Master the 5 Keys of Proprioception in Coaching

Spoken language is not the only form of communication with our clients in the coaching process. In fact, a large majority of communication is through nonverbal language. The language of the body is key in the coaching process, as it forms one of the least understood process communications. The whole-body intelligence approach uses proprioception in the coaching process to dive deeper in listening beyond the words.

Proprioception is sometimes referred to as the sixth sense or the sense of self movement and position of body spatially. In a conversation, you will notice minute shifts in the client as they are expressing their world and their thoughts. Words and emotions are also translated through body movement. These movements might not always be huge moves and can also be micro-muscle movements. As we become more aware of these shifts across the session, we are able to notice a pattern, congruence or incongruence between what is said and what is unsaid.

Body intelligence is one of the growing fields of learnings that coaches can develop to use their body to sense the shifts in the client. You can further develop your coaching presence by detecting micro-muscle movements and noting what is said by the client, discovering how and what things are aligned or misaligned. This will help the client find congruence and alignment through proprioception.

The five keys of proprioception will give simple strategies for coaches to employ in a coaching conversation with clients. And remember, it’s not just the movements of the client, but also that of the coach.

1) Whole Body Intelligence in Knowing Where You are Spatially

Consider these few thoughts: How aware are we, as coaches, of how our bodies are moving in a conversation? Are we aware that there are movements in our body that could distract our client or allow our client to go deeper because of its unconscious flow through the body?

The totality of the movement in the face, arms, chest and legs is the entire use of space in the moment.

2) Movement in Conversations

We have been taught how to listen to words spoken, but few of us have been taught how to listen to movements. Observe proprioceptive movement by ourselves as coaches and the client. As we calibrate the client’s movement and speech patterns, we are able to detect areas of incongruence and use that as an opportunity to dive deeper and explore with the client. Many of these movements may not be huge, but they could be micro-muscle movements to indicate some potential barriers or beliefs that are being triggered within the client.

3) Force and Pressure – Intensity of Body Motion in Emotions (Fears and Insecurities)

When faced with challenges that we do not want others to know, we may be able to disguise them with words and a smile, but the body will not be able to hide those fears or insecurities. You will find added force or pressure across the client’s body—in their eyes, hands, lips or many other parts which will indicate some misalignments between what seems well on the surface and the hidden subsurface issues. For the coach, being bodily aware of our own nervousness and insecurities is important as the client can subconsciously pick those up.

4) Balance Control and Learnings

In a conversation, you will notice that either the client or coach want to feel in control of the moment. We, as coaches, might be overly trying to balance all things and miss out on the key things that are present in the moment. Finding the right amount of control in the emotive, physiological and cognitive allows the coach to notice when the client has tried to balance or overly compensate in areas of life or work, and this will be evident in the bodily display. Reflecting to the client what is observed and inviting the client to share in the learnings will create new opportunities for learning and growth.

5) Coaching Presence through Proprioception – Honing Our Hidden Six Sense

As coaches we are used to the five senses in picking up what is spoken and what is not. But not many have learned how to use the body to sense displacement and notice micro shifts. The proprioception is vitality important to help us get out of overthinking and into feeling with our bodies. This keen sense will allow us to sense when shifts happen that might not be obvious to our ears and sight but are felt through the changes in physical space. Using this will build our coach’s intuition and will allow us to expand the client’s awareness and ways of thinking.