Research Paper: Coaching Multiple Client Levels With Multiple Methods

When

This was further proven when the peer coaching experience happened. Both the coaches coached based on their model and experiential learning. They followed the Golden Rule. The platinum rule remained to be unfolded.

Where

In these times there was a tour of a Harvard Professor Howard Gardner who spoke in India on the theory of Multiple Intelligence. Another AHA moment brought about the realisation that here lay the theory of multiple intelligence that was easy to understand and very apt to the coaching business.

Who

This theory was also related to the ASK coaching model and it needed proof to get concretised. To bring it to fruition a set of six clients were used as samples, the theory was used on a gender based composition in the IBM Organisation, the theory was also used on the Gen Y and the Gen old.

Why

Based on the theory that practical learning is the best form of retention and recall, this theory of multiple intelligence was understood and used in the peer coaching sessions in various methods. The descriptive results are given below.

How – Coaching sessions were held for:

1. six peer clients, three from ICA and three private clients
2. one manager group of only men – from IBM
3. one manager group only of women – from IBM
4. one batch of new recruits fresh out of college – from IBM
5. one batch of employees with 5years and above of work experience – from IBM

Coaching requires Multiple Intelligence skills

In the beginning it was easy to work with the Visual, Auditory and the Kinaesthetic or the VAK model.

1. The Visual learning style involves the use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc.
2. The Auditory learning style involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises.
3. The Kinesthetic learning involves physical experience – touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences.

This three point model was the basis of the research which made one want to explore further areas of intelligence.

Another thought process led to the brain composition – the left brain the right brain, the male brain and the female brain. There is a lot of insight in this area as well. The composition of the brain and the abilities to use it differently depending on the situation on hand led to the stronger belief that there should be some thing that moves on from the brain to a softer parameter like emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence brought out this theory that mankind reacts or responds to a situation with the capacity of the emotional control that mankind has cultivated in their lifetime.

The all time favourite story of the multiply challenged children running the race was another eye opener. In a stadium thirteen multiply challenged – down syndrome children were running a race. When the gunshot started off the race all the children started running towards the winning post.

One little boy fell down and started to cry, a little girl noticing that came back to the little boy, kissed him and pulled him up saying that that should make him feel better. In the meanwhile all the rest of the runners came back waited for these two children and holding each others’ hands they all marched to the finishing pole – all winning together. This is a true incident and it happened in Hyderabad in India. Great display of emotional wholesomeness – no body wanted to win if any one of them was going to win.

This led on to the fact that all this is form the coach’s mental makeup. What if there was a client who had different needs. That is when the Multiple Intelligence theory surfaced.

So what is Multiple Intelligence?

Howard Gardner claims that all human beings have multiple intelligences. These multiple intelligences can be nurtured and strengthened, or ignored and weakened. He believes each individual has nine intelligences:

1. Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence — well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings and rhythms of words
2. Mathematical-Logical Intelligence — ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns
3. Musical Intelligence — ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch and timber
4. Visual-Spatial Intelligence — capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly
5. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence — ability to control one’s body movements and to handle objects skillfully
6. Interpersonal Intelligence — capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations and desires of others.
7. Intrapersonal Intelligence — capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes
8. Naturalist Intelligence — ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature while the top eight intelligence parameters are tangible there is one parameter that is a little more philosophical /esoteric in nature. That is the ninth parameter given below:
9. Existential Intelligence — sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here.

Based on his study of many people from many different walks of life in everyday circumstances and professions, Gardner developed the theory of multiple intelligences. He performed interviews with and brain research on hundreds of people, including stroke victims, prodigies, autistic individuals, and so-called “idiot savants.”