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- The Parliament Vol. 2, No. 31
The Parliament Vol. 2, No. 31
What's Your Physical Reaction?
Thomas Greek
August 29, 2025
COACHING PROMPT OF THE WEEK
“What’s Your Physical Reaction?”
Coaching prompts like this are considered “somatic” questions, or questions related to the body.
Somatic coaching questions are important because they operate on the principle that our bodies hold information that our logical minds often overlook or rationalize away.
By asking questions that direct attention to physical sensations, a leader can help a team member access a richer source of data to navigate their challenges.
We know the expressions: Lump in the throat, Pain in the neck, Butterflies in the stomach.
There’s a reason why we have so many expressions that tie our emotions to our physical bodies. The body often holds wisdom and signals (like a knot in the stomach signaling fear, or tense shoulders indicating stress) that the conscious mind may be ignoring or rationalizing away.
If you notice a team member dealing with a particularly challenging situation, consider asking a somatic question like this to help make better sense of what’s happening and unlock solutions for how to move forward. Here are a few other ways you might inquire about the somatic experience:
"As you say that, what do you notice happening in your body?"
"How does that emotion show up physically for you?"
"Let's just pause for a second. If you scan your body from head to toe, what sensations do you notice?"
Remember that coaching isn’t telling!
Coaching is about staying curious and making space for those in our care to become confident authors of their own stories.
You can't learn what you already know.
Earlier in my career, I felt the need to be the smartest person in the room. To be the expert - especially when it came to a subject I knew a lot about.
You can imagine how that came across to my colleagues.
But looking back on it, my biggest regrets in those situations are the missed opportunities to learn from others. Because I had already decided I needed to be the expert, there was often no room for new information.
Those who pursue mastery take a different approach.
Mastery requires curiosity, keeping an open mind, and being receptive to new information.
It requires a beginner's mindset.
Want to sharpen your coaching skills, join us in the Leaders as Coaches Online program and watch your team – and your leadership – transform. www.ThomasGreekCoaching.com
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“It’s not your job to like me; It’s mine.” – Byron Katie
I love this quote!
It’s a solid reminder that our primary responsibility is to love and accept ourselves, rather than seeking approval and validation from others.
We CAN be free from the burden of needing others to approve of us.
I often remind myself and the leaders I work with that we cannot control how other people feel or think, and trying to do so is a source of stress and suffering.
The "job" of loving, approving, and accepting yourself belongs entirely to you. Your sense of self-worth should come from within, not from the opinions of others.
What can you do to be better at the job of liking yourself?
Thanks and Be Well!
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