The SUMMIT Coaching Model

A Coaching Model By Laura Davison, Empowerment Coach, UNITED KINGDOM

SUMMIT – Path to Success

Vision without action is fantasy. Action without vision is chaos._[1] –Michael Bernard Beckwith

How many people do you know who wish for a different version of their life, where they attain a career goal, purchase their dream home, move to that faraway country, or are purely fulfilled and happy with their day-to-day existence?  Yet they settle for so much less, uninspired and stuck in a career rut, working long hours for less money than they deserve, wishing they could escape the hustle and bustle of city living, or just hoping that something changes to set their lives on a different path. In truth, most people do not believe that they have the ability to make their dreams a reality – it may seem like too much of a leap, too overwhelming to consider all of the changes and sacrifices that they would have to make, or they simply do not even know what they really want, or where to start.

Partnering with a coach can be a transformative experience for the client, empowering them to explore and reveal their deepest desires and highest aspirations, gaining an understanding of their limiting beliefs and perceived obstacles, which are keeping their goals out of reach. Most significantly, coaching provides a safe, supportive, and empathetic environment for the client to acknowledge their current situation, evaluate their objectives and establish the most effective path to fulfilling their potential and realizing their dreams.

It’s not just a question of conquering a summit previously unknown, but of tracing, step by step, a new pathway to it._[2]– Gustav Mahler

In order to unlock their true value, realize their self-worth, and pursue their vision, it is necessary for the client to prepare for the best, to ensure that they are sufficiently and intentionally equipped for what lies ahead. If you were going to climb a mountain, you would not just set off one day without selecting an appropriate route based on your skill level, identifying potential obstacles and risks in advance, and having a suitable strategy, supplies, and support in place, in order to overcome challenges and succeed. You might even seek the expertise of other climbers, in order to learn and adapt from their own experience.  Whatever the client’s personal goal is, they are responsible for any decisions and the final outcome, however, a coach will always walk alongside them, every step of the way on their path to success.

The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters._[3]–Conrad Anker

The highest attainable point of a mountain is the summit_[4], which is the acronym I have chosen for my coaching model, to motivate clients to dream big, aim high and reach the top.

SUMMIT Model

SITUATION

Establish the client’s current situation, at the beginning of the session, and which key issues they would like to discuss and address in more depth.

The coach ensures that the client feels seen and heard, by fostering a safe and nurturing space, maintaining presence, and actively listening to the client, as they explain their thoughts, feelings, and the significance of the subject.

UNDERSTAND & UNLOCK

Seek to understand and acknowledge the context(environment and experiences) of the client’s situation, to gain further insight into their world and what might be framing their current perspective. Ask incisive questions to unlock the ambitions, goals, and aspirations of the client, and outline their definition of success.

The coach remains curious and client-centered, asking questions that are objective and free from judgment.

MINDSET

Explore the client’s current mindset, to discover their underlying beliefs and limitations, which might be having a negative impact on their ability to achieve their goals. Recognize factors such as their values, needs, and thought patterns, which may be shaping the blueprint of their behavior and emotions. Acknowledge the positive influences, which have enhanced the client’s efforts so far and may be relied upon.

The coach shares observations, without attachment, and asks questions that challenge the client to expand their current awareness and discern between perceived obstacles and genuine obstacles in their path to their success.

MOMENTUM

Motivate the client to shift their energy and perspective to facilitate growth and forward momentum. Empower them to prepare for the best, envisaging a future free from limitations and obstacles. Identify what the client needs to address in order to recognize and maximize opportunities and realize their full potential.

The coach inspires and invites the client to generate ideas and explore what they are willing and able to do, to approach their goal with a growth mindset and committed to positive change.

IMPLEMENT

Support and encourage the client as they apply their fresh perspective to implement an effective and personalized strategy, with a clear path to achieve their specific goals. Establish a robust plan, with practical action steps, and outline the necessary resources and support required, in anticipation of any difficulties or challenges, that the client might encounter during this phase. Evaluate potential results and maintain a flexible approach to adapt and revise the plan, when necessary.

The coach partners with the client to construct accountability methods, ensuring purposeful progress along their path, so that the client does not lose sight of their intention and its context in the overall objective.

TRANSFORM & TAKE IN THE VIEW

Reflect on the client’s transformation from the start of the session to the end. Acknowledge their growth in awareness, a shift in perspective, and revelations in their values and beliefs. Invite the client to ‘take in the view’ and appraise their personal development and progress, both in the context of themselves and their original goal.

The coach celebrates the client’s journey, helping them to consolidate their insights and ‘lightbulb moments, which will serve them even beyond the end of this achievement.

Happiness is the struggle towards a summit and, when it is attained, it is happiness to glimpse new summits on the other side._[5]–Fridtjof Nansen

The SUMMIT Coaching Model aims to provide a substantial and extensive, yet not exhaustive, outline of the partnership between a coach and a client, as they work together. Whilst it encompasses the ICF Core competencies, its success will ultimately depend upon the effective relationship and interaction between the coach and the client. When choosing an appropriate coaching model, it is always critical to consider what will support and enhance an individual coaching style and maximize the value of the client’s experience.

It is important to recognize that each client is unique and that not all subscribe to the same patterns of thought or decision-making – some think and talk in circles, at tangents, and rarely in straight lines. As long as the coach is prepared to ‘take the scenic route to the summit, they can still benefit from using the model, particularly if they are flexible with its application and enjoy the different ‘viewpoints’ along the journey.  

In 2010, American teenager Jordan Romero was just 13 years old when he became the youngest person ever to successfully scale the highest summit in the world – Mount Everest_[6]. Three years later in 2013, an 80-year-old Japanese man named Ichiro Miura reached the peak for the third time, as the oldest climber to do so, proving that no matter your age or where you begin, it is never too early or too late to follow your dreams and make them your reality.

If you can dream it, you can do it!– Walt Disney

 

References

[1]‘the Heart of Laser Focussed Coaching’–Marion Franklin
[2]https://www.azquotes.com/Quote/1386126?Ref=Summit
[3]https://routinelynomadic.com/Quotes-About-Climbing-Mountains/
[4]https://www.britannica.com/Dictionary/Summit
[5]https://www.azquotes.com/Quote/1386126?Ref=Summit
[6]https://www.bbc.co.uk/News/10141547