A Coaching Model Created by Christian Vinceneux
(Life Coach, UNITED STATES)
The EPIC model can be used during coaching sessions to facilitate and conceptualize change and growth. The phases of this model can be used for short term goals (within each session) and long term goals (throughout several sessions). Some clients may be strong with some of the phases but stuck with others. Similarly, some situations brought up by clients may require more work in one phase or another. Becoming familiar with the model can support clients in between sessions as well, where they can reflect on what they have accomplished so far, where they are now, and what they’re struggling with to continue to progress toward their goals. The arrows going in both directions symbolize how the client is likely to move back and forth between various phases, within a session, and from one session to another.
Phase 1 – Explore
The client explores and gains awareness. The client examines the pros/cons, values, beliefs, motivation level, etc. The problem situation or general goal becomes more defined.
Some questions may include:
Phase 2 – Plan
As a result of increased awareness, the client is now formulating specific goals and outcomes that they want to work on during coaching sessions. During this phase, clients further define their goals and come up with a plan of action.
Some questions may include:
Phase 3 – Implement
Client steps into action. They may develop structure, schedules, and routines. They identify various tools that will be beneficial to stay on track (tools may include checklists, calendars, organizers, planners, etc). They often reflect on their goal and their motivation to remind themselves of why they’re doing this. Focus and discipline are often essential parts of this phase.
Some questions may include:
Phase 4 – Change
The client engages in self-reflection regarding progress toward goals, new insights, lessons learned, motivation level, challenges, and victories, etc. This is a phase of learning, growth, and integration that supports the change.
Some questions may include:
Cycle repeats itself
Within a session, between sessions, or from one session to another, clients may find themselves having to go back to a previous phase. By themselves or during a session, they may identify that the break down occurs in one specific phase, hence the need to revisit a particular phase. More awareness supports new actions, which support new learning, growth, and ultimately, change.
Case study
Sabrina wants to write a book but she has had a hard time being productive. She has tried a variety of strategies but finds herself stuck without really understanding what’s preventing her from moving forward. She feels defeated and keeps blaming herself for procrastinating. She sometimes doubts that she will ever be able to write her book.
Phase 1 – Sabrina’s initial session allows her to explore and gain awareness. She realizes that she is scared of not being smart enough to write a book and that her book will be rejected by her former colleagues. This new awareness is a big step in identifying roadblocks. She understands that her old beliefs and fears are holding her back. She is determined to let go of them, although she is aware that it may take her a while to rewrite her internal narrative. She reconnects with her motivation to finish her book.
Phase 2 – With new awareness, Sabrina is excited to identify some goals that she can start working on. She develops an action plan for the next couple of weeks and gets to work.
Phase 3 – During her next coaching session, Sabrina shares her frustration with herself. She has found herself being easily distracted and unproductive. Although she continues to feel motivated to write her book, she is feeling defeated by her lack of positive results. She wants to understand how she can keep moving forward. Although she felt that implementing her action plan would be easy, she realizes that there may be more roadblocks standing in the way. She spends her session working on gaining new awareness of what went wrong. Although she felt ready to work on implementing her plan, she goes back to Phase 1 to explore her current situation. During the session, she realizes that she needs to develop more structure in her day and that she would benefit from new routines and organization methods. By the end of the session, she identifies new goals and modifies her action plan (Phase 2).
Phase 4 – During and after her session, Sabrina engages in much self-reflection. One of her new goals is to schedule some time daily to reflect on how she is spending her time and to keep track of her progress. This work helps her become aware that she is often distracted and that she has habits that are not conducive to focusing on writing her book.
While she experiences some setbacks and sometimes feels defeated, she manages to gradually develop new habits. She realizes that completing her book will most likely require much more time than she had estimated. However, she also becomes aware that she is slowly letting go of old limiting beliefs that were affecting her in many areas of her life; she is also developing new habits that are allowing her to be more focused and productive. Her definition of success vs. failure is evolving. While she has not completed her book yet, she is grateful for the lessons learned and the growth she is experiencing.
This is a simplified description of using the EPIC model to support a client to go through the change process to achieve their goals. As described in this case study, the client is likely to move back and forth between various phases, within a session, and from one session to another.