Mind-Shifting through the Symbolic Imagination

One of the hallmarks of good listening—and of good coaching—is the ability to pay attention to metaphors and imagery, not just as linguistic artifacts, but as pieces of life which communicate deep truths about both the speaker and the listener. As coaches, we are trained to listen to our client’s words and images and to integrate them during the coaching session, thereby helping the client “explore beyond current thinking.” Listening, however, involves more than simply mirroring back what we have heard, or saying, “Oh, that’s an interesting image! Can you tell me more?” Such responses demonstrate curiosity on the part of the coach, but they are unlikely to result in powerful mind-shifts.

Imagery is a doorway into the unconscious, not merely an embellishment. Whether the image is a commonly used cliche or whether it is strikingly original, it is a meaning-making, meaning-revealing entity that demands attention. At its best, imagery can bring about beneficial physiological changes, such as lower blood pressure, less tightening of the muscles, and decreased stress levels. It can also re-program the way we think, moving us beyond “fear and flight” responses into a higher state of consciousness that allows us to function as our best selves.

Conversely, not all imagery is “user friendly,” and the discerning coach may decide that a particular symbol or metaphor may be more safely explored in a therapeutic setting, especially if it awakens “lurking demons.” While imagery may be beneficial for most clients, it may not be a safe tool for every client, especially for those who have experienced recent trauma or who are carrying emotional baggage. Most of the time, however, if used as a brief, forward-focusing coaching tool, imagery can help clients gain clarity, develop resiliency, set goals, and create a future filled with possibilities.

Take, for example, the following coaching conversation in which the client—a senior project manager in an engineering company—shares his frustration regarding being passed over for a promotion:

CLIENT: I’ve been eclipsed yet again. In comes this rookie with no experience and an Ivy League degree, and I’m supposed to report to him.

COACH: This sounds like a frustrating situation—not easy by any means. But I’m curious about your use of the word “eclipsed.” When you say you’ve been “eclipsed,” what does that look like?

CLIENT: It’s like there’s this big cloud covering me up, so that I’m invisible. I’m in the shadows while the new guy is the shining star.

COACH: If your supervisors could see through the cloud, what would they see?

CLIENT: Well, they would notice all the contracts I’ve brought in, my team-building skills, the reviews from satisfied customers, my strategies for streamlining production and eliminating waste.

COACH: So, it sounds as though you are the shining star here. What might you do differently so that others can see your light?

CLIENT: I never thought about that before. I’m pretty introverted, so I don’t brag about what I’m doing. I just get the job done. But perhaps I could share positive feedback with the admin team and send a few more memos outlining my outreach to customers, project management and so forth. That way, I would be less invisible.

In this brief exchange, the coach has several options. They could focus on the client’s feelings about having to report to a “rookie” or on ways their client might partner with their new boss in the future. Instead, the coach’s intuition leads them to zero in on the word “eclipsed.” This shifts the client away from feeling like a “victim,” allowing the client to:

• Describe what it’s like to be “eclipsed”
• Name the positive ways in which they contribute to the company
• Assume ownership for their invisibility
• Design actions which will give them more visibility

Coaching will not alter the fact that the client has an inexperienced boss, but it provides the insight they need to move their career forward. This is especially important since the client’s opening remarks were “I’ve been eclipsed yet again;” in other words, they have a history of being “eclipsed.”

A limitless source of wisdom, the symbolic imagination can help coaching clients experience a profound mind-shift. As participants in their own symbolic dramas, clients get to imagine alternative attitudes, behaviors and outcomes. Once this happens, the client is ready to embrace the possible.