Pick a TV show/movie or previous example from your own life of a coaching session gone horribly wrong. Describe the situation and what you would do differently (as the coach).
Q10
• Discuss the benefits of Agile project management.
• Under what situations might six sigma may not be desirable
• As a project manager, how would you identify competitors for your small business that wants to launch a project?
• Offer some practical suggestions as to how a company can include the impact of Six Sigma on various levels of planning.
The Action: The coachee (Sarah) freezes during a practice pitch. The coach, instead of pausing or reframing, steps forward, points a finger, and aggressively says, "You are wasting my time and your investors' money! You have one shot at this, and if you can't even get through the first sentence, you're not ready. Are you a businesswoman, or are you a scared little girl? Snap out of it!"
The Result: Sarah doesn't "snap out of it"; instead, she begins to cry, shuts down completely, and leaves the session, feeling humiliated, attacked, and psychologically unsafe. The coaching relationship is instantly fractured, and the goal of preparing the pitch is abandoned.
What I Would Do Differently (As the Coach)
The core mistake was prioritizing a forceful emotional intervention over safety, trust, and readiness.
Establish Psychological Safety First: Before any high-intensity intervention, I would ensure a strong, trusting relationship is established. I would have started by co-creating a "Coaching Contract" with Sarah that explicitly defines the intensity and boundaries we would use.
Different Action: When Sarah freezes, I would pause, step back, and lower my tone. I'd ask, "Sarah, what do you need right now? Do you want to pause, or do you want me to give you a moment and start again?"
Focus on the Behavior, Not the Identity: The "scared little girl" comment was an attack on her identity, which is never constructive. My intervention must target the specific behavior (freezing/rushing) and the underlying obstacle (anxiety), maintaining her dignity.
Different Action: "That's the anxiety talking. Let's name it: that tension in your chest. Now, let's treat it as data. When you freeze, your heart rate spikes. We need a physical anchor to slow down. Next time you feel that, I want you to plant both feet on the floor and take one breath before speaking. We'll practice the breath, not the pitch, for five minutes."
Use Inquiry and Reflection (Not Confrontation): Instead of immediately telling her she's failing, I would guide her to her own realization about the obstacle.
Different Action: "What just happened? What voice did you hear in your head that made you stop? What do you think is the real cost if you let that voice win next week?" This empowers her to choose her solution, increasing commitment.
Sample Answer
Coaching Session Gone Horribly Wrong: The "Tough Love" Misstep
I will select a common coaching pitfall that often appears in reality TV or workplace dramas: the overly aggressive "Tough Love" approach that crosses the line into humiliation or emotional intensity without established rapport.
The Situation
Imagine a scene from a fictional business reality show where a coach is working with an entrepreneur who is struggling to present their product due to anxiety.
The coach, aiming to break the coachee's emotional barrier quickly, uses a technique designed to evoke a strong, intense response: