The Power of Having an Active Listener

Not only do coaches help you navigate whatever it is that you’re trying to navigate in life (in my case as an ADHD coach it is to try to improve on your Executive Functioning skills), but they are active listeners. Having someone dedicated to listening to your every word and engaging in what you’re saying, without any selfish distractions is an amazing feeling. This of course is true for talking therapy too, and one of the reasons this has such a positive impact on people. 

Being asked questions, opinions, about intricacies of your life does make you feel special. I can safely say so myself (having had therapy previously). Having someone whose only task for that one hour (or however long you have them for) is to pay close attention to you and the words coming out of your mouth is confidence building. 

People with ADHD can struggle with feeling understood and seen. If you’re lucky to have a very supportive network around you - friends, partners, family members or even colleagues you can openly speak to about your struggles, you have won the jackpot. If not, and were perhaps even met with more of a “so what, everyone has it” attitude, then there’s even more a reason to speak to someone who is all ears about it. 

I strongly believe the active listening part of being a coach is the most important. Being seen, heard and understood in the right way can be life changing.