Move into Breakthrough: Movement as an Intentional Strategy

Los Angeles, California, USA

With arms folded and their gaze down, one person quietly controls the tension in the room. Recognizing we may be stuck before we start, I grab the large, playful markers on the table and ask each person to pick a color. Putting the marker in their hand, I invite the team to move to the board to answer one final question. Immediately a buzz begins as they stand. Their faces light up with curiosity. They laugh at their giant handwriting. Stepping back, they point with glee discovering they wrote nearly the exact same words. The energy in the room shifts from a teeth-pulling session with mismatched investment into a lively, engaging team encounter. Voices get louder with excitement. They create inside jokes. They begin to feed off each other’s’ ideas, building momentum and clarity. What changed? We moved. It was that simple: we moved into the needed breakthrough.

Whether we are aware of it or not, movement impacts our coaching. In an often-sedentary profession, we have the opportunity to use movement as a strategic tool.

Even the smallest movements can positively impact a session. Simply inviting the client to move to the whiteboard with a marker, or to pace the room, can help focus their whole body on coaching. This full-body focus accelerates awareness, achieving clarity and insight with often considerably more energy and excitement. Intentional movement also increases client ownership of the process and instantly puts the “co” in co-creating the relationship.

On the other hand, leading the client to sit—without input—may unintentionally limit the possibility of movement and hinder the potential of the session. Inviting a client to consider movement may be just what they need for a breakthrough that day. When we notice the contained energy in the room and ask clients how they would like to use (or not use) movement we offer another tool to help achieve their goals.

Just like any other competency or coaching tool, it is vitally important to develop awareness of movement opportunities, notice our client’s reaction to stillness or movement and evaluate the effectiveness of the movements toward reaching the client’s goals.

Choose when and how to offer movement depending on what you want to accomplish:

• Connect. Offer a walking session to kick off a coaching relationship. Or, start each session with a short walk to connect and establish the agreement. Movement can break down barriers, ease conversation and build connectivity and trust.
• Get unstuck. Offer your client the chance to stand up or pace the room while they think. Whether considering how to respond to a powerful question or finding a way past a mental block, moving the body can stimulate the movement of ideas.
• Focus. Offer your client the chance to draw an image or move to a board and write. When experiencing difficulty articulating what they are thinking and feeling, doodling or drawing an image can reveal what is stuck inside.

Tokyo, Japan

Arriving in Tokyo, an online Beijing-based client asks for our first face-to-face coaching session. We meet in a crowded office building lobby and decide—in the moment­—to find a nearby cafe. Walking out the revolving doors into the bustling street we begin. By the crosswalk, we establish a clear coaching agreement and measures of success. When we reach a cafe two blocks away, our connection is clear, and conversation is flowing powerfully. Sitting on stools, sipping coffee and gazing out the window, we design actions and methods of accountability. In a span of just 40 minutes, the session progresses seamlessly—perfectly in line with our movement and punctuated by naturally occurring moments of awareness and pause. Walking back, the client mentions this is one of the most productive and powerful sessions she has ever had. What was different? Through movement, we tapped into the energy of the moment, bypassing the formalities of newness and deepening our connection.

When planning movement in a coaching session, consider these starter questions:

• What is culturally appropriate?
• Where do you meet your clients?
• Where do you conduct your coaching?
• What movements have you noticed your client doing naturally?
• What movements are a challenge for your client?
• How often do they fidget, swivel in their chair, doodle or stretch?
• How can you offer movement opportunities that fit your unique client?

We are limited only by our imaginations. Even during online sessions, coaches and clients can move together. Grab headphones and go for a walk together. Encourage your client to step away from the screen, look out the window, do jumping jacks, stretch, pace or draw something.

As an intentional strategy, movement can make the difference between a breakdown or a breakthrough. These are our stories. How will you design movement for your clients?