Unpacking the Neuroscience Behind Effective Coaching
From the previous blog post about misconceptions around coaching, you remember that coaching is more than just advice or problem-solving. In fact it’s a powerful tool for personal transformation, backed by neuroscience. You may wonder why, as coaches, we often focus on your personal vision rather than giving solutions or advising on the best course of action. The answer lies in the brain’s wiring; coaching that engages a person’s deeper sense of self is far more effective for sustained change and motivation.
Research by Boyatzis and Jack (2018) sheds light on this through their concepts of coaching with compassion, also known as coaching to the Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA), versus coaching for compliance, or coaching to the Negative Emotional Attractor (NEA). PEA coaching activates brain regions associated with big-picture thinking, relaxation, and creativity, engaging the parasympathetic nervous system and the Default Mode Network (DMN)—the brain’s “imagination centre.” This creates a sense of safety, resourcefulness, and openness to new ideas, making it easier for clients to tackle challenges with innovative thinking. On the other hand, NEA coaching, often perceived as a directive or “Do what I say,” reduces activity in these areas and instead triggers defensiveness, closing down cognitive and emotional openness.
For leaders and managers seeking long-term behavioural change in their teams, starting conversations by activating PEA—focusing on vision, strengths, and possibilities—can create a more receptive environment for change. Simply providing solutions or imposing behaviour can backfire, stifling intrinsic motivation and engagement. This is why coaching that works at the identity level, helping clients build their desired vision of themselves, is so effective. When people identify with positive traits like being a “runner” or a “leader,” they are more likely to engage in behaviours that reinforce this identity, as noted in popular books like Atomic Habits.
The essence of impactful coaching is guiding clients through the deeper layers of behavioral change: beyond just outcomes (what), and processes (how), to identity (who you want to become). This identity shift is at the core of coaching and explains why working on empowering beliefs is crucial. So, the next time your coach invites you to explore your vision, embrace it—you’re working towards a sustainable, identity-driven change.
In the next post, we’ll dive deeper into how beliefs shape our actions and how coaching can help reframe disempowering beliefs for greater success.
Stay tuned!
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