If coaching is to succeed, it must be simple and specific. That’s why I am a big believer in flash cards. Maybe this goes back to my childhood when my patient mother used them to help me learn phonetics, words and arithmetic. You can even make a master flash card for dealing with complex problems by doing the following:
Square the circle. Focus on the core problem and its root causes, not peripheral ones that may be clouding the picture.
Determine action steps. Be specific about what you can do as well as what you cannot do.
Move forward. Take action when called for.
Flash cards can serve as your prompt to think through a problem, as well as to take action in a deliberate manner.