Comment pouvez-vous coacher efficacement un client qui ne répond pas à vos techniques ?

Ask myself ‘Is the barrier my technique or my heart?’ As Bill O’Brien once said ‘The success of an intervention depends on the inner condition of the intervener’ I try to centre my practice around keeping my heart open, and responding with love both in and to every moment in my coaching conversations. And sometimes it’s my client who is growing through our human interaction, and sometimes it’s me.

Maybe the root cause has really gone into hiding, and that is the actual challenge with them not responding to the coaching. I find that many clients do not really know themselves so well, and are quite locked in their bodies. So it is actually more non-verbal coaching that they need because they typically talk and inquire all day long! Thus I try to introduce the non-verbal in various ways going from just sitting together in stillness, walking together in nature in kind of a vision quest, starting the meeting with calibrating our resonance by focusing on the body and breath (can be done without it becoming mystical).

I have found it helpful to re establish trust and rapport as often these two elements can help re engage connections. Emphasis being on communicating empathy to help create a environment of safety, security and trust.

ask what open questions like" what can I do differently at our next session that would help you acheive ? Use words like " Tell me what have you enjoyed the most" "How can I ?" etc never forget to praise 1st " you have exceptional

I’d also get clear if they want to continue coaching or feel they have to. If it’s not working it might not be on us as the coach. Circumstances change, priorities change and I know if e.g. there was a family bereavement no technique my coach used other than compassion, patience and listening would help! Some people however are only working with a coach because of a company arrangement. I steer away from these OR make sure to contract with the individual that yes the company is paying me but I am serving them as an individual as priority. I agree this with the company and this creates a level of trust between me and the coachee which might also be helpful.

Ask them what their favorite music styles are ? who do they find as a singer musician inspirational? ask them to bring some music with them or play if on a zoom session

Souvent je remarque que quand je laisse mon client choisir une pièce à pratiquer, il est plus enthousiaste car c’est une chanson qu’il affectionne particulièrement. Ainsi je m’assure de le garder intéressé tout en apprenant une nouvelle technique.

First, clients should have a home routine and be practicing 4-5 times per week (30-60min) if they want to make solid progress toward goals with posture, breathing, clarity, resonance, tone, and performance. Any teacher that only has you training in lesson is setting you up to fail. Each practice should hit all the points. If some isn't developing, you may be missing materials that are necessary for growth, or you may not be getting your client to train properly. You may need to help them figure out how to fit the training routine into their life. Don't be afraid to dig; this is one of the most important parts of your job - get them to think of a place in their routine where the exercises will fit and they will get 4-5 practices in per week.

Before adjusting approach, ask them why they’re being coached and what they want from it. Resistance is normal in change so instead of judging their response or our approach as bad, instead get curious about what this resistance is highlighting for both of us. Are we convinced that the change is right? Is it the right change? Is it too much change too quick? Do they have suggestions for what’s not working and what might be more useful? It’s easy to change our approach and become circus clowns with fancy techniques when getting closer to the truth of how they’re experiencing change through coaching is more likely to be useful.

Comparto con éste criterio ya que los métodos de enseñanza nunca deben ser estáticos y para lograr un resultado aunque no sea el esperado debes cambiar la forma y estilo de mostrar las cosas

Sometimes its awkward to give feedback to a coach directly some people feel intimidated if they want to say something that not positive.Use tools and ways to have anonymous feed back so everyone feels good

Honestly sometimes medical journals, vocal journals and other publications are your best friend. Get any and all clues from your client in the form of a massive intake at the outset, and don't be afraid to dig into the client's history for clues. Blocks can be physical, they can be learned, related to instruments that were being played when singing technique was developed. It can be bracing due to vocal weakness. Blocks can be emotional or related to childhood or other trauma. I do refer clients when I see further bodywork that needs to be done to free the posture, or emotional work that needs to be completed to clear a block from the voice, if we've tried and we are stuck, sometimes you can ask help from other kinds of professionals.

S’améliorer comme coach vocal veut dire ne pas avoir peur de la critique. Ne pas avoir peur de la rétroaction du client et être constamment prêt à s’ajuster et à reformuler nos interventions.

Ask your student to self evaluate themselves 1st before you.They may have a totally different perspective than you do.How you feel yourself as a student and what you feel you have acheived is self worth Explore this 1st then add your comments as the coach

I do 2 evaluations: One vocal profile where I capture the range, both potential and comfortable of the client, as well as registral breaks, notes on color, tone, and timbre, and quality of transition from one register to the next. Every few months we repeat this assessment to visualize the success of the training. This is hard data and you will get so much out of this as a vocal coach, really quantifying your client's success. Second, I do a self-assessed qualitative assessment where the client gives a 1-10 on where they were coming in, or the last time we assessed, and where they are now. Then, set the next goals, where can this area improve? When they return from a break, they are all ready to hit the ground running with the new goals.

I keep a list of other coaches who I often refer other people to if they don’t want to work with me. Collaborate, don’t compete. If you have clients that aren’t working well with, send them my way if you like and let’s start a connection that might work both ways!

In my experience, it's not about me. It's about the client journey. I have learned so much from each and every client which has helped me address issues for future clients. But ultimately it's always about the client, their journey, their vocal development. You can never ever forget that and make it about you. This is the paramount rule beyond any other rule about being a vocal coach.

Sometimes the use of the body (somatic movement) can be very motivating and allows for the individual to shift from a cerebral space and move into the body. We are sometimes in our thoughts intensely and it helps to disconnect and feel through our bodies. This can be achieved through breathing exercises or dance as an example. It lightens the mood and supports the individual differently and sometimes unlocks aspects to themselves they were unaware of.

Resistance to change, or techniques is normal. Instead of judging just stay curious and sit with the resistance a little longer. Don’t rush to fix it. You might misfire. Slow down. The solution will emerge as long as you look for it together.

Agree. I'm a coach in training..100% this is very normal. The M-creed..as the Mandalorian would say...'This is the way'. Be present, be patient 😉

I have found that experimenting with things out of the ordinary can have profound effects on the room I am capable of accessing together with my client. Thus especially with female clients I often use Tarot cards to open up for new perspectives on an issue they have been struggling with for a long time. One Tarot card holds a world of symbolism that can be used to inquire into the issue from totally new angles that often surprise both the client and me. As coaches we often encourage our clients to experiment and be courageous. I often wonder how willing we as coaches are to be courageous and experiment with new ways of being with our clients. There is a tension field of possibilities that we have to dare to step into to discover new land.