Coaching with the Wheel

These lessons have been shared by coached globally from their own successes in using the Wheel, and in overcoming their initial challenges. Please take a moment to pause and absorb as you read them.

  • Make sure you have really read and understood The Four Mantras and The 5 Freedoms before your first coaching session with the Wheel.
  • Know that the example and ‘Universal’ questions are just idea starters. They should not be used in a formal or formulaic way.
  • Follow the client – Many coaching tools have strict processes or series of steps to follow. Indeed, there can be comfort in knowing exactly what to do next. Neil’s Wheel is totally client led. Focus mainly on them as a person and their response to the Wheel, not the Wheel itself.
    You may find that your client will miss whole sections of the Wheel. Or the session may be all about one or a few segments. Don’t worry. Let it unfold. There is no need to visit every section of the Wheel in a single session unless the client has asked for that.
  • It’s not all about actions – What we are noticing is that by using the Wheel, people are discovering profound things about themselves, and their connections with what’s important to them, and their ‘maps of the world’, and bringing the many parts of themselves and the world around them together in more harmonious ways. This often releases huge energy, and can be much more important for them than a list of actions.
  • Notice the little things – In one session, for example, noticing that the client had written in pencil rather than pen brought a whole world of insights.
  • Use silence – give them plenty of space to think, draw, write. Less from the coach can be more to the client.
  • An important lesson to share: So far in every instance where a client has had a less than wonderful experience with the Wheel, they have noted that they felt led or directed by their coach, or that their coach had strong views about one of the Wheel’s segments that they felt they had to go along with. So …
  • As coach, NOTICE YOUR ATTACHMENTS. For example: You may have a great desire for them to complete certain segments and have views about what that segment means. You may have an attachment and need for ‘a profound conversation’ or similar. Offering and expanding choices can be useful. Being directive, or attached, isn’t. If you notice yourself doing this, smile, let go, and recognise this is your work to do, not theirs. The Mantra ‘Let the Wheel do the work’ has a real role here – just notice what unfolds as the conversation unfolds, and also what new awarenesses and ideas come to clients in the conversation, between sessions and in future sessions.
  • As coach, explore how little ‘work’ you really need to do using Neil’s Wheel. If there are not periods where you are quiet for at least 2-3 minutes whilst the client is exploring, discovering and playing with their wheel, you are probably doing too much.
  • As Client, be comfortable with finding an appropriate and respectful way to ask your coach to ‘back off’ if you feel they are doing too much. It is important that it is your journey with the Wheel.
  • Many coaches find that using the Wheel is causing them to reflect on their own wider coaching practices. A common opinion shared “I thought I learnt about the Wheel to bring something new to my clients. I never realised how much I would learn about myself, and my coaching.” This can be highly valuable.

Note 1: We are continually learning about how people are using the wheel, and so are continually evolving this advice. If you have a suggestion on how it can be improved for coaches to come who will be using Neil’s Wheel for the first time, please tell us.

Note 2: Please don’t forget to share your co-coaching experience as coach (and coachee/client) using our short online survey.