The foundation for a successful coaching intervention begins well before the actual sessions start. Usually, a client approaches me with a problem statement, explaining the background, causes, trends, and pain areas.
As an executive life coach, I would first try and validate the problem statement, causal factors, observed trends, through different tools.
These tools could be a 360 feedback collection exercise, personally interviewing stakeholders, focus group discussions, and psychometric assessments, amongst others.
Next, I share my research results with the sponsors of the coaching intervention and get their inputs. Many times these initial discussions, throw up a completely new perspective on the main underlying causes of the pain areas faced by the client.
In some instances, the results also throw up certain challenges which might be difficult for the client to accept or face as a reality.
However painful, disruptive, or disturbing the results might be, it’s critical for the client to be open to new possibilities and paradigms that might impact business results and external dynamics which could while being out of their control, be disruptive and a cause for concern.
Here is where I could face my first steep incline.
In some cases, my coaching interventions have begun at this stage itself, wherein I initiate coaching conversations to help my client accept reality and delve deeper within to awaken their life force of resilience to face disruptions externally.
Most times, the first goal we achieve here is a realization that there would always be factors out of one’s control. As professionals, we let these impact us more and waste our energy worrying about these, instead of channelizing the same towards factors well within our control.
Once this stage is crossed, a beginning of sorts is initiated.
Next what follows is setting a goal with the coachee; this is the desired end state the sponsors would wish to achieve.
A point of caution, most indications of reaching goals are through observable changes in behavior and noticeable changes in business results. The former manifest first and it’s their impact that is felt in the latter.
Usually, an initial couple of life coaching conversations are aimed at finding common ground with the coachee, building an environment of trust, and a foundation for commitment towards self-development.
Once the coachee is comfortable and ready to open up, the real development process is initiated. The first step here is to help the coachee understand their current reality, accept it and explore ways of progressing beyond.
As an executive life coach, my first task is to help my coachee build on self-awareness and knowledge. These discussions are incisive, triggering emotional responses, the coachee might not have faced earlier in their lives. It is important to let this process play out completely. At the end of accepting, engaging, and dealing with these emotions, the coachee develops a sense of clarity of thought and courage to face roadblocks ahead.
Throughout this journey of self-exploration, coachees experience deep transformational change and in dealing with it, get insightful perspectives on their existence, life purpose, and latent desires.
As a life coach, I am merely a facilitator, guiding my coachee along this insightful journey of introspection and reflection.
Once we cross the Rubicon of accepting current reality, the next stage is to identify challenges that hinder personal growth and development.
Decisions taken during coaching conversations are noted and action plans are drawn up by the coachee to overcome challenges and achieve goals established at the outset of the intervention.
Post each session actionable are finalized and followed up at the next session. Experiences are shared and learnings noted. Since the development plan is drawn up, led, and executed by the coachee, personal accountability plays a critical role in attaining success.
Usually, in my experience, changes in behavior and a positive avatar of the coachee starts manifesting after 12 sessions spread out over 5 to 6 months.
To experience this exhilarating journey of self-exploration and development feel free to contact me at percyvaid.com
