I sometimes have the sense that a client who is new to coaching is secretly hoping that I will help them change their personality. As if their current typical patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving need to be replaced by different ones.
It can be a surprise to introduce the idea of broadening, rather than replacing, the range of responses that the person can draw upon in any given situation.
A recent client reported a strong ability to pick up ‘vibes’ in meetings which are pervaded by politics in the midst of a restructure. This is really useful when navigating the conversation but they are cultivating the ability to dial it down when it becomes paralysing overload.
Recognising that we’re actually seeking adaptivity, rather than ‘change’, of personality can also enable a client to accept and value what’s helpful about their typical pattern rather than automatically labelling it as a problem in all contexts. To find out more, check out Claudia Hammond’s latest ‘All in the Mind’ podcast below.
Recommended further listening: BBC Radio 4 ‘All in the Mind’ Can you change your personality? 30 June 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ybb2
Multimeter kindly provided by Hamilton Flowservices Museum Collection