A Coaching Model Created by Jennifer FitzMaurice
(Executive Coach, UNITED STATES)
Whole (n.) An entity or system made up of interrelated parts (thefreedictionary.com)
Source: T.Klick (flickr)
The whole is more than the sum of its parts. Aristotle
The Whole Person coaching model emphasizes the importance of focusing on and developing each facet of our lives so that we may realize our happiest, fullest and most successful selves.
In the Whole Person Coaching Model, we focus on 3 core areas:
- Self: Who am I? Who do I want to be?
- Relationships: What relationships do I want to nurture and develop?
- Vocation/Work: What do I want to accomplish? What am I meant to be doing?
If you practice yoga or try to stand on one leg, you instantly realize how challenging maintaining your balance can be. It requires not only extraordinary focus, but constant adjustment and realignment.
Similarly, maintaining harmony in your life requires you to focus on your aspirations across all facets of your life, ensuring that your attention isn’t drawn off-balance by just one or two aspects. It also requires you to continually adjust and re-align yourself towards your goals.
The coaching process supports you in clarifying your aspirations and developing the skills, tools and structures to help you maintain focus but also adjust as needed.
Coaching Process
We will follow a 4-step process to guide our conversations: 1) setting an intention or goal,
2) generating options to achieve your goal, 3) making and acting on an action plan, and 4) assessing and integrating what you’ve learned. While the steps are shown in a somewhat linear manner, we most likely will return to different points in the process along the way to dig a bit more deeply or adjust as needed.
Step 1: Set your intention
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. Lewis Carroll
The ability to express what is most important – your purpose and goals – can greatly increase your personal satisfaction. You will consider your values, your strengths, and your passions. You will examine any roadblocks or challenges you’ve encountered along the way. But knowing where you want to go isn’t enough; you also need to possess the desire to go there.
During this step, we will work together to clarify and define what is most important to you at this given moment, but also what you aspire to in the long term. We will explore your values, priorities, dreams, wishes and goals for yourself, your relationships, and your vocation/work, making sure that all facets are given due consideration. This will form the basis of our work together.
Sample questions:
My role throughout your journey is to assist you in achieving your goals by listening, asking questions, providing feedback, encouraging, acknowledging, and celebrating with you. While I acknowledge that you possess the answers to the most important questions, I will do my utmost to challenge you when it’s most helpful and support you when you ask.