Who doesn’t like a high-five?
Seriously, that may sound like a trite thing, but a high-five is great. I’m not talking about the watered-down, patronizing variety; like an over-excited camp counselor who’s giving out enthusiastic high-fives to eight-year-olds for managing to put their shirt on not-backwards.
I’m talking about a well-earned high-five, an earnest expression of appreciation for a meaningful job well done.
You wanna have fun with your client some time? When you’re wrapping up one of your sessions, turn and say to them, deadpan:
“Hey. [*2 second pause while they come around to fully present*] What’s something you’re gonna do next week that would be cause for a serious high-five next time we talk?”
You might get a “Wait, what?” back. Let them know you’re challenging them to do, create, complete, or accomplish something that would be a reason to genuinely celebrate next time, something they would not have thought to do absent being so challenged.
Let ‘em wrestle with it. Have a little fun with it. Write it down. Let them know you’ll be listening with eager intent that they Do. That. Thing. And definitely beat ‘em to the punch in bringing it up during your next session.
