What Is Transformational Coach?
A transformational coach is one who allows the client to break the flow of bad – the negative traditions or harmful practices or beliefs that get passed from generation to generation or from situation to situation, whether in a family, a workplace or a community. They ask questions that allow their clients to tap into the deepest resources of themselves. They reframe, listen, validate and communicate so clearly their clients worth and potential that the clients come to see it in themselves.
In times of darkness they are lights not judges; models not critics. This is done to allow clients to fully embrace and be open and honest about any negative situation facing them.
This inevitably supports:
A Transformational Coach is an expert at empowering the client or an organization to commit to finding and living their vision. From these commitment comes action that produce powerful results. A Transformational Coach adopts a unique dimension to coaching because of the masterful way via questioning that clients are assisted in revealing the very core interpretations and beliefs that holds them back but can creatively and masterfully allow the clients to move through disempowering beliefs and create beliefs that propels them forward.
They bypass the client’s public persona and see who they are in their highest expression. The International coaching Academy Module Level 1(Coaching What Is It?) states that
Coaches do not ask, how smart is this person but how is this person smart?
The client’s magnificence and potential are already seen no matter what they look or dress like, what their condition is emotionally, spiritually or financially in the world. The client is seen apart from the baggage they carry around. The undeniable fact is that underneath all of the client’s public persona they already are that which they desire to be. Hence, this wonderful world of coaching is indeed about transformation because in time the client sees past their own limitations so that they can return to that which they already are….an extraordinary, magnificent, human being capable of doing anything because they have found themselves, hence finding their voice. As Stephen Covey (2004: 26) puts it
this transformation is when we have found our voice and inspire others to find theirs.
A Transformational coach gives you permission to own and liberate yourself Until now the choice belonged to those who came before us…our parents, bosses or the television who told us what we should become and who we are. Coaches support the client in moving beyond their present paradigm, liberating them from limited thinking and expanding possibilities beyond their imagination.
What Does Transformational Coaching Provides?
Transformational Coaching is far more powerful than problem solving which addresses the symptoms but not the root cause of the symptom. Discovering theroot cause gives you choice where presently there is none. Transformational Coaching according to Nemitz is
getting people to seethemselves differently, rather than training a person to perform in a different manner. It allows the client to think differently and not just act differently.
It is said in the International Coaching Academy Module that after the third session every coaching is Life Coaching. It is also true to say that after the third session every session becomes transformational. Wendy Nemitz, referring to Accountants says,
The Transformational Model Of Coaching is not about the ‘DO’ but about the ‘BE’ (Dickson 2005)
Through coaching these clients have an opportunity to reveal some of those decisions that may have worked in the past but are no longer useful. They have the opportunity to choose a new decision. They are prepared to step into a relationship with themselves that will empower them to think and act differently, to move beyond unknown possibilities. Ways that will generate fulfillment and effortless living….a balanced life.
Transformational Coaching allows the client to feel confident that they can deal with whatever comes their way, they see themselves as permeable rather thanvulnerable. Zander and Zander (2000) proposes that
Transformation for our central selves is a description of the mode through which we move through life.
Tranformational Coaching From The Inside Out
Sometime in your life you will go on a journey. It will be the longest journey you have taken. It is the journey to find yourself Katherine Sharp
The Real Substance of Transformation is Awareness but where do we start this transformational awareness and what are the steps to create this shift? Because the world have taken on an outside in approach – it is believed that if you have degrees then you are in great shape and is ready for anything, however one can have a degree and not be educated. It is said by Deepak Chopak (2010: 62) that
the greatest leader is one who have mastered himself.
For one to master themselves they must first know themselves this takes an inside out approach. People get in victimism, blaming everyone else but themselves, however it starts with self awareness. Rohn (1985: 70) states that
While the process of transformation is simple to explain it is not so easy to execute. It involves letting go of self imposed limitations and giving equal attention to every part of your nature, it involves the whole person.
The client must transform themselves in order to transform their lives, their organization and multiply their positive influence in the world.
Transforming oneself from the inside out is the most crucial choice a client can make – it is the decision to step out of darkness into the light and become totally aware. Chopra (2010: 58) believes that
when emotional intelligence merges with spiritual intelligence, human nature is transformed.
Transformation starts with awareness. Awareness is the birthplace of possibility, everything you want to do, everything you want to be starts here. At a time whenpeople hunger for personal transformation and redemption a transformational coach is well placed to make a difference.
Nothing has more power to transform than awareness. When you become complete inside yourself the worst conditions in the world does not matter. Ifclients are aware of who they are, what they are here to do, realize that strongly held beliefs are a sign of restrictive boundaries and constricted awareness and theycan indeed change their beliefs to better their life then the transformation from the inside begins and affects everything they do and say. It affects everything positively on the outside.
Transformational Model
Coaches positively impact their clients when they practice specific skills using a coaching model. The International Coaching Academy Module on Coaching Module (ICA, 2010) confirms that
having a coaching model to back you up in your coaching practice can give additional confidence and credibility .
This transformational coaching model supports awareness in the transformation of oneself and identifies Purpose, Mission, Vision, Values, Philosophy and Beliefs.
Elite Model: Developed by Angella Ferguson
Empowering Leaders In Transformational Excellence
This Transformational Model supports the client to find out who they are. Are they walking a road someone else has paved or are they walking a path that they have paved.
Only from the level of the soul, Chopra contends are great leaders created (1985: 73).
Once that connection is made you have unlimited access to the most vital qualities a leader can possess. This model will allow the client’s potential for greatness to emerge. This is the part that unites body, mind, heart and soul and makes a “whole” person. By finding your foundation this becomes the foundation of everything you do. Clients must become aware of disempowering beliefs and reverse them or as Tony Robbins (1991: 32) puts it, you must ‘divorce your story and marry a new one so that you hold evolutionary beliefs instead’.
Conclusion:
Living A Transformed Life On Purpose
You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold that desire with of purpose. Abraham Lincoln
Rohn (1991) says
the major question to ask in life is not what we are getting, the major question in life to ask is who we are becoming.
A transformed life is whowe have become, we have formed new habits and this does not come easy. It isusually not in one cataclysmic explosion but by changing small pieces of ourselves at a time. This is where transformation is birth from those personal changes. It is not an event it’s a process that gathers momentum like a snowball rolling down a hill.
Every human being that comes to this planet has seeds of greatness and comes with the inherent and divine right to be themselves. Transformation is experiencing the highest expression of ourselves. A Transformational Coach is the catalyst to support, encourage, challenge, listen and ask the right questions to begin this miraculous, powerful transformation from the inside out.
References:
Rohn, J. (1985) 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness, New York: Three Rivers Press
Chopra, D. (2010) The Soul Of Leadership: Unlocking Your Potential for Greatness, United States: Harmony Books
Ford, D. (2005) The Best Year Of Your Life: Dream It, Plan It, Live It, New York: Harper Collins Publishers
Rohn, J. (1991) The Five Major Pieces Transforming To Life Puzzle: A Guide To Personal Success, Southlake TX. Dickinson Press Inc.
Zander, R. and Zander, B. (2000) The Art Of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life, London: Penguin Books Ltd.,
Tolle, E. (2002) A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose, USA: Penguin Books
Covey, S. (2004) The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness To Greatness, New York, NY: Simon & Schuster
Robbins, A. (1991) Awaken The Giant Within, New York, NY: Simon & Schuster