I’m currently re-reading “Brief Coaching for Lasting Solutions”. This is one of the Coaching books that sets out some of the theory behind Dynamic Youth Coaching and Mentoring.

DYC&M has both a theory and an experiential side to it. The theory has been related to and placed against the experiences of the work that I do currently do with Young People, giving the course a real solid foundation.

There is a lot to explore in the book that relates to working with Young People and we will get to that in later posts. However today as I was reading away a phase jumped out at me;

“…maintain your curiosity…”

Now as a coach you will be aware of keeping the curiosity channel open when working with your clients. It becomes even more important when working with Young People. It almost becomes part of the personality of coaching.

I say this because, as a coach working with Young People, you have to have your curiosity on all the time, it has to be a part of how you work. That way whenever you ask curious questions to enable deeper thinking or exploration of a challenge, the Young People don’t see this as something new, just as part of the way you work.

Often when working with adults, we become curious when the client has a set back or creates an unforseen solution, and we are working to enable the client to become aware of the solutions they have created. Or to enable them to understand the learning within the set back.

As Young People are often sent to coaching, the Youth Coach can use the “Curios Persona” to find out why the Young People believe they have been sent to see you, you can also use it to explore multiple options, asking questions like;

• I’m curious to know what your parents/teachers think you’ll get form coaching, what do you think?
• I’m curious how you managed to create that solution?
• I’m curious to know that, even during your set back/challenging week, you were able to make it to todays session.
• I’m curious to know what your “miracle” day will be like?

I’m sure there are many more questions that the “Curious Coach” can ask, in fact I would love to hear your “Curious Coach” questions. In the meantime, keep the curiosity channels open when working with Young People. Be curious about their lives as well as their goals and solutions.