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Five Tips for Your First EQ-i Debrief

So you have just been certified to use the EQ-I and are preparing to do your first debrief. While we cover the debrief process extensively in the EQ-I & EQ360 Certification training, there is nothing like getting to do your first full debrief with a real client. For some coaches and consultants that first debrief can be some time after certification, so it’s easy to forget some of the key points we covered during the course. If that sounds like you, here are five things you can do before you go into that meeting (or pick up that phone) to make sure things go as smoothly as possible:

  1. Reground yourself in the purpose of taking the assessment. Is it part of a coaching process? An awareness piece for someone entering a leadership development process? Or something else? The purpose of using the assessment should have been established at the outset of the process, so take a minute to re-check the goals and desired outcomes for the debrief.
  2. Review the report. But, as we discuss in certification, don’t spend too much time developing elaborate hypothesis that may not be true (and that you could become attached to). Instead, focus on points of interest, differences in balance between subscales etc. Mark the report up (for that reason, working with a hard copy is often easier than electronic, though both work)
  3. Make sure you have the right resources to hand. The EQ-i Coach report contains a ton of information that can help you run a great debrief. For example, the Follow up Questions at the back of the Coach report are a great thing to have to hand for your first few debriefs. You may not use them, but having them close doesn’t hurt. Keep them separate from the rest of your papers, and if you plan on using an electronic version of the report during the debrief, I still advise printing off the Debrief Guide and Follow Up Questions in hard copy so you can find them easily. Make sure you also have a hard copy of the EQ-I 2.0 model of emotional intelligence close by. You will refer to it a lot and it will be very useful as you explore the relationships between subscales with your clients.
  4. Have a rough idea on how you will use the time. Whether you have one hour or two, a rough outline of time for each part of the debrief will help you keep things on track and prevent rushing through some element of the report without giving proper coverage.
  5. Follow the Coach’s Guide to an EQ-i Debrief. Found at the back of the EQ-I Coach report, this handy two-page checklist provides you with a great step-by-step process for an effective debrief. No matter how well prepared you feel for your first time, it’s worth having this to hand so that you don’t miss any elements of the process.

So there you have it. If you are one of our past certification graduates preparing for your first debrief let me know if you would like to chat. In my next blog I’ll talk about how to prepare for a great first time EQ360 debrief.

Until next time!

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