A coaching fable

1. ‘YOU JUST DON’T GET IT’
A coaching fable
by: Sarah Cowley

2. A small bird has a problem which won’t go away ...

3. He thinks ... And he thinks
But he doesn’t know what to do.

4. He went to his mother.
“Mum, I have a problem.”

5. His mother listens and sees the tears in his eyes.
“There, there dear. It’ll all be better tomorrow.” And she gives
him a cuddle.

6. The chick walks away. He says to himself: “You just don’t
get it.”

7. He goes to see his brothers and sisters.
“I have a problem.”

8. His brothers and sisters see that he is sad. They say: “Don’t
worry about that. Come and play with us instead.”

9. The chick walks away. He says to himself: “You just don’t
get it.”

10. He goes to see his friend.
“I have a problem.”

11. His friend sees that he is sad. So he says: “Come and hunt worms
with me. That will make you feel better.”

12. The chick walks away. He says to himself: “You just don’t
get it”

13. He goes to see the expert.
“I have a problem.”

14. The expert says: “I know all about it. Let me tell you what to do.”

15. The chick walks away. He says to himself: “You just don’t
get it”

16. He goes to see the coach:
“I have a problem.”

17. So the coach says:
“Tell me about it.”

18. And so I ...
Talked
And I talked some more
And the coach asked the occasional question.

19. And
I looked at cards
I played with some objects
I sat in chairs ...
I laughed
I cried
There were many times of silence and reflection.

20. Until the coach said: “Is there any more you want to say now?”And
the little bird thought. And he thought again. And then he said:
“No, that’s all!”

21. And he said: “I get it”.
And he went and built his nest. And was happy.

22. The moral of this story is that every one of us is
capable of finding the best way forward for ourselves.
A coach gives the space and support to get there.

23. LuminarConsulting
For more information contact:
Sarah Cowley
Sarah.cowley@luminarconsulting.co.uk
00 44 7973431588
www.luminarconsulting.co.uk