ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the concept of mindfulness and briefly discusses how it relates to the practice of coaching. While there are a variety of simple methods for stilling the mind, the challenge for most coachees will be in creating mindful habits that permit its settling effects. When in conversation with clients, coaches face a myriad of internal and external distractions, which makes mindfulness a difficult state to maintain. According to Self-Determination Theory mindfulness has an important role to play in the emergence of autonomous motivation. Another common claim made about mindfulness is that it supports purposeful, adaptive self-regulation, which means that people are able to behave in ways that are flexible, that are sensitive to current conditions, and that ultimately serve the person well. Rather, mindfulness seems more like a common factor one that may also be common to the reflective and growth-oriented nature of coaching.
