ABSTRACT
There is widespread cultural support for “the control agenda” – the idea that if one can successfully control one’s thoughts and feelings, then happiness, success, increased effectiveness and fulfilment will follow. One of our jobs as ACC coaches is to actively challenge this through what we call “the workability game”. In this chapter we explain how best to engage the client in a conversation that will have them critically examine their own use of control strategies. For most clients a conversation framed around four key questions will be sufficient to encourage them to loosen their grip on their control strategies and try something new. For those who are reluctant to do so, that reluctance is itself helpful information about where to focus first in coaching. It is useful information rather than a barrier to progress.
