LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To understand the coaching concept ‘reframing perspectives’
To experience and understand a ‘reframe’ from a client’s perspective
To understand how the ICA Power Tools can be used to reframe a perspective
To understand how the FlipIt Framework can be used in coaching to bring about change

ICF COMPETENCIES

C. Communicating Effectively
7. Direct Communication Ability to communicate effectively during coaching sessions, and to use language that has the greatest positive impact on the client.
Is clear, articulate and direct in sharing and providing feedback.
• Reframes and articulates to help the client understand from another perspective what he/she wants or is uncertain about.
• Clearly states coaching objectives, meeting agenda, and purpose of techniques or exercises.
• Uses language appropriate and respectful to the client (e.g., non-sexist, non-racist, non-technical, non-jargon).
• Uses metaphor and analogy to help to illustrate a point or paint a verbal picture.

See all competencies

REFRAMING PERSPECTIVE

We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are. – Talmud

The concept of “Reframing Perspectives” is an essential coaching skill that helps clients see things differently and, as a result, come to different, more empowering conclusions or feelings about events or experiences. The coach’s ability to reframe a situation for the client can provide a new perspective and, with it, new possibilities. Things that seemed impossible now seem possible.

Perspective is a point of view; a way of looking at or interpreting a set of events. We all have perspectives about our world and the circumstances we find ourselves in. And it’s your perspective that determines your experience in life, not your circumstances. So while we cannot always change our circumstances we can choose to change our perspective at any time. It’s a bit like wearing glasses. If your glasses have a yellow tint, every day when you put them on you will see the world with a yellow tint. Over time you might forget that your glasses are tinted yellow and you start to believe that the world, through your eyes, has a yellow glaze to it.

The glasses analogy offers us a clearer understanding of how easy it is to see something in a particular way – your perspective. By changing the way we see something, reframing our perspective, everything can look very different. Say for example you just started a new job and when you opened your first paycheck it was $100 less than you thought it should be. How you interpret and then respond to this event is influenced by your perspective. If for example you see, or already believe, that all workplaces are bad and run by evil people out to exploit you, you might be angry or even outraged. With this perspective you might go in Monday morning demanding an explanation. If however you believe that workplaces are positive places, run by people who are inherently good or trying their best, you will respond differently. With this perspective you might see the paycheck incident as a mistake, made by well meaning people, in which case you would go in on Monday morning and pleasantly let the Finance staff know about the error.

What Reframing is NOT

Reframing is not about pretending that everything is great for the client. Rather, it offers and invites more and varied ways for clients to consider the problems they are facing and to find new ways to meet the challenges.

Re-framing is not about changing your client’s mind. Instead, it is about creating a shift in consciousness to help them see things in a whole new way. This shift requires that they be willing to understand that there is more than one way to look at a given situation. It’s about opening thought and showing a fuller range of possibilities. It can also be about finding “the silver lining” to a cloud.

THE FLIP IT PROCESS

‘FlipIt’ is a coaching framework for change, developed by International Coach Academy. It is a 4 step process for resetting our lens and adopting a fresh way of ‘seeing the world’. It is a way to move from where you / or your client is now to where you / your client wants to be; to transition from a current state to a desired future state.

You are the Creative Director of your entire life experience!
How that looks is dependent on the frame through which you view experiences in life. And our perceptions can vary. For example, a skydiver might look out of the aeroplane window and be filled with excitement and anticipation. They are looking through a ‘frame’ of trust, curiosity, courage, optimism etc. But, someone who doesn’t like heights might look out that same window and be filled with dread. Their ‘frame’ is one of doubt, fear, trepidation, pessimism etc. The event is the same, but each person has their own experience or frame. Consider what “frame” or “perspective” you are using to view your issue or challenge.