Experts in the Art of Nonverbal Communication
As we wrap up the year, many of us are looking back at what we’ve learned while also setting new intentions for what’s ahead. This month’s theme—Empowerment—feels especially timely.
In coaching, it’s easy for both the coach and the coachee to slip into a pattern of dependence. But the real purpose of coaching is the opposite: to help someone build the confidence and clarity to move forward even when the coach isn’t in the room. Our work is meant to hand over the key so they can unlock their own growth.
Over the past few months, we’ve focused on two big pieces of that journey:
Goal Setting – clarifying what success actually looks and sounds like.
The Fly-on-the-Wall Perspective – stepping outside the moment to see behavior neutrally.
This month, we’re building on those foundations by asking: How do we truly empower the coachee?
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One of the best lessons I learned came from my dad. Growing up, he always said, “If you want to empower someone, help them see it.” He wasn’t wrong. When we “go visual,” we turn vague ideas into concrete actions—specific, observable behaviors we can measure and reflect on.
That’s why video is such a powerful coaching tool. It lets us study interactions from multiple perspectives:
-The teacher or leader with one individual
-The teacher or leader with the group
-The individual within the group
And when we watch the recording through a neutral, third-point lens—not “me,” but “the teacher” or “the leader”—we suddenly gain clarity we can’t access in the moment. Video helps us step out of our assumptions and see what’s actually happening.
This simple shift moves us away from the stories we often tell ourselves—“I taught it; they just didn’t get it”—toward something far more empowering: We are responsible not just for delivering the message, but for adjusting it based on how it’s received.
That’s where real learning—and real coaching—happens.
And while none of us can change the past, slowing down the past through video gives us the insight we need to design a better future. Patterns emerge. Small adjustments become clear. Next steps feel intentional instead of reactive.
Slow down now so you can go fast later.
Empowerment begins when we help others see their own path forward—and when we trust them to walk it.
-Krista
How can MGA help you improve your nonverbal communication skills?
Education
Nourish student relationships and reduce disciplinary time. Learn how enhancing your nonverbal communication helps classroom management.
Business
Fuel your employees and lead them to even greater successes. Discover how nonverbal communication helps business leaders and in-house teams.
Personal Development
Build better relationships with your colleagues, close friends, and your intimate partner — just by learning nonverbal communication skills and making them a habit. Learn more.
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