A Coaching Model Created by Muriel Berard
(Life Transition Coach, CHINA)
Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so. Doris Lessing
Walking through this model, I accompany women in their journey towards blossom, accomplishment and fulfilment.
This model reflects the process of the entire coaching relationship and can also apply to a single coaching session by focusing on some of the steps.
The Blossom – Coaching Model: Metaphor and Symbol
The lotus:
I like the lotus not only for the beauty of its flowers but also for its symbolic meaning in a number of cultures, especially in Egypt and Asia, going back thousands of years.
Seen as a symbol for rebirth in ancient Egypt, the lotus bud is closely associated with the sun. It closes and falls to the water at night, and at daybreak rises back above the water.
In Buddhism, the lotus is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment.
The Blossoming lotus:
So many women are just like buds needing the appropriate environment and the right mix of elements to blossom in as beautiful and radiant flowers.
My purpose is to offer a non-judging, safe and trusting environment and provide active listening, guidance in self-discovery, powerful questions and support in designing actions to help women unfold their full potential and live a life of purpose.
The open circle represents the dynamic cycle of growth, divided in 6 rings where the client is at the centre. Although coaching can be seen as an iterative process from one session to another, the arrow indicates that walking through the model, the client will evolve. She will gain in self-awareness, confidence, clarity and enthusiasm, to get closer and closer to her full potential. She will blossom into her best self to live a plain and joyful life in line with her strengths, values and priorities.
The Blossom – Coaching Model: Step-by-Step
Ring 1. Connect, Clarify expectations and goals, Set coaching agreement
At the beginning of the coaching journey, this first ring represents the foundation of a trusting space where the alliance between the coach and the client will flourish.This is the time of mutual discovery, open communication and “connection test”
Through the Blossom Model, I will explain the coaching process, my coaching style and values. I will welcome with an open mind and a non-judgemental attitude my client’s coaching goals and expectations.Role and responsibilities of the coach and the client will be clarified.If the “connection test” is conclusive, the coaching agreement will be discussed by the end of this step.
Examples of coaching tools:
At the start of each individual session, this ring represents the privileged time where the client and the coach reconnect into the coaching relationship and where the client set the agenda for the session.
Examples of coaching tools:
2. Explore reality – Develop self-awareness
This step will explore the client reality, identifying gaps between the current situation and the desired future.
This is also time of self discovery, helping her to be fully aware of her potential, her values, her strength, her drives, her needs, her energy drains, her dreams.
We will give special attention to underlying beliefs, fear or any obstacles that have prevented the client her objective so far.
Examples of coaching tools:
3. Revisit goals – Hold vision
After self-discovery, it is important to revisit with the client her goal(s) discussed at the beginning of the cycle.
If needed, we will redefine them in the light of deeper inner knowledge to ensure that goals are aligned with values and that they deeply resonate with whom the client is.
Knowing our goal is an important step. But to visualise the end-point, feel it, taste it, in one way, experience it, will bring reality to the goal and enhance confidence in our future success.
I will guide my client in this visualisation process and support her by holding the vision.
Examples of coaching tools:
4. Explore pathways, design action steps
In the 4th ring, we will explore different pathways to the goal using brainstorming session or the Could Do/Want Do/Will Do pragmatic approach. The client will be invited to reframe perspectives and think out of the box to be creative in generating options.
Options will be assessed in regardthe client’s external constraints, her priorities, values, strengths, and risks…
We will work on the most suitable option for the client to translate it in action steps that the client is ready to commit to.
We will make sure that actions steps pass The Four Tests of an Action Step:
- Clarity I know exactly what to do
- Datebook This step can be scheduled at a specific time
- Commitment I know I will do this
- Deadline I’ve set a date for completion
No matter how good the action plan is, distractions or obstacles might arise along the coaching journey to the goal. It is important for the client to be prepared to deal with distractions but also be open to new opportunities that come up.
An alternative course of actions will be discussed at this stage.
Examples of coaching tools:
5. Move into action with structures, support, challenge and acknowledgement
In ring 5, we will identify structures to support the client to manage her commitments, values and responsibilities in achieving her goal.
It can be anything the client can bring (or remove) to her routine to support a new behaviour or to ease the action.
Structures will also include people that can support the client to achieve her goal. We will look at the people around the client as resources with the potential to be enrolled in a “support team”.
The coach, as an unconditional supporter of her client, will hold the client accountable for the action steps she has designed and will encourage her to respond to challenging situations.
Accountability will need to be carefully balanced with encouragement, enthusing and acknowledging.
We will celebrate any progress in the action steps.
With structures and support in place, the client will happily embrace the actions in total confidence to her success.
Examples of coaching tools:
6. Extract learning, Anchor achievements, Celebrate
This stage marks the end of the coaching relationship (or the end of a single coaching session).
This is the time to pause with the client and reflect on achievements, unpack what worked the best and didn’t, acknowledge progress, effort and success.
The client will extract learning and take-away from the coaching relationship and think about how it might impact her future.
By anchoring achievements, this stage will build on the client self-esteem and confidence and will empower her for future challenges or next goals to take.
The coach, in this last ring has the opportunity to seek client feedback on the coaching process and relationship. Each coaching relationship is different and will enrich the coach’s experience in a unique way.
The coaching journey will end-up with celebration of the new self.