SPARK

A Coaching Model By Beth Williams, Early/Mid-Career Coach, UNITED STATES

Spark of Light

We seek the fire of the spark that is already within us. ― Kamand Kojouri

What do you notice about these pictures? They are each picture of a spark of light. However, each is different; no two are the same. They can be clear, vibrant, fiery, small, and brilliant but they are all unique. The same is true for the “spark” of awareness that comes from coaching.

My coaching occurs within the context of my corporate environment at Adventist Health. We are a faith-based hospital system whose mission is to “Live God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness, and hope”. I coach early to mid-career professionals through their career progression and to achieve their professional goals by helping them identify the “spark” within themselves.

The spark is an important symbol at Adventist Health. It is incorporated within our corporate logo and can be seen represented in various forms throughout our corporate campus and in our market locations. At Adventist Health the spark is defined as a representation of the “effect of inspired light shining through”. Coaching helps nurture that spark within each associate so that they may find their calling, purpose, and path to grow their careers using their unique talents and gifts to serve our communities and our mission.

The SPARK Coaching Model

In each coaching session I help clients find their spark through the following process:

S-Seek Change and Search for Solutions

In this initial step, the client comes to the session to ready to work on a challenge that is holding them back from fulfilling their purpose. They are seeking a new path forward to help them live to their potential. During this phase, the client and coach identify the importance of this challenge and sets the goal for the session.

P-Probe Deeper

In the second phase of the coaching session, the client opens up to deeper awareness guided by thought-provoking questions from the coach. In this process, the client may begin to see connections between other challenges they face or begin to find deeper meaning in their challenge. The focus of the session moves from the story to the feelings, emotions, and sensations brought up by the challenge at hand.

A-Awareness and Assessment

The client has built awareness and now, using that awareness, begins to develop their own answers and assess the situation through a different lens. The coach helps the client set goals and action plans through additional questions and observations.

R-Resolution to Act

In this next step, the client makes a commitment to themselves to use this new perspective and creates an action plan to take the next step. During this time the client moves their knowledge into action.

K-Keep Growing

During the coaching relationship, the client may choose to continue to work on the initial challenge or may identify a new challenge. The client may identify action items that are working well and can be applied to other areas of life or work, they may acknowledge that additional work needs to be done or they may realize that a new plan needs to be created to help them move forward. In any case, the client continues to move forward and continues to grow and develop.