Kyle’s passion for coaching
was ignited more than 10
years ago when she had the
opportunity to conduct a
statewide, year-long program
for high-potential healthcare
leaders. In 2006 she started
her own company, Heart and
Head Leadership, LLC, so
she could work exclusively
with organizations to develop
and prepare their leaders. In
the process she has become a
certified Mentor Coach, become
a certified practitioner of several
leadership assessments and
been an active member of ICF
Michigan, where she has served
on the board of directors and
several educational committees.
Kyle holds a master’s degree in
counseling and psychology from
Western Michigan University.
Kathy Munoz, PCC
Kathy is an international
coach trainer/facilitator
and Director of Mentor and
Supervised Coaching with
the International Coach
Academy, a Board Certified
Coach, and the founder
and CEO of IMPEL, an
innovative international
coaching company focusing
on personal and professional
branding and development.
8 Coaching World
Bashutskyy/Shutterstock.com
From the Toolbox
Kyle Dooley
Kinder, PCC
Core Competency #5:
Active
Listening
Ability to focus
completely on what
the client is saying
and is not saying,
to understand the
meaning of what is
said in the context of
the client’s desires,
and to support client
self-expression.
Emptying the Vessel
It’s been a busy day and you’ve been
multitasking, doing work and taking care of
some personal business. All of a sudden a reminder
pops up on your computer: “Coaching session—30
minutes!” You scramble to pull your client’s file and review
your notes. As the session draws closer you close your
eyes and breathe deeply. You know you won’t be effective
if you’re listening to all of your own “stuff.”
No one can be an effective active listener unless they create
space in their mind that will allow someone else’s words and
thoughts to come in. If your mind is already occupied with
preconceived beliefs and assumptions, it’s like a full container:
It has no more room. Unless you can create this space, the
best you’re going to be able to give your client will be Level 1
listening (see ”The Three Levels of Listening” on page 9). You
won’t be providing the maximum value for your client.
We all have assumptions, biases, judgments and beliefs that
can get in the way of truly hearing what another person is
saying—or not saying. That is why coaching is so powerful. As
coaches