A Coaching Model Created by Benjamin Hung
(Life Coach, HONG KONG)
Foundations matter. A building can be beautifully designed, constructed, and decorated. But if the foundations are not deep or solid enough, this can have a serious impact on a building.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus explained the parable of the wise and foolish builders. As recorded in the book of Matthew Chapter 7: Verses 24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
In 1173, construction began on a beautiful bell tower in the Italian city of Pisa. When the tower was being built, it started leaning after just five years. It transpired that the limestone and marble foundations were only 3 meters deep and built on unstable dense clay. Since then, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has undergone many repairs and renovation designed to keep it standing despite the lean and tilt.
What’s going on underneath?
Construction and building management and repairs have progressed significantly since the 12th century. However, foundational issues continue to plague and affect buildings and homes worldwide. Often, the initial signs of a foundational issue are quite minor. For example, cabinets separating from walls; gaps around window frames or exterior doors; interior doors that stick or drag; and slight floor cracks and wall fissures
These problems might not seem too large in and of themselves. They can certainly be fixed without incurring too much cost or taking too much time. However, if these problems are symptomatic of a deeper foundational issue, which are subsequently not investigated, then not only will the problems come back, but more extensive and serious issues are likely to arise.
Similarly, from the field of medicine, a patient might suffer from a cough, fever, and chills. These can be diagnosed as of themselves and a patient can be prescribed some painkilling medication. However, it is also possible that these are merely symptoms of a deeper and more serious disease. Being prescribed a painkiller would simply take away the symptoms but would not help cure the underlying disease.
Over a hundred years ago, GK Chesterton quipped that a man who knocks on the door of a brothel is knocking on the door of God. Something is going on deeper underneath that it will manifest itself one way or another. An undiagnosed illness will manifest itself through symptoms. A beautiful building with poor foundations will eventually show signs that there are construction issues. A married man who knows on the door of a brothel is not just looking for sex; he has a deeper and more fundamental foundational issue.
When a client presents an issue, there is, therefore, the possibility that there is a deeper issue at hand. By using the ICF Competencies of direct communication, creating awareness, and powerful questions, the coach can invite the client to explore this possibility.
What are our foundations?
As solid foundations are essential to a building, so are foundations important to us as humans. As humans, our foundations, are more complex and integrated than that of a building. If one foundational aspect of our lives is out of tune or needs some care, it will impact other areas and eventually manifest on the surface in one way or the other. As much as we may want to entirely compartmentalize our lives, it is not possible.
All humans share some common foundations. For example physical health and strength; nutrition and diet; rest and recovery; and mental health and wellbeing.
However, each human is also unique and special in its amazing way. As well as these common foundations, we all have the foundations that make us who we are. These are our core values that define who we are and how we relate to the environment around us. For example:
|
Honesty |
Compassion |
Conformity |
Perseverance |
|
Self Respect |
Variety |
Relationships |
Generosity |
|
Creativity |
Efficiency |
Control |
Faithfulness |
|
Integrity |
Peace |
Loyalty |
Security |
|
Success |
Authenticity |
Competency |
Adventure |
The Foundations Model
The Invitation
The discovery of a surface issue is essential because it acts as an invitation. An invitation to go deeper. An invitation to discover whether there is anything at the root of the surface issue. An invitation to see what might be the actual cause of the surface issue.
The client could simply be satisfied with solving the surface issue i.e. painting over a cracked wall, or filling in a gap, or amending the sticky door. The client can do this and simply hope that the wall will not crack in the future. Or the client can work together with the building expert. They can proceed to check the foundations and see if there is a deeper issue causing the damage above ground.
A client may have difficulties with waking up on time. A simple solution could be to have an extra alarm clock and to go to bed earlier. The session and the coaching relationship can end there. Or the client can consider that an invitation has been made. An invitation to travel deeper and to consider whether any foundational issues might be causing the client to wake up late every day. An invitation to also consider whether any other surface issues are being caused by a foundational issue that might need repair or replacement.
Self Awareness and Going Deeper
Discovering whether a building’s wall crack is due to a foundational issue is not always straightforward. A thorough inspection and a survey using specialist equipment are required. Only after this has been undertaken can an expert diagnose and recommend the best method of foundation repair.
In the Foundation Model, the expert is not the coach but the client himself. Whilst the coach can ask powerful questions in a safe and trusting environment, it is up to the client to use his or her self awareness to do the investigation. It is the client who knows himself the best. It is the client who is best placed to discover what foundations he has in place; and which foundations may need some tender loving repair.
Self-awareness enables the client to discover their foundations and which foundations might be causing an issue on the surface. If the client is not ready or is unable to do the investigation, the coach can work with the client to help the client’s self-awareness. The coach can encourage the client and walk alongside the client as the client proceeds deeper and deeper into the subsurface.
For example, through self-awareness, the client may discover that the real reason he is late is that the following foundations (self-respect and perseverance) need some repair. As he struggles with respecting himself and doesn’t want to persevere challenges, he struggles to wake up in the morning to face the day ahead. He chooses to sleep instead. The client is also able to identify that his lack of self-respect and perseverance is impacting other areas of his life too which he was not aware of. He has discovered that he has a bigger issue at hand than he initially expected.
Repair and Restoration
After the building expert can identify what the foundational issue is, he makes his recommendations to the client. In particular, the expert will probably suggest a range of remedial works that can be undertaken. The client can choose to ignore the expert’s recommendations and do nothing, even if there is a foundational issue. This could be because of a lack of resources or because the client is in denial. Or the client can choose what he considers to be the best way forward and work with the expert to repair the foundations accordingly.
In the coaching context, it is the client who is both the building expert and the home-owner. With the coach’s help, it is the client who discovers which foundations need work and it is the client who comes up with his recommendations on how to proceed. The coach can ask powerful questions to help the client come to a decision but it is ultimately the client’s own choice. Once the decision has been made, the coach can help the client in terms of accountability and support; but it must be the client who chooses and undertakes the remedial work themselves. The client is the expert and we should leave things to the experts to get the best result.
For example, the client has been able to identify different tasks he can undertake to strengthen his self-respect and perseverance. He asks the coach to help keep him accountable and for support as he decides which tasks to undertake. He talks through goal setting with the coach and decides on a plan which will ultimately lead him back to restored foundations.
Future Improvements
As the foundations have been repaired and restored, there exists a new realm of possibilities for the homeowner. It is difficult to think of home improvements when one is concerned about home repairs. But armed with the knowledge that the foundations are restored, he can consider what type of home improvements he would like to make. He doesn’t have to worry about a wall crack getting in the way or a window coming off its edge. He can consider bigger changes such as converting a loft into a bedroom and making a kitchen extension. Not only have the foundational repairs restored the home’s value, but they have also put the homeowner in a position to improve the home and thus it’s subsequent value.
The case is the same with our coaching client. As the necessary foundations have been identified, repaired, and restored, the client can progress and move on positively. It is not simply a matter of modifying behavior so that he can wake up on time. The client is now in a much better position to grow and flourish.
Conclusion
The discovery of a deeper foundational issue does not have to be a negative judgment. It isn’t bad news. The discovery of a foundational issue in a home can be jarring and worrying at first. But actually, it is a positive development: it provides the opportunity to make repairs and to improve. And with our clients, it is the same: the discovery of a surface issue ultimately opens up an invitation to a deeper and more purposeful life as the client’s foundations are strengthened and improved.