Communication is key to an effective coaching relationship. Assessments of communication style can provide insight for both coach and client to understand how each communicates and how to improve understanding between them. Examples of appropriate assessments include those measuring traits like listening skills, empathy, and approachability. Assessments allow coach and client to "take in" information about themselves and each other, increasing self-awareness and the quality of their interactions through a deeper connection and "acceptance" of each other's styles.

1. Using Assessments for Coaching
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
Coaching is a collaborative communication process between the coach and client. The coach’s
communication needs to guide the client toward self-reflection of thoughts and actions. What
does it mean to focus on self? It means taking a realistic view of self through the eyes of others
via a 360-feedback process, self-assessment skilled-based assessment and or observations by the
coach, boss or others. Communication is an opportunity to also focus not only on self but the
person with whom you are communicating. Attunement is being focused on the other person so
that you are aware - present and responsive in a respectful way. Self-attunement might be
defined as the focus on self as to strengths (successful behaviors) sustainable actions and areas
for development (unsuccessful behaviors). Examples of areas that would be acceptable for
assessment in a coaching process might be: leadership, communication, emotional intelligence,
personality (MBTI or DiSC), motivation, and resolving conflicts. Assessments that are not
appropriate for coaching would be any assessment that would assess mental health pathology
(depression or eating disorder). An example of an inappropriate assessment for coaching would
be the utilization of MMPI2 to see if the client has any mental health issues or Beck’s
Depression Inventory. Coaches are not hired to do therapy and may not even be qualified, nor is
it ethically appropriate to work in that area. “A coach does not diagnose illness or root causes of
detrimental behavior. Rather a coach identifies through active listening, empathetic questions
and coordinated effort for assessment potential path options that the client can take to find
achievement”. Jessi LaCosta
An example of an appropriate assessment for coaching is the Communication assessment
(listening, showing empathy, questioning, discussion, approachability). Communication is a very
appropriate area to work on with clients. Attunement through communication, that is focusing
thoughts and behaviors regarding communication for sustainability (strengths) and areas for
enhancement (unsuccessful actions), is certainly suitable for workplace and life coaching.

2. Attunement via communication is the focus on the now of what’s occurring in a relationship. The
coach should know the communication style of the client to ensure that the coach is
communicating in the client’s style and adapting the style to the needs and wants of the client. In
addition, the client can gain insight into how he/she communicates with others.
The following are two Communication Assessments:
The Communication Styles: A Self Assessment Exercise (Tony Alessandra, Ph.D., & Michael J.
O’Connor Ph.D.) is a self-reporting assessment. Its primary focus is to identify characteristics
based on four possible styles of communication: Action (A), Process (PR), People (PE) and Idea
(I). The results are broken into two key areas: Content and Process. The purpose of the
communication self-reporting assessment is to give insight to the client and coach on
characteristics that support the thoughts (content) and process (how) of communication style and
or patterns. I completed the assessment and found it to be reflective of my characteristics Idea
Style #4. To validate, I asked a colleague with whom I work to listen to the characteristics and
see if it represents my style. Without any reservation he responded with an “absolutely - it is
accurate.” Comparing this with another communication assessment I have taken My Preferred
Communication Inventory (Rex Gatto, Ph.D.), there is a strong validating correlation between the
two assessments.
My Preferred Communication Style identifies four styles: Blunt, Influencing, Sincere and
Detailed. The non-statistical correlations between the two assessments are as follows: Action and
Blunt, Process and Detailed, People and Sincere and Idea and Influencing. These assessments are
very good tools for a coach to work on with a client for self-attunement. This attunement can be
used in several of ways, client to coach, coach to client, and client to others. This self-attunement
by the client is a robust way to create an understanding of cognitive acceptance.
Coaching Through Acceptance
“An initial mindful awareness that moves into consideration of expectations, hopes, challenges
and intention and ability to control or deal.” Jessi LaCosta
Coaching through acceptance creates a deeper appreciation for both coach and client’s
relationship being in the same space, which creates deeper connections and feelings, and
ultimately increases comprehension and change in behavior. By enhancing communication
between the coach and client, each can begin to find and develop being in the same space. The
coach can support the communication connecters and disconnections. By taking a
communication styles assessment, the coach and client could actually identify the
communication descriptors that cause same space think and the areas that may be construed as
hurting the coaching relationship because the coach and client are not in the same space by
content or process. For example, a Blunt client may not be connecting with a Sincere coach who
interprets the client’s Bluntness as rude and uncaring. If the coach through the communication
assessment understands this behavior the coaching relationship may grow. By the same thinking,
the Blunt client may interpret the Sincere coach as too accommodating or touchy feely. Once the
client, through the assessment understands his/her communication characteristics and traits,
he/she may better relate to the coach and others with whom the client works.

3. This ties very nicely with the concepts of “Take In and Take Hold.” The concept of Taking In is
the identification of issues, challenges, roadblocks, developmental areas, problems, and an
awareness of what is occurring. To be effective, there must be an acceptance of trust in
expressing the concepts and acceptance of what the issues and challenges are. From the
acceptance of issue and problems comes the understanding of change for success.
Taking In establishes the concept of self in the moment, desired future and thoughtfully
accepting. The thoughts of acceptance of Taking In are validated through the concept of Taking
Hold. While in the moment, supporting designs for the future and considering what the future
may bring are points of Acceptance: mindful awareness that moves into consideration of
expectations, hopes, and challenges in achieving a desired future.
Being in the Moment on a Deeper Level Through Communication
It is important for the coach to also complete the assessment to better understand his her
expectations with regard to expectation the coach may have concerning the client. Taking In self
in the moment, understanding and accepting the style of communication by the client to coach
and coach to client, and connecting with each other on a deeper level can only enhance the
coaching experience.
Acceptance is a unique approach to coaching since it creates a process that encourages a
deeper and more profound relationship during the coaching process, interactions, and the
ultimate on-going relationship. The communication assessments will support and define a deeper
and more profound relationship between the coach and client. There are various aspects or
intensities of acceptance: acceptance of the working relationship between the coach and client
based on the understanding of thoughts and behaviors through communication.
Reframe and Release
The understanding of communication will aid the client and coach in reframing self-perceptions
about each other and others (understanding communication styles can shape the message).
Responding to situations more effectively through the adapting of communication styles may
help to build relationships through the communication connection. Expectations about coaching
can be altered by the alignment of communication between the coach and client, release goals
about the coaching relationship, and possibly create a better understanding of the entire coaching
process.
Summary
Coaching is a process based on a collaborative communication process that can make or break a
coaching relationship. It is extremely important that the chemistry between coach and client be
supported in a clear and healthy way. That chemistry is predicated on the collaborative
communication between the coach and client. Communication style supports the coaching
process through the expression of thoughts and behaviors (words and action) to build a
professional and coaching alliance.

4. Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
President
Gatto Associates LLC.
412 344-2277 (Office)
www.rexgatto.com
rex@rexgatto.com