Here are some example self coaching voice types. I believe these were generated by ChatGPT - there are [more commonly used coaching style types](https://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/content/coaching-styles.html#autocraticcoaching) which I later used for a similar assessment. The coaching voice types listed below, or a link to the more commonly used styles, can be pasted into a ChatGPT chat along with a prompt like: ``` You are a seasoned workplace and personal coach. Using the self-coaching voice types provided, ask me a series of ten questions at a time to help identify my preferred coaching style. Begin with two sets of ten questions. After the second set, assess whether a discernible pattern has emerged. If not, continue with additional sets of ten questions, repeating this process until a clear pattern becomes evident. Do not reference or hint at any specific voice type in your questions to avoid introducing bias. ``` ## 1. Compassionate Challenger ### Identity: The Compassionate Challenger is the firm but kind voice that **believes in your capability**. It doesn’t let you off the hook, but it refuses to shame you. It recognises avoidance, resistance, and paralysis — and responds with **activation, realism, and belief**. ### Tone and Approach: - Direct, respectful, and warm - Cuts through inertia and overthinking - Focuses on _what you can do now_, not what went wrong - Pushes for progress, not perfection ### Use When: - You’re procrastinating, spiralling, avoiding, or frozen - You need to break a loop or start momentum - You’ve dropped a goal and want to re-engage ### Typical Phrases: - “What’s one thing you can do in the next 10 minutes?” - “You’re not broken. You’re stuck. Let’s move.” - “Let’s act now, and evaluate later.” - “You said this mattered. Are you willing to show up for it?” ### Risks if Overused: - Can become too performance-focused if not paired with self-compassion - May push through emotional needs or override real fatigue - Can veer into hustle culture if not grounded in purpose ## 2. Logical Analyst ### Identity: The Logical Analyst is the **structured thinker** — methodical, analytical, and focused on clarity. It creates mental order out of chaos. It excels at problem-solving, triage, and diagnosing what isn’t working — often by **breaking complex situations into manageable components**. ### Tone and Approach: - Objective, calm, and practical - Deconstructs overwhelm into actionable steps - Evaluates systems, timelines, and priorities - Doesn’t moralise — just finds the mechanism ### Use When: - You’re overwhelmed, stuck in chaos, or trying to prioritise - You’re making a decision - You’re trying to fix a broken system or plan ### Typical Phrases: - “What’s urgent, what’s important, and what can wait?” - “Where’s the bottleneck?” - “What are the inputs and outputs of this process?” - “Is this a planning problem or an energy problem?” ### Risks if Overused: - Can lead to analysis paralysis - May disconnect you from values, feelings, or motivation - Can become a safe haven for avoidance — overplanning instead of doing ## 3. Gentle Companion ### Identity: The Gentle Companion is your **compassionate witness** — it offers emotional safety, validation, and care. It neither pushes nor fixes. It simply helps you stay **with** your experience until you’re ready to move again. It is especially important for people prone to **rejection sensitivity, shame, or burnout**. ### Tone and Approach: - Warm, soft, non-directive - Uses emotional language and sensory language - Validates feelings and fatigue - Slows things down ### Use When: - You’re emotionally flooded, ashamed, or burnt out - You’re processing a disappointment or loss - You need permission to rest or reflect ### Typical Phrases: - “That makes sense.” - “Want to sit with that together?” - “You’ve carried a lot. What needs care before we go further?” - “You’re allowed to feel like this without fixing it.” ### Risks if Overused: - Can create emotional stasis without momentum - May reinforce avoidance if not paired with activation later - Not effective for time-sensitive action ## 4. Curious Explorer ### Identity: The Curious Explorer is your **inner question-asker and reframer**. It sees patterns, invites imaginative thinking, and asks what else might be true. It is playful but deep. It thrives on insight, novelty, and reinterpretation. It excels at **unsticking stuck narratives**. ### Tone and Approach: - Reflective, creative, and open-ended - Uses metaphor, perspective-taking, and re-framing - Loves ambiguity and possibility - Focuses on insight over outcome ### Use When: - You’re trapped in rigid thinking or “I always/I never” loop - You’re trying to rediscover motivation - You want to play with multiple futures or see the big picture again ### Typical Phrases: - “What story are you telling yourself about this?” - “What would your 85-year-old self say about this decision?” - “What if this isn’t a problem — what if it’s information?” - “What happens if you invert this assumption?” ### Risks if Overused: - Can remain abstract and non-committal - May lead to excessive thinking with no action - Ineffective when urgency or clarity is needed ## 5. Values Guide ### Identity: The Values Guide is your **inner compass**. It asks who you want to become, not just what you want to achieve. It grounds choices in your long-term vision, ethical commitments, and personal meaning. For ADHDers especially, it provides the **why** behind difficult effort. ### Tone and Approach: - Grounded, reflective, and purposeful - Focuses on future self, life direction, identity - Often spiritual or philosophical in tone - Centres motivation in meaning, not pressure ### Use When: - You’re questioning whether something is worth it - You’re comparing yourself to others or feeling lost - You want to realign your actions with your deeper self ### Typical Phrases: - “What does this decision say about who you want to be?” - “What would honour the person you’re becoming?” - “Does this help build the life you believe in?” - “What are you being invited to grow toward here?” ### Risks if Overused: - Can delay action if everything must be meaningful - May lead to existential fatigue - Ineffective in low-energy, highly tactical situations