Mirror Neurons and Coaching: Imitative Learning and Empathizing: Integral Coaching

       The definition of a mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when we act and when we observe the same action performed by another person. For instance, when we move our arms, some neurons corresponding to the movement are activated. In the same way, when we just watch another person moving his or her arms, our neurons related to the movement fire without actually moving our arms.

       In fact, I sometimes offer a coaching exercise for my clients based on this scientific fact. If a coaching topic of my clients is “to be able to make a speech in public with dignified presence,” I may offer the following exercise. First, I will ask my clients what the ideal image of a good presenter (e.g., voice tone, gesture, posture, facial expression, etc.). Next, I may choose a skillful presenter and may ask them to watch a video of the presenter, for example, YouTube. The purpose of this exercise is for clients to imitate a presentation of their ideal role model by watching the performance. As mentioned above, just watching another person’s performance leads to fire neurons related to the performance, so this imitative learning based on the mechanism of mirror neurons might be helpful for some coaching topics.   

       Furthermore, in my experience as a coach, most of the coaching topics are related to “others.” In such a topic, the key is usually “empathy” to others. Therefore, I’d like to scrutinize the result of research on the relationship between mirror neurons and empathy. Iacoboni (2008) reveals that

[M]irror neuron areas, the insula, and emotional brain areas in the limbic system, particularly the amygdala―a limbic structure highly responsive to faces―were activated while subjects were observing the faces, and the activity increased in those subjects who were also imitating what they saw. (pp. 118-119)

In other words, our mirror neurons fire when we look at others’ facial expressions. To describe the neural mechanism for empathy in detail, Iacoboni (2008) elucidates that: “By means of this firing, the neurons also send signals to emotional brain centers in the limbic system to make us feel what other people feel” (p. 119). In any event, this result strongly supports the idea that mirror neurons are the key to understanding others’ emotions. If a client who is a manager in a company is struggling with human relationships because he or she lacks a feeling of empathy, I might suggest a practice for him or her to consciously observe others’ facial expressions. On the basis of the above research result, this practice will enhance clients’ ability to empathize with others. 

Reference

Mirroring People: The Science of Empathy and How We Connect with Others