# Transcript

NARRATOR

In this example about summarising, you'll hear the coach referring to their own agenda and experience, offering advice, and offering interpretation of what the client says.

CLIENT

So as we previously discussed, I'm at a crossroads now in my career. And I can go in one of two directions. I could stick to what I'm doing now-- the project management. Or I could do something different, which is to start managing people more and perhaps get to the point where I have my own team, which, I think, sounds like something I might be interested in actually.

COACH

It's tough, though, isn't it, being at a crossroads. I mean, I remember myself when I was at a career crossroads. This is probably 20 years ago now. But it really took me ages to work out what I was going to do.

And I thought about things like, am I going to go down the people management route, or just the project management route? And in the end, I made a really clear decision, actually, that I was going to go down the project management route.

CLIENT

Right. Did you?

COACH

I did, yeah. Yeah.

CLIENT

Oh, OK. Yeah, it is a bit confusing, thinking-- because I know what I'm doing now, and I'm familiar with it and I'm good at that. Is it worth running the risk of taking on something really challenging, which, in the long run, could end up being good.

COACH

So it sounds to me as if you're a little bit lost and confused here. That's what I'm getting from you.

CLIENT

Right. Really?

COACH

Or is this something which is a pattern in your life?

CLIENT

I hadn't thought of that before.

COACH

Well, I'm definitely getting a sensation of you being a bit blocked here and a bit lost. That's how it's coming across to me.

CLIENT

Oh. Oh, gosh. OK.

COACH

So I think you need to get a bit clearer in your thinking actually.

CLIENT

Right. I need to get clearer.

COACH

Mm-hm.

CLIENT

I thought I was getting quite clear. I was--

COACH

But you're talking about going the people management route.

CLIENT

And perhaps that's not such a good idea for me.

COACH

Personally, I don't think that's a great idea.

CLIENT

Right.

COACH

I mean, people are very difficult to manage.

CLIENT

I guess I don't really have the qualifications either.

COACH

Well, that's right. So it sounds like you might be deluding yourself, actually, a little bit.

CLIENT

Yeah, it's a bit of a dilemma to be honest. I do find myself a bit worried about making the wrong choice.

COACH

Yeah, so lost, worried, confused, this isn't sounding like you're in a good head space, is it really?

CLIENT

Right. Perhaps not.

COACH

So I've got a few ideas anyway as to how you can sort this through.

CLIENT

OK. What do you think I should do?

COACH

Well, I think it's about getting really focused thinking to begin with. And if you take my advice, you would really abandon the people management route. I'm not sure it's suited for you.

CLIENT

OK.

COACH

That's what I think.

CLIENT

Right.