A Coaching Model Created by Hariprasad Menon
(Executive Coaching, INDIA)
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Andre Gide, Nobel Laureate Literature, 1947
I believe that the purpose of all coaching is to help the participant reach the potential that he/she did not think previously existed, to help them go beyond their limiting beliefs. There is no one on earth who does not want to achieve something of significance. For different people “what is significant” has different meanings. It could be about getting ahead in a career, acquiring financial independence, working out inadequacies, a spiritual journey etc.
The question is do they go on to fulfill their destiny or do they become heroic merely in their attempts. The difference lies in doing, not just deciding to do.
Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Answer: five. Why? Because there’s a difference between deciding and doing.
Mark L. Feldman & Michael F. Spratt
This is where a coach is of immeasurable value – to help move the client towards action from mere intention. To ensure the participant finds an answer without directly providing the answer.
Gautama Buddha said
Man can find his answer precisely at the same place he found the question.
The key lies in reflection. And when the participant “discovers” his answer, he is committed to it. It enthuses them, energizes them. It spurs them on to action.
The job of a coach is to facilitate such a reflection – through a discussion, questioning, visualization and so on. My Coaching Model is designed to help trigger this reflection, help participants find their own answers, and spur them on to action.
The 4E Coaching Model
Envision
Envision or “To Visualize” is the first step in my coaching model. As I stated before, everyone wants to achieve something of significance. A positive, rich, exciting image of the future is a powerful motivation factor that draws action and inspires change. All along the history of mankind, powerful Vision has created destinies – of nations, of cultures, of individuals. That is the power of Vision. It energizes action.
Use this phase to help the participant define clearly what is it he/she is desirous of creating as a future desired state. This larger Vision is then drilled down to smaller goals, which are further drilled down to day to day actions & behaviors – what do I do today and tomorrow to achieve my vision ? Is my behavior matching my intent ? With the individual’s values as the foundation, the vision becomes a powerful motivator for staying committed in the coaching journey.
Answers to the following questions can set up the context for Envisioning
This phase has 3 beneficial outcomes.
- It helps create clarity of direction from a coaching perspective
- It holds the participant accountable for his developmental journey – this is his visionand hence his commitment.
- It helps track the development of the participant along the stated direction
Explore
Once the vision is established, this step helps to understand underlying beliefs – both enabling & limiting beliefs, & build commitment from client. This is where a coach may have to confront low commitment, reluctance, excuses, self-righteousness etc., etc. This is the heart of the model, engaging the client constantly, helping him to face his limiting beliefs, identify his strengths, connect to his vision and spur him to action. This is where one does not let go. Because if you do, that is the end of the coaching assignment ! You can Explore many dimensions to get deeper insight in this step. But you have to Explore with a genuine intention to understand.