Coaching and the Fidelity of Self-Agency and Movement
Greetings from the coaching chair! I often receive inquiries about coaching, and with time, I've honed my understanding/coaching voice. Here are a couple of key principles that are central to my coaching practice. I hope this clarifies things, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. It's important to note that coaching is distinct from therapy, and if therapy is what you require, please seek professional help.
First off: Who Seeks Coaching? Business leaders; students; athletes; coaches; therapists; doctors; clergy; stay-at-home parents; carpenters. I work with EVERYONE.
**My Fundamental Tenets of Professional Coaching:**
**Facilitation, Not Fixing:** Coaches are not here to fix or lead clients. Instead, we aim to unveil the barriers hindering their own insights and decision-making. Think of us as thinking partners, external disruptors, who help clients examine their thinking processes and perspectives. Our role is to enhance their clarity, resilience, and self-agency.
**Clients Are Resourceful:** Every individual possesses innate intelligence and resourcefulness. Coaching's goal is to uncover what's impeding a person's progress. Coaching is all about progress.
**Reflective Inquiry and Coaching:** Reflective inquiry doesn't mean bombarding clients with questions. In psychosynthesis coaching, we activate the observer mind, expanding their perspective to identify flaws and opportunities in their thinking. We employ various tools, emphasizing the importance of the intuitive right side of the brain. Harvard Business School recognizes the value of this approach; it's not just about spreadsheets, but also about the whole spectrum of thinking.
**Our Minds are Stories:** Our minds are constructed from a tapestry of stories—our past influences our present, and our beliefs can impact our future opportunities. Sometimes, these stories become outdated and limiting, affecting our sense of self and choices. We can make new stories, and tweak the narratives.
**Coaching Demands Willpower and Growth:** Coaching differs from consulting or counselling in that it requires clients to come prepared, with a growth mindset. This doesn’t mean you need level-10 willpower (I barely get out of bed some days, too). It’s an agreement of will, and a willingness to see oneself AS a willer. We’ll get there! Some days won’t be good days, and that’s absolutely normal.
And yes, not everyone is suited for coaching, nor do they even want it; it necessitates a clear destination and a willingness to put in effort. It's essential to understand that coaching may not be effective in cases of clinical depression, mental illness, or when a client lacks the necessary willpower and growth mindset. However, where there's a will, there's a way!