{"id":8609,"date":"2026-04-24T00:51:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T00:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/?p=8609"},"modified":"2026-04-24T00:51:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T00:51:32","slug":"you-cant-think-your-way-out-of-a-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/you-cant-think-your-way-out-of-a-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"You can\u2019t think your way out of a problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">Most clients aren&#8217;t stuck because they haven&#8217;t thought enough. They&#8217;re stuck because they&#8217;ve thought in the same way over and over, and their brain is protecting that way of thinking. As a result, they analyse, reflect, and plan, yet still remain stuck. This is why coaching the problem often does not lead to meaningful change.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">In <a href=\"https:\/\/covisioning.com\/coach-the-person-not-the-problem-2nd-edition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>the second edition of her landmark coaching book, <em>Coach the Person, Not the Problem<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, MCC <a style=\"color: #2f80ed;\" href=\"https:\/\/covisioning.com\/about-marcia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marcia Reynolds<\/a> explains why this happens:<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #0d1975; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.4;\"><strong>&#8220;We justify our choices instead of questioning them. The brain prefers self-preservation over self-actualization.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">When coaching remains focused on the problem, it stays within the same thinking that created it. Clients may leave with greater clarity, but the coaching remains transactional where the only things that change are goals and steps.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">Coaching the person takes a different approach. Rather than sorting through possible solutions to the problem, the focus shifts to <em>how the client thinks about the problem,<\/em> including how they perceive what they believe are challenges and how they define their own capabilities. This shift is transformational. When clients recognize there is more to the story they were telling about the situation and themselves, the insights that emerge lead to sustainable changes in behavior.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">Many coaches understand this distinction in theory, yet in practice, it is easy to be drawn back into problem-focused coaching.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">This is where our <a href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Coach the Person, Not the Problem Peer Coaching Round<\/strong><\/a> comes in. The round is designed to support you in moving from understanding the concept to applying it consistently in your coaching practice. It combines reading the book with structured peer coaching and the opportunity to learn directly from Marcia through a <a style=\"color: #2f80ed;\" href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4941\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dedicated group mentoring session<\/a> (available for <a href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4941\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">separate registration<\/a> &#8211; not included in the peer coaching round)<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">With the release of the <a href=\"https:\/\/covisioning.com\/coach-the-person-not-the-problem-2nd-edition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">newly updated second edition<\/a> just last month, there is now an opportunity not only to engage with this work for the first time, but also for those already familiar with it to revisit and extend their learning. Drawing on new research and decades of coaching experience, the updated edition offers refined practices, new examples, and deeper guidance for coaching at the identity level.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">Across six coaching sessions, you will apply the concepts in practice, working as both coach and client with your partners. Each session is supported by structured debriefing and reflection, helping you recognise when you are coaching at the level of the problem and when you are working more deeply with the person. With permission to record your sessions included, you can further develop your skills by reviewing your own coaching and observing where thinking shifts occur.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 1em 0px;\">You can find more information about the round and read past participant testimonials <a style=\"color: #2f80ed;\" href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/coach-the-person-second-edition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>. If you are ready to move beyond problem-focused coaching and create more consistent shifts in your clients&#8217; thinking, you can register directly below.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Register Now Button --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 0px 0px 20px;\">\n<div style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/media\/button-bg-1-GALONKH7.svg'); background-position: center center; background-size: cover; border-radius: 15px; color: #ffffff; font-size: 14px; height: 110px; text-align: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center;\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; display: block;\" href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/events?round_id=4937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Register Now<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 14px; display: block; margin-top: 6px;\" href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/events?round_id=4937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Registration closes Sunday, 17th May<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Closing text --><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6;\">You also have the opportunity to <a href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4941\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">join a separate group mentoring session with Marcia<\/a> (not included in the peer coaching round), where you can learn from observation, feedback and discussion around recorded and live coaching. Bring your list of questions!<\/p>\n<p><!-- Group Mentoring Box --><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f3f7fe; border-radius: 10px; padding: 10px 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<p style=\"color: #0d1975; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;\"><strong>Group mentoring with Marcia Reynolds<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #4d4d4d; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4941\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Join a separate group mentoring session with Marcia<\/a> (not included in the peer coaching round) to learn from observation, feedback and discussion around recorded and live coaching.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #4d4d4d; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em 0px;\">Can&#8217;t attend live? An <a href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/en\/events?round_id=4942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">observer-only option<\/a> is also available at a fraction of the participant price, including access to the session recording and any materials used.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr style=\"border: none; border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0; margin: 20px 0;\" \/>\n<p><!-- Signature --><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; padding: 0px 0px 20px; gap: 15px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50%; display: block; flex-shrink: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/img.reciprocoach.com\/email\/kerryn-circle.jpg\" alt=\"Kerryn Griffiths\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p style=\"color: #888888; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;\">Supporting you in continuing to evolve your coaching,<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #0d1975; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px 5px;\"><strong>Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #555555; font-size: 12px; margin: 2px 0px 0px;\">Global ReciproCoach Coordinator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr style=\"border: none; border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0; margin: 20px 0;\" \/>\n<p><!-- Referral --><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6;\"><strong>Give another coach the opportunity to develop themselves personally and professionally by letting them know about ReciproCoach. As a thanks for helping to grow our community (giving us all more choice for coaching, mentoring and supervision), <a style=\"color: #2f80ed;\" href=\"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/rewards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">we&#8217;ll reward you<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most clients aren&#8217;t stuck because they haven&#8217;t thought enough. They&#8217;re stuck because they&#8217;ve thought in the same way over and over, and their brain is protecting that way of thinking. As a result, they analyse, reflect, and plan, yet still remain stuck. This is why coaching the problem often does not lead to meaningful change. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":8614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,66,1],"tags":[61,64,63,62,58,60,59],"class_list":["post-8609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coach-training","category-coaching","category-uncategorized","tag-coach-the-person-not-the-problem","tag-coach-training","tag-coaching-skills","tag-marcia-reynolds","tag-peer-coaching","tag-reflective-inquiry","tag-transformational-coaching"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/book.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8609"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8615,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8609\/revisions\/8615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reciprocoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}