Creating Action
3. What do they want to create (action) Now that the client is aware of his/her core values and the areas of their lives that are showing evidence of these core values (or not showing evidence), the client can now start to map out where they would like to steer their lives.
This is where action is now possible.
At this step, many of the reasons for inaction (see above) may potentially surface (fear, uncertainty, limiting personal habits, and/or gremlins/saboteurs). The client is aware of where they are in life, what is important to them, but now that they are capable and aware of actions that may start directing their lives in a direction that they would like, they can often be frozen.
Moving the client forward
Many of the reactions to change and action that the client has experienced in the past were due to having their core values either out of alignment or being unaware of them; their reactions have become an association or habitual reaction. However, now that the work has been done to bring awareness to their core values along with the older outdated core values having been consciously let go, the client can purposely act with intention. The role of the coach is to help them see that many of their hesitations are no longer needed and now an outdated. Despite best initial efforts, these reactions and habits take time to not only understand but to change, and therefore, in some cases, the actions that the client would like to implement will evoke reactions of hesitation. Therefore as a coach, the role to the client is as follows:
Continued Support
Once the client has taken the initial steps forward into action, challenges will continue to arise, fears will resurface and new difficulties will present themselves. Keeping the client in a space of being open and honest with their situation will require:
- Reviewing their core values
- Holding their vision up
- Letting them analyze, move through and accurately address the emotions they feel as they move deeper into their action and change.
Bibliography
Carson, Rick. (2003) Taming your Gremlin. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, USA.
Connolly, Jim. (2012). A personal conversation with Jim Connolly from Jim’s Marketing Blog
Covey, Steven. (1989). The habits of highly effective people: Restoring the character ethic. RosettaBooks LLC, New York.
Fields, Jonathan. (2011) Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance. Penguin Books Ltd, USA. Heath, Chip and Dan Heath. (2010). Switch: How to change things when change is hard. Random House, Canada.