Why Talking Out Loud Works

Written by Suzanne Conroy, M.Ed, PCC

There is power in talking out loud.

I believe we have all witnessed the insights we generate through conversation. Moreover, when we hear ourselves talk out loud, there is sometimes a surprise at what we are saying and the insights that emerge. We might say, I didn’t even realize I felt that way until I said it out loud. These aha moments happen constantly in coaching conversations.

When we talk out loud, we are forced to slow down our mental processes, articulate what we know, and focus on specifics.

There is much research on talking out loud and its direct effect on understanding and our ability to solve problems. Conversation is a catalyst for learning and has the capacity to shift our thinking. Hearing ourselves and others talk out loud can create new insights.

Sometimes we don’t fully know what we think until we hear ourselves say it.

Talking out loud is revealing and can organically create paths forward. The work is to create safe spaces for open and authentic dialogue where each person actively listens and learns.

The Connection to Coaching

At its core, coaching is a learning dialogue. It creates a dedicated space to talk out loud, hear our own thinking, challenge assumptions, and discover what we might not have seen on our own. The coach listens, asks questions, and offers observations that deepen the conversation, while the client does the thinking, learning, and meaning-making.

Sometimes, simply having the space to say something out loud changes what we see.

Continue the Conversation

Questions or reflections? I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to continue the conversation about executive and leadership coaching, please connect with me.

Reference

Parker, L., & Vetter, D. (2020). Knowledge and skills development. In Mentoring each other: Teachers listening, learning, and sharing to create more successful classrooms (pp. 35–59). Pembroke