Coaching Practiced

47 Positive Psychology Techniques – Active Constructive Responding

Jonathan Passmore & Lindsay G. Oades

Abstract

This short article focuses on the skill of Active Constructive Responding, a technique used when working within a positive psychology coaching framework. The paper offers a table that describes the behaviours, cognitions and emotions at six levels of listening. It offers a way to combine active listening with positive feedback responses to help demonstrate empathy and foster positive self-regard.

Keywords

Levels of listening; active listening; listening; active constructive responding; questioning and positive psychology coaching.

Original publication details: Passmore, J., & Oades, L. G. (2014, December). Positive psychology techniques – Active constructive responding. The Coaching Psychologist, 10(2), 71–73. Reproduced with permission of The British Psychological Society.

Active constructive responding (ACR) (Gable et al, 2004; Gable, Gonzaga & Strachman, 2006; Magyar-Moe, 2009) is a simple and understandable technique that can assist people improve their close relationships, by enabling (for example) coaches to respond more actively and constructively, observing and reflecting back when things go right for their coachees (Oades & Passmore, 2014).

The technique starts with the coach being focused and actively listening to the coachee’s communciations at both the verbal and non-verbal level. The coach is specifically attuned to positive success, or moments of ...