Imagine you have scheduled a 30 minute complimentary coaching session with me. In that initial meeting, I have two intended outcomes in mind. First, develop an understanding of what you hope to gain from coaching. Second, nurture the relationship in a way that makes coaching feel like having coffee with a friend.
But not like having coffee with phone in hand, with no conversation, or faces buried in laptops. Rather, we engage in meaningful conversation. You enjoy coaching sessions as you become comfortable with my coaching style. I work diligently to ask just the right questions to help you discover the person you aspire to be by examining the person that you are.
ICF (International Coach Federation) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential”. Asking the right questions is a primary rule of engagement when it comes to fulfilling this requirement. Questions probe for insight into your mindset; your attitude towards accountability and responsibility; daily growth and personal development; and your bend towards survival, success or significance. It’s all designed to reflect the principle that says you must know yourself to grow yourself.
As you can see, the relationship between the coach and client is one of discovery. Conversations sets the stage for moving through the appreciative coaching roadmap in four distinct phases. The result: you meet your coaching goal.
- Discovery – reflecting and celebrating
- Dream – articulating potential
- Design – directing attention and action
- Destiny – being and becoming
