As a Meta-Coach, one of the most powerful tools you can develop is the ability to think like a scientist. But what does that really mean—and why does it matter in coaching?
In Don’t Believe Everything You Think (2006), Thomas Kida outlines six common mistakes in human thinking and explains why scientific thinking is a powerful remedy. The core message: scientific thinking sharpens our ability to question, test, and improve ideas—a perfect fit for effective coaching.
What Is Scientific Thinking?
Kida describes science as more than just labs and test tubes:
“The hallmark of science is the rigorous testing of hypotheses… Science proposes explanations about the natural world and puts those hypotheses to repeated tests using experiments, observations, and a creative and diverse array of methods.” (p. 71)
“Science generally begins with a simple question… Then we form a hypothesis—a testable statement about the relationship between variables.” (p. 72)
“Science builds in an error-correcting mechanism—criticism—to counteract human frailty.” (p. 81)
Thinking like a scientist is not reserved for researchers—it’s a disciplined approach to understanding the world, one that applies directly to coaching.
The Science of Thinking: 8 Core Habits
Kida identifies eight traits of scientific thinking. Each closely aligns with the 15 thinking skills taught in Neuro-Semantics (from Thinking for Humans). Let’s explore these traits and their coaching relevance:
1. Keep an Open Mind—but Be Skeptical
- Stay curious and willing to explore new ideas.
- Don’t accept claims without questioning their source and evidence.
Related Thinking Skills:
#1: Try on new ideas from a first-person view
#3: Doubt and question the credibility of claims
2. Ensure Claims Can Be Tested
- Ask: “Can this belief be proven or disproven?”
- Avoid vague or unfalsifiable ideas.
Related Thinking Skill:
#2: Question ideas to test their strength and validity
3. Evaluate the Evidence
- Is the evidence anecdotal or statistically sound?
- Are the methods reliable?
Related Thinking Skills:
#3: Use skepticism positively
#4: Ground ideas in sensory-based data
#5: Separate fused concepts for clarity
4. Look for Disconfirming Evidence
- Ask: “What would prove this idea wrong?”
- Actively challenge assumptions.
Related Thinking Skill:
#3: Doubt until you find a valid way to falsify the idea
5. Consider Alternative Explanations
- Don’t stop at the first explanation.
- Create new frames or metaphors.
Related Thinking Skills:
#6: Infer alternative explanations
#7: Generate possibilities beyond the obvious
#8: Reorganize strategies
#9: Use different metaphors to shift perception
6. Prefer Simpler Explanations (Occam’s Razor)
- When several ideas are plausible, go with the one that assumes the least.
Related Thinking Skills:
#6: Identify underlying assumptions
#7: Simplify the path to an outcome
7. Align with Established Knowledge
- Avoid ideas that contradict well-supported facts unless you have strong counter-evidence.
Related Thinking Skills:
#10: Synergize essential elements
#11: Reflect strategically
#12: Integrate prior learning
8. Proportion Belief to Evidence
- Don’t overcommit to an idea unless the evidence justifies it.
Related Thinking Skills:
#13: Use pros and cons for decision-making
#14: Apply clear criteria to judgments
#15: Ask what holds intrinsic value in a belief
Why It Matters in Meta-Coaching
Clients approach coaching with questions, confusion, goals, and often misdiagnosed problems. A Meta-Coach who thinks like a scientist brings clarity and structure:
- You don’t take everything at face value—you question, test, and explore.
- You use thinking tools to uncover assumptions, break down complexity, and offer alternative perspectives.
- You help clients move from uncertainty to action by using grounded, well-reasoned thinking.
Your Thinking Skills Fuel Your Coaching Power
In essence, thinking like a scientist is not just a mental habit—it’s a foundational coaching skill. It makes you a better listener, a sharper observer, a more precise questioner, and a more effective catalyst for change.
So, the next time you coach, don’t just listen—analyze, hypothesize, test, and reflect. That’s how scientists think—and how masterful Meta-Coaches lead transformation.
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Certified_meta-coach] 2025 Morpheus #19 THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
