Nonverbal communication accounts for most of our daily communication.  The actual words are simply a more organized version of communication, but our nonverbal cues are even more important.   In a coaching setting, understanding these nonverbal cues is essential to being a great coach.

However, there are plenty of other occasions in which it is important to understand the use of nonverbal cues, such as promoting a product or service, teaching, emailing your lead list, responding to a complaint, making a complaint, etc.

Wait, some of those examples involve written text!  Is it possible to use nonverbal communication in your writing?

To answer this, we must first understand nonverbal cues and how they are used.

Nonverbal cues include how you use your words, pauses in your speech, the tone of your voice, changes in tempo or pitch, emphasis on words, facial expressions, eye contact, how you sit, where you sit in proximity to others…  It is literally EVERYTHING except the definition of the words themselves.

So, how can you use nonverbal communication in text if all the reader sees are the written words?

The first step to understanding how to use nonverbal communication in your written materials is to understand the cues you are already using!  Once you examine what you are doing now, you will have a better sense of what you can improve.

Here we have listed some of the most common nonverbal cues that are used in written materials.

Word Choice:

Choosing to use emotional words will help your readers feel your message and will allow them to essentially ‘see’ what your facial expressions might look like if you were speaking these words.  An example might be to use the word “ecstatic” rather than “glad”.

You can also paint a visual picture by using descriptive words to convey a message.  The very things you choose to describe tell a lot about you and your message.  If you say, “Last night, I was in class and learned about coaching”, your message is pretty straightforward.  However, you may choose to say, “The sun had just dipped under the horizon, but my day was not yet done.  I attended a coaching class online, and while the skies were dark, my internal light was shining bright!  I learned so much about coaching, that I could not wait for the sun to rise again so that I could practice my new skills.”

Not only do these examples include words with different definitions, the fact that they were chosen sends a message to your readers about your emotions and what you value as important parts of the story or concept you are describing.

Explanation:

If you are not sure that your message is expressing the right nonverbal cues, take some time to explain your intent, emotion, etc.

For example,  “If you could see my face right now, you would see a HUGE smile!”  or “I chuckle when I say…”

Repetition:

Another way to show emphasis or importance is by repeating your words.  While there is great meaning to the words written, the emphasis is in the repetition… the emphasis is in the repetition.

Bold, Italics, Underline:

If you want to stress the importance of a single word, using any of these three functions is a great option.  These nonverbal cues can also communicate that a sentence is a thought or a quote.  I wonder if this is being properly communicated as a thought.

Font, Text Size, Text Colors:

Some fonts give a playful feel to your text.  Others are more professional, casual, fancy, or even personal.

Changing the color of your text can also give your message a different mood.  Sometimes, you may change the color of a word or two for emphasis, distinction, or categorization.

You can also use different sizes of text to convey different nonverbal cues.  ALL CAPS is great for emphasis and is commonly synonymous with SHOUTING.  This is why when you get an email or text in all capital letters, you sometimes feel worried for a split second that the person who sent it to you might be angry or upset.

Punctuation:

In this case, we are referring to punctuation beyond the period, question mark, and exclamation point.  You can use other punctuation to.  My personal favorite is …

No, that was it.  “…”  Those three little dots can create suspense, denote a pause, emphasize, and show emotion.  It is also great when you feel like a sentence does not need to actually be finished because your reader will already knows or can guess the rest of the thought.  I would reiterate this point but…

Emoticons:

These are great for casual emails, text messages, posts, and blogs.  They are usually not good options for professional messages.  You can insert a when you want to show that what you are saying is to be taken in a nice way.  Most likely, you are familiar with emoticons.  Many instant messaging programs have created animated versions of these emoticons that communicate hugs, kisses, happiness, sadness, boredom, celebration… almost any emotion!

It is important to be careful with emoticons.  For example, if you make a statement that is blatantly rude, adding a at the end might be considered insulting or confusing.  Make sure that if you message is important, that you are using other nonverbal cues that match your emoticon.  What are some other ways you can communicate a smile without using ?

Other things to think about:

*Physical organization of text (layout)

*Content organization

*Grammar

*Frequency of sending emails, posting, etc

What are some other nonverbal cues you can think of that will help you send a message through your written words?

Have you had any experiences when someone has tried to write to you, and it came off in a negative way?

How many times have your written materials been misinterpreted?  What can you do next time to ensure that your message is heard clearly and correctly?

Post your thoughts HERE.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Alexa Divett

Are you staring at the map to your success,

but aren’t sure which way is north?

Find out why these clients are finding their

‘compass rose’ in Alexa Divett of Coaching Cognition.

“Even a coach who just allowed you to share your thoughts would be a benefit, but a coach who knows how to facilitate your own ability to draw out your solutions with the right questions is priceless… Alexa’s continued guidance in our second session brought more sense to what I needed to do and gave me motivation that I needed to follow-thru. Trying to find my “niche” was not so confusing anymore. It’s a whole lot clearer now!” – Fran Gourdet

“Alexa helped me to focus in on finding my niche within the first ten minutes! It is very obvious Alexa knows and likes what she is doing. Alexa concentrated on where I am at, not where SHE thinks I should be. I would recommend coaching to anyone that needs to focus or has hit a wall. I would rate* this higher if there were more numbers.”  –Doug Hocker

*[the rating system is 1 – 5 stars]

“Alexa was totally present for me in our coaching session. She helped me access some emotional issues that I wasn’t aware were affecting my business at the moment… Alexa did an excellent job of drawing me out and helping me find a plan to move forward. She also offered a good strategy for me to try to get a handle on my overwhelm issues.” – Claire Covington

“I feel I am much clearer and have a course of action for moving forward. I had been overwhelmed and found myself going off in 50 different directions and Alexa was able to ask questions that gave me a definite course of action bsed on my strengths and needs. My sense of overwhelm has turned into purpose with direction. Thank you Alexa!” – Phyllis Mullins

Alexa Divett of Coaching Cognition, a coach with the ability to reach inside you and pull out the solutions to your success with carefully crafted questions.  During coaching sessions with Alexa, her clients are getting organized, finding out what is blocking them from moving forward and taking action, or just moving faster than they thought possible.

You can experience this forward motion for yourself and your business by logging into your Renegade Professional Account and clicking on the Coaches icon on the main menu.  Start navigating your roadmap to success today!

Looking for more information on how to approach the obstacles that every business owner faces from time to time?  Read Kendall Silva’s article here at Renegade Professional News, “What will it take for you to ‘Risk’ Success?”

For more discussion on this, or to ask more questions about how coaching can help you succeed in life and business, join the community of Coaching Cognition coaches, students, clients, and friends on Facebook.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Alexa Divett

I just had an inspiring interview with Alexa Divett, one of our coaches at Coaching Cognition.  This is a woman with purpose, dedication, follow through, and the ability to help others find those qualities within themselves in all areas of life.

Her love for the coaching profession absolutely shines through.  You can see that she believes in the process whole-heartedly and embraces the opportunity to use that process to help others.  When you talk her, the energy and passion that radiates from within her gives you a sense of empowerment and confidence because you know that she is dedicated to her life’s role as a coach.

Alexa has elevated through the coaching levels at Coaching Cognition at an amazing pace and has proven that goal setting and taking action will bring you success.  The coaching level system is a way to rank the coaches in terms of experience with Coaching Cognition.  She discusses this in more detail in our interview.

She has a Health and Wellness coaching program that is great for entrepreneurs.  Alexa explains that when we start our own business, the areas in which our lives are unbalanced suddenly become obvious.  Many times, it is our health and wellness that is most effected because it is the area that many of us tend to ignore.  Her description of how she uses health and wellness to allow for improvement in other important areas of life is inspiring.

Alexa will also add the element of ‘consultation’ to her sessions when it fits with the discussion.  She finds that her clients really thrive on this format because sometimes it can be nice to brainstorm with someone else.  Remember, consultation is different from coaching because consultation has a more directive approach that does not draw from the client’s own answers.  Consulting has its place, and as long as a distinction is made at the time that coaching stops and consulting begins, which Alexa does, a client may get some great value from it.

Alexa Divett has teamed up with Curt Johnson and Mike Wilson to provide group coaching services for entrepreneurs, and the dynamic of these three coaches is a powerful combination.  Because their styles and skill sets are so different, you are likely to discover the coaching style or approach that is the best fit for you.  This is great for someone who has never received coaching services before and you are unsure of what kind of style will benefit you the most.

Alexa is a strong coach who can help you take your life and business to the next level by assessing where you are now, where you want to be, and making a plan to get you there.  She said these words about coaching in our interview, which I found inspiring:

“Its about allowing the clients unique greatness to shine through

and then taking them to the next level based upon that greatness and

reminding them that they have it in them and

that they absolutely can do whatever they set their minds to”

Alexa Divett will help you discover your unique greatness, and when you are ready to go to the next level, Alexa will be a valuable guide and partner.  Find her at the Coaching Cognition site by logging into your Renegade Professional account and clicking on the Coaches icon on the main menu.  If Alexa does not show up on the first page, then click on Meet Our Coaches on the quick pick menu and find her on the list of coaches.

Looking for ways to take action, but aren’t sure which direction to go?  Do you feel like there is nothing left to do about a certain situation, but you still feel the need to DO something?  Get a sneak peak into the world of coaching and what it can do for you by accessing these free tools that will help you ‘coach’ yourself through it in Kendall Silva’s article, “What to DO When There’s ‘Nothing You Can Do’”.

Want to know more about coaching and connect with other coaches and coaches in training?  Join our discussions on Facebook at the Coaching Cognition Page.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Cindy Schulson Level 6 Coach

Coaching is an excellent tool to help you build your business and reach your goals faster than you ever thought possible.  Instead of just forcing advice on you, coaches work with you to determine for yourself what your options are and which one will be best FOR YOU to pursue.

But don’t just take our word for it!  See what other business owners and entrepreneurs are saying after experiencing just a few sessions with Cindy Schulson!

“Cindy’s expertise is helping me to define and refine who I am in order to clearly identify (fine tooth comb) who is my target niche market. Biggest takeaway is, If I could kick myself in the behind for not turning to Coaching Cognition sooner I would.” -Thelma Gima

“In the two sessions I have had with Cindy I have found that I have saved myself hours of work… Cindy worked with me with a problem I had and a fear I knew I had to work through. She guided me through that with questions that challenged me to be honest with myself and at the end of the session, I had clarity of what I wanted to do.” -Rosemary Leach

“My biggest takeaway is finding clarity. When I look for solutions on my own, my thoughts are all over the place and I just cannot focus because I am undecided. This had caused a blockage for me. Cindy has been able to help me find my own skills, experiences and passions which will enable me to move forward.” -Helen Wenley

“Cindy is absolutely the best thing I could have done for my business and myself. Her skills as a coach as well as her knowledge of how to make your business profitable are amazing.” –Pam McKeen

Not enough?  Find these reviews and more on Cindy Schulson’s Feedback page at Coaching Cognition.

To learn more about Cindy, or to schedule a Free 15-Minute Introductory Session, go to Cindy Schulson’s profile at Coaching Cognition.

If you would like to know more about the Free 15 Minute Introductory Sessions, read the article, “What to Expect From Your 15-Minute Free Introductory Session with Coaches at Coaching Cognition”

For more information on how you can benefit from coaching, and how it compares to the more common method of asking for advice, read the article by Kendall Silva, “Who is the Expert?: Why Advice Doesn’t Offer Long-Term Value”.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Kendall Silva

Do you feel like you are constantly asking for help from others on how to grow your business, enrich your personal life, or solve problems?

Do you ask for advice from a friend, family member, or business advisor and feel that the advice is less than adequate?  Perhaps the advice works out well for you, but then your circumstances and opportunities change and you are unsure how to approach this slightly different situation.  Do you feel the need to seek advice once again?

What would happen if you were able to break free from the cycle and begin answering your own questions with confidence?

Before we get into that, let’s talk about the types of advice may seek as an entrepreneur.  Regardless of what profession you have chosen, there are some things that most business owners will need to know how to do.  Some examples include keeping track of business expenses, filling out tax forms, organizing employee and/or client information, or operating software programs.

These are all areas in which it may be helpful to hire a consultant who can give you specific instructions.  Once you know how to do these things, the knowledge will stay with you, and you will not need to hire that consultant again until there is some new program or tax form with which you need to become familiar.  If there is one way to do something, it follows that you may ask someone for step-by-step instruction.

This is why tax advice is so valuable.  Most people do not know all of the tax laws, and for many, the forms themselves can be confusing.  But each form fits a certain income profile, and is to be filled out a certain way.  A tax advisor is an expert on tax laws, a subject so vast that for many it is worth more to hire an advisor once a year at minimal cost than to learn all those laws on their own.

Therefore, advice certainly has its advantages.  But sometimes we are so used to asking for it, that we seek advice on other matters that run the risk of keeping us perpetually reliant on our advisors.

Some companies offer small business advice on subjects such as ‘making better decisions that generate more profit’ and ‘growing your business smartly’. They offer services from advisors and mentors to show you how to follow their path to success.  Sounds enticing.

But what if their methods do not fit into your lifestyle and values?  Suddenly this advice is not worth as much as you thought, and this can lead to feelings of self-doubt.  Maybe I’m just not cut out to be an entrepreneur.

Or maybe their methods are working for you, but you have to be in constant contact with them to find out how they suggest you handle the next step, and the next, and the next…

The nature of an advisor or mentor embodies an ongoing need for their services.  They simply do not give you the tools to be able to start answering your questions for yourself.

So what kind of support service will keep you from becoming dependent on the process?

A coach will help you answer your own questions by keeping the focus on YOU.  They can help you explore and define your values, goals, and options.  They will assist you in developing an action plan and making a commitment to progress while holding you accountable for your commitments.

The purpose of a coach is not just to help you reach your potential and achieve your goals, but also to help you learn how to do this for yourself.  At some point, you will understand the coaching process to the extent that you can essentially coach yourself.

Coaches are some of the few service providers out there who strive to equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence required to not need them anymore.

For more on alternatives to giving and getting advice, check out the article, Who is The Expert?:  Why Advice Doesn’t Offer Long-Term Value by Kendall Silva.

Are you ready to find out more about how coaching can help you and your business?  Log into your back office and click on the “Coaches” icon to access the Coaching Cognition home page.  Under quick links, you can choose to “Meet our Coaches” so that you can learn more about each coach and schedule a Free 15-Minute Introductory Session to make sure it’s the right fit for you!

If you would like to discuss this topic, share personal stories, opinions, and thoughts or read about what others are saying, visit the Coaching Cognition Page.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Many of the life coaches on reality television take a very directive approach. Some ‘real-life’ coaches believe that this intense directive approach is too demanding and does not allow the answers to come from the within client.  They refer to the reality show coaches as ‘drill sergeants’ and many believe that this image is hurting the coaching world because people are not getting an accurate idea of what life coaching really is.

So, what is a life coach… really?

A life coach works with clients to help them achieve goals by helping them define their values, making sure their goals align with those values, creating an action plan, and holding them accountable for that action plan.

The process is action oriented.  This does not mean that a life coach tells you how to live a good life, but helps you decide for yourself what a “good life” means to you and how to achieve it.  They are trained to listen, observe, give feedback, and ask powerful questions that get you thinking more deeply about what it is you really want and how to get it.

There are many different styles of coaching that are specific to each coach, and this is okay.  Not everyone is the same, and the coaching styles can be as diverse as client personalities.

This is why it is so important for those seeking coaching to ‘try out’ (have free consultation sessions with) different coaches until you find one that fits you.  For instance, Coaching Cognition coaches offer free 15 minute introductory sessions that allow you to get an idea of each coach’s style and personality.

The reality television market is obviously thriving on the directive in-your-face approach because it causes more confrontation that makes for great television.  However, the fact that life coaches have such a strong presence in television is probably more important than the accuracy of the life coaches portrayed.

Perhaps the real question is how the image of life coaching in the media affects the real world of coaching.

The presence of life coaches on so many new reality shows is doing one important thing.  It is telling the world that life coaching exists.  Beyond that, most people are not getting the full picture of what life coaching really is, how they can benefit, or how to access services.  But they are INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE.

So coaches can certainly leverage this publicity to give information to the masses whose ears are open, minds are primed to absorb, and desires are geared toward personal and professional success.

If you are a coach, this means it is time to start pumping out that information.  Whether you believe the Hollywood image of coaching is accurate, partly accurate, or completely inaccurate, this is a perfect opportunity to share what you do, what your specialties are, and how you can help people achieve their goals.  They are ready and eager to learn about you.

If you know little about coaching, but have been hearing bits and pieces of how you may benefit from getting a coach, becoming a coach, or just learning about the coaching process, you are encouraged to get out there and find out.

A great place to start is to visit the Coaching Cognition Facebook page where there is currently a lot of discussion on this very subject.

You can also learn more about how Coaching Cognition can help you take your life and your business to the next level by logging into your Renegade Pro back office and clicking the ‘Coaches’ icon.

To learn more about Life Coaching in Hollywood and in the media, read our related article, “Are Life Coaches the New TEACUP CHIHUAHUAS?: Pop culture connections and why you can find success in coaching”.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites