When coaching value statements with a client, the following four points will assist in creating a “great” value statement. Make sure your coaching client’s value statements are:

1.Short: One sentence, one phrase, or even single word value statements to keep them memorable.

“Now, can you sum that up in one sentence?”

“Can you shorten that into some pithy, meaningful phrases that can be unpacked?”

2. Unique: Value statements in your words, not someone else’s.

“The language you are using could be true of a lot of people. Can you say that in a way that captures what is unique about you?”

“Can you say that in a way that if your friends read it, they’d know it was you?”

3. Unpack-able: Every word and phrase has meaning.

“Unpack that for me—what does each phrase mean to you?”

“Take the key words there and tell me what each one means.”

4. Now: Written in the present tense, to describe who you are .

“How well is this statement reflected in your life right now?”

“Is that a value that you are living out already, or is it something you aspire to that we might set a goal to reach for?”

Coaching value statements can be a powerful tool to use with your clients.

Tony Stoltzfus is a best-selling author, leadership coach, master coach trainer and director of the Leadership Metaformation Institute. Additional information on this topic can be found in Tony’s book, The Christian Life Coaching Handbook.