Coaching Model: The DISCOVERY

A Coaching Model Created by Pamela Speder
(Leadership Coaching, UNITED STATES)

Description of “DISCOVERY” Coaching Model

The intention of my model is to stand on its own, without an attached description, but I have written this supplemental page for ICA purposes, to explain the purpose and thought process behind my model.

My “Discovery” Coaching Model draws from my values, my coaching style, and my own personal experience of my journey of discovery as well as that of my clients. It references many elements of my overall consulting practice, The Human Element LLC, as its foundation. Its purpose: “We exist to help you grow” carries over as the purpose for my coaching practice. I also incorporate my business’ tag line: “Align, Develop, Grow” as the substance of the model as I believe these are fundamental phases applicable to coaching and it creates a flow that resonates with my approach and can align with most client needs, based on my experience. The core values I highlight: “integrity, partnership and excellence” are the same for my overall business as they are core to me which I believe is important for a potential client or current client to understand. However, I have incorporated some other coaching specific values into the model. I believe having these foundation philosophies and practices that are associated with my consulting business appeals to my current and prospective corporate clients and also provides some of the related structures and tools. Having the ‘discovery’ focus distinguishes coaching from other services offered.

The “Discovery” title represents a process or journey of discovery, which may be the goal for a client or an underlying process to help them reach any other type of goal. Two characteristics I desired for my model are flexibility and user-friendliness. I believe these are both accomplished through a good balance of structure and versatility. My coaching niches are Leadership/Executive Coaching and Career Coaching so the model is tailored to appeal to those types of clients; however, I believe the model can also be applied to other niches.

Align, Develop and Grow are represented visually in a cycle format to demonstrate that going through these separate stages can occur on an ongoing basis for continual growth. A brief description for each of these stages explains key elements of the coaching process and fundamental benefits of a coaching engagement. The DISCOVERY acronym in the center of the model features what a client can expect from me, as their coach, and from the coaching engagement overall. The content of the DISCOVERY acronym also highlights some of the key ICF competencies I possess, along with some of my coaching values but with the last letter, “Y”, bringing the model full circle to a place of discovery vs. just a process of discovering. “You” implies that a client can expect that their true and/or best self will be present and/or realized through the process and of course, the meaning will vary for each individual, again “You” emphasizing how individual the process is. Other aspects of my coaching style (such as customization, guidance and integration), values (such as accountability and empowerment) and principles (such as forward movement, sustainable change, and reaching one’s full potential) are incorporated into the descriptions.