Play to win
I am trained as a co-active coach, which means that my coaching clients and I share responsibility for action. My clients are responsible for identifying opportunities and achieving their objectives. I'm responsible for helping them clarify their thoughts, and making sure they set the bar high enough. Co-active coaching aims not so much to solve problems, as to evoke transformation. One of my own coaches calls this 'playing to win'. Why would we do anything else?
What coaching can help with
I have used coaching to help people to:
How it works
I use a variety of techniques in my coaching, with a focus on clarity, positive reinforcement and enjoying the process. The process typically starts with a look at what a client wants to achieve. We then co-design how we will work together - the power of coaching is not with the coach, nor solely with the coachee - it's in the alliance, a partnership, and it evolves. It is also holistic in the sense that it treats a client as a whole person - mind, body and spirit, including all aspects of their identity. This can be particularly helpful in making sense of our lives at work, for example.
Depending on the personal style of a client the process can be analytical, or it might be more intuitive, metaphorical or visual. Either way, it's essentially about clarifying thinking and learning from experience, following cycles of planning, doing and reviewing. These can be weekly, or monthly, or varied, with learning tasks in between tailored to personal style and objectives. The process also helps to understand and work with emotions, as these are part of any learning process.
During a coaching process, we'll use various models to look at strengths and identify things that might sometimes get in the way. The main principle we follow is that each client is the expert in their own life. They know best. I'm a sounding board. I am active - sometimes I'll listen - sometimes I'll give an opinion, sometimes support, sometimes challenge.
The art and science
Co-active coaching is also very consistent with, and helpfully supported by modern neuroscience - as this excellent article explains.
What coaching can help with
I have used coaching to help people to:
- lead teams and run businesses
- deliver projects and manage changes
- get careers in focus and on track
- develop specific skills
- to feel capable and confident and overcome emotional constraints
How it works
I use a variety of techniques in my coaching, with a focus on clarity, positive reinforcement and enjoying the process. The process typically starts with a look at what a client wants to achieve. We then co-design how we will work together - the power of coaching is not with the coach, nor solely with the coachee - it's in the alliance, a partnership, and it evolves. It is also holistic in the sense that it treats a client as a whole person - mind, body and spirit, including all aspects of their identity. This can be particularly helpful in making sense of our lives at work, for example.
Depending on the personal style of a client the process can be analytical, or it might be more intuitive, metaphorical or visual. Either way, it's essentially about clarifying thinking and learning from experience, following cycles of planning, doing and reviewing. These can be weekly, or monthly, or varied, with learning tasks in between tailored to personal style and objectives. The process also helps to understand and work with emotions, as these are part of any learning process.
During a coaching process, we'll use various models to look at strengths and identify things that might sometimes get in the way. The main principle we follow is that each client is the expert in their own life. They know best. I'm a sounding board. I am active - sometimes I'll listen - sometimes I'll give an opinion, sometimes support, sometimes challenge.
The art and science
Co-active coaching is also very consistent with, and helpfully supported by modern neuroscience - as this excellent article explains.
