The 3-Chairs Method
- Johanna Wegner
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
Method Monday: The 3-Chairs Method – Gaining Clarity in Decision-Making
Sometimes we face decisions that occupy our minds, leave us stuck, or keep us going in circles. We weigh options, analyze, ruminate – yet still feel stuck. It is precisely in such moments that the 3-Chairs Method can help to organize our thoughts, activate gut instincts, and gain clarity from a new perspective.
What is the 3-Chairs Method?
The 3-Chairs Method is an experiential coaching technique, particularly useful for decision-making. The key: the decision is not just thought through—it is physically experienced.The coachee takes on different perspectives by sitting on three separate chairs. Each chair symbolically represents an option or stance regarding the decision.Especially in important life or career decisions, this combination of head, gut, and observer perspective is highly valuable—it allows for a holistic shift in perspective.
Structure and Process
First, the topic and relevant decision options are clarified together with the coach. For decision-making, this could mean:
Chair 1: Decision A
Chair 2: Decision B
Chair 3: Option “new” or “unknown”
The coachee decides the order in which to occupy the chairs. By actively “moving into” another position, they immediately experience how each option feels—a central element of the 3-Chairs Method.
The Coaching Process
Introduction and Context
ClarificationThe coach introduces the method, explains the process, and invites the coachee to consciously engage in the experience.
Experiencing the Options
The coachee sits on the first chair—e.g., Decision A—and immerses themselves in the situation as if they had already made this choice. The coach supports with open questions, for example:
How does it feel to sit here?
What do you notice?
Which thoughts, emotions, or bodily sensations arise?
Next, the coachee moves to Chair 2 and then to Chair 3—the neutral or new option.
Reflection and Integration
After experiencing all chairs, a joint reflection takes place:
What differences did you notice?
What surprised you?
Which decision feels right?
What is the key insight you take away?
The focus is not on forcing an immediate decision but on creating awareness and inner clarity.
Why this method is so effective
The 3-Chairs Method combines cognitive and emotional processes. Physically taking different positions creates a bodily and emotional resonance that goes beyond pure rational thinking.
💡 Experience instead of overthinking: The perspective shift is felt, not just thought.
🧭 Clarity through experience: Differences between options become immediately tangible.
🌿 Discover new paths: The third chair often reveals new, previously overlooked possibilities.
Who is the 3-Chairs Method suitable for?
This coaching method is especially useful for people who:
Are torn between multiple alternatives,
Want to make decisions consciously and in alignment with themselves,
Seek greater access to their intuition,
Or want to see the bigger picture in complex situations.
It is also versatile and can be applied beyond individual coaching, for example:
Career decisions (job change, self-employment, further education)
Personal decisions (relocation, relationship, lifestyle)
Executive coaching (employee discussions, strategic directions)
Conflict resolution (perspective shift between two parties)
It is quick to implement, easy to understand, and surprisingly effective—a real highlight among coaching tools for decision-making.
Conclusion
The 3-Chairs Method is a powerful way to create inner clarity and make more conscious decisions. It shows that the answer often lies within us—we just need to experience it, not merely think it through.
✨ Sometimes all it takes is three chairs to find the right direction.
👉 Would you like to reflect on a decision using the 3-Chairs Method?I would be happy to guide you through a coaching process that moves you from overthinking to experiencing—for decisions that truly feel right.
Yours, Johanna
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