insights are the most profound and will stop the room with their deep thoughts. 🔹 Be responsive, not rigid - I read the room and adjust breaks based on energy levels, not timing. Flexibility shows you’re present and attuned. 🔹 Share tools that work - Introduce simple and effective techniques that bring immediate change. People value what they can use right away. 🔹 Tell real stories - Anecdotes from your own life, particularly those that show vulnerability, build trust and connection. 🔹 Use humour wisely - Appropriate humour lightens the mood and makes learning enjoyable therefore more effective. 🔹 Respect cultural nuances - Adapt your delivery to suit the group’s culture. One size never fits all. 🔹 Facilitate connection - Give people time to talk with you and with each other. That’s where transformation happens. 🔹 End with impact - I wrap up with five key takeaways, a calming breathing technique, and two powerful quotes. Leave them with something to carry forward. If you run workshops, lead teams, or present in any capacity, consider which of these techniques might work for you. Because when we connect deeply, we have the opportunity to change lives. Let’s talk!

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So the Buddha didn’t have to worry about feedback, but he did leave us this checklist for speech....I think it’s wonderfully apt for anyone giving feedback (to a team member, partner, child, friend, pet) 1. Is it timely? As a young ad executive, I once sent out an ad with the wrong contact number - a serious (and expensive) mistake. My manager would have been justified in exploding, but he calmly fixed the issue first first. Of course, we had a long conversation later but I’ll always value that he didn’t add to the self-flagellation I was doing when I discovered the mistake. 2. Is it true or untrue? Many times I've gone into a feedback conversation convinced that my version of the truth was the only one there was....I'm learning to hold it as a hypothesis, lightly, and allow myself to be corrected if there is need to do so. 3. Is it gentle or harsh? There's a lot we can do to preserve the self-esteem of the other person in the conversation....it is possible to communicate the most difficult of messages without destroying the other person in the process. 4. Is it helpful or harmful? Sometimes the wisest feedback is none at all - if the person can’t act on it, is already juggling other feedback, or their confidence is fragile. 5. What's your intent? I know that there are times when I have said something because I felt hurt/threatened by the other and wanted to lash out. Never, ever a good idea. Makes sense? Share stories to add to this if you feel like.

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Personal branding is rooted in psychology. Our brains cannot tell the difference between - Who we are meeting in person and - Who we are seeing on our screens. Psychologists Dr Robert Zajonc's 'Mere Exposure Effect' confirms that when you are exposed to a stimulus again and again, you develop a preference for it. This can result in familiarity and trust. Therefore, when you build a personal brand right, it can be a powerful tool in business.

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Quick editing tip: If you find that you’ve written the phrase “more importantly” or “more significantly” or “most importantly” deep within a paragraph, rewrite the paragraph. Move the more important point to earlier in the paragraph—maybe to the very beginning. And then delete “more importantly”. Your paragraph will make more sense and your important point will be highlighted. #legalwriting  #editing  #writing  

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