• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Español · 한국어

Coaching4Clergy

  • Home
  • Programs
    • An Introduction to Coaching – a FREE Webinar
    • FREE Peer Coaching: An opportunity to provide and receive coaching
    • Upcoming Training
    • Coaching4NextGeneration
    • Languages Offered
      • Español
      • 한국어
    • ICF Credentialing Exam Preparation Course
  • About Us
    • About Coaching4Clergy
    • Contact Us
    • Blog
    • Ask Val
    • Talk One-on-One with Val
    • Host a Coach Training Event
  • Bookstore
    • Books
    • Free Resources
    • Coaching Tools Company
  • Student Resources
    • Course Catalog
    • Learning Portal Login
    • Student Guide
    • Learning Portal User Guide
    • How to Become a Credentialed Coach
    • Transfer Student Process
    • Refund & Cancellation Policies
  • Home
  • Programs
    • An Introduction to Coaching – a FREE Webinar
    • FREE Peer Coaching: An opportunity to provide and receive coaching
    • Upcoming Training
    • Coaching4NextGeneration
    • Languages Offered
      • Español
      • 한국어
    • ICF Credentialing Exam Preparation Course
  • About Us
    • About Coaching4Clergy
    • Contact Us
    • Blog
    • Ask Val
    • Talk One-on-One with Val
    • Host a Coach Training Event
  • Bookstore
    • Books
    • Free Resources
    • Coaching Tools Company
  • Student Resources
    • Course Catalog
    • Learning Portal Login
    • Student Guide
    • Learning Portal User Guide
    • How to Become a Credentialed Coach
    • Transfer Student Process
    • Refund & Cancellation Policies

Stop Telling People What to Do

August 1, 2018 By //  by J. Val Hastings

We finally have solid evidence about the problem with telling people what to do. A research project in 2009 reveals brain activity – actually, a lack of brain activity – when we are being told what to do.

Here’s the research in a nutshell. When someone is telling us what to do or giving us advice, our brain actually goes into neutral. The advice being given doesn’t embed in our neocortex. The result is that we are not fully engaged at the moment. We have shifted into a passive mode. [Jan B. Engelmann, C. Monica Capra, Charles Noussair and Gregory S. Berns, The Relationship between Financial Advice and Decision-Making, 2009]

When we offer space and invite others to come up with their own answers, the activity of the neocortex is quite different.

The question for today’s leader is what kind of engagement do you want? Neutral Engagement or Full Engagement?

In my opinion, we do a major disservice to people when our primary leadership mode is Telling. This is why I am committed to a global vision of Every Leader a Coach! Part of our leadership responsibility is to advocate full engagement.

This research is more than a case for coaching, it’s a request of all leaders to learn how to engage others.

All the best to you,

Filed Under: COACHING SKILLS

Previous Post: « How to Get in Touch with Your Inner Tortoise
Next Post: Leaders need to unlearn, as well as learn! »

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to the Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE

Categories

  • 20 YEARS
  • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
  • CLIENT CHALLENGES
  • COACHING HABITS
  • COACHING SKILLS
  • COACHING TEAMS AND GROUPS
  • DEVELOPING A COACH APPROACH
  • LEADERSHIP
  • RESILIENCY
  • SELF-AWARENESS
  • WELLNESS

Search

Footer

Select list(s) to subscribe to


    

Phone: 610-406-8450
Email: customerservice@coaching4clergy.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2025 Coaching4Clergy