The cognitive triangle

How to use it

The purpose of this thinking tool is to show that it’s possible to have control over your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

It also gets you to consider the impact that their behaviour can have on others.

To use the cognitive triangle, consider:

• a situation that negatively impacted you
• the thought that arose from that negative situation
• how that thought made you feel
• how you acted in response to that feeling and how that impacted others.

You can also use it in the moment, rather than after an event. Ask yourself the following questions. How are my thoughts influencing my feelings and behaviours? And how could others perceive the situation differently?

Keeping this tool in mind can help you think more critically about how to act. And it helps you:

• become aware of your behaviour
• consider what others could think about how you act
• think about what other approaches you can take.

Further learning

If you’re interested in this, check out these resources to learn more about reflection:

• The coach planning and reflective model
• The Johari window
• How to reflect on your coaching
• Coachcast: Make next season a success with self-reflection tips from Chris Welburn
• Coachcast: Reflection tips every coach needs with Sam Griffiths