June 25, 2025

448: Pen vs. Presence: The Great "Notes" Debate with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC

40 minutes

In today’s episode, I’m going solo to explore a question I’ve been asked dozens of times: “Should I take notes during my coaching sessions?” As with many things in life, this is not a black or white issue, and the experts are divided over their answers. It’s a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer! Join me to weigh the ins and outs of the “great notes debate.”

Show Highlights:

There are two sides of the coin with strong opinions on both:
Side 1: Taking notes during sessions:
Note-taking can make you a better listener. (Are you distilling the info down to the essence of the conversation or trying to capture EVERY detail?)
It gives the coachee a “break” from being stared at.
My personal experience in documentation
Taking notes helps track details, progress, and accountability.
Side 2: Minimal note-taking (or the “less is more” mindset):
Our job is to hold space for the client to process through the session; note-taking is not necessary.
Note-taking can slow you down to the point that you won’t “end up” at the same place as your client.
Note-taking can cause you to miss nonverbal cues from the client.
The big question around taking notes: What is the purpose of your notes?
Grounding with ethical principles in coaching around legality, records, privacy, etc
What seasoned coaches say about their notes regarding transparency
Finding middle ground in the Great Notes Debate
The science of what happens in our brains:
Divided attention vs. deep, empathetic listening
Deciphering body language
Is note-taking truly about helping the client move forward?
Workable solutions to find middle ground: use appropriate forms, practice strategic note-taking (the two-layer approach, ABC framework, and technology tools)
Meg’s advice: “Craft your own approach and find what works for you to serve your clients best and maintain the integrity of the coaching relationship.”
To beginning coaches: “Give yourself permission to experiment while building your curiosity and presence muscles.”

Resources:

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By Meg Rentschler

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