Coaching Model: Ignite Change

A Coaching Model Created by Ana Caetano
(Executive Coach, PORTUGAL)

If you do nothing unexpected, nothing unexpected happens. Fay Weldon

This Coaching Model is a roadmap to inspire people to search and find new points of view.

I believe that everything in this World has infinite points of view: people, objects, places, emotions… However, each one of us has a limited physical perspective. And Perspective is everything. Things are not what they are, they are what we think they are.

When we don’t understand something or when we don’t agree, it’s not necessarily because it’s wrong. Maybe we just don’t see the whole picture.

When we get stuck in a situation and can’t find a solution it’s time to start moving and look for new perspectives.

The more we move, the more we see. This movement is our view point.

The perspectives from which we look at something are the lenses that make us interpret what we see and what reality we create for ourselves. When our perspectives are serving us, and facilitating our forward movement, there is no need for change. However, when they become road blocks that hold us captives to our self imposed shackles, it’s time to relook at those perspectives and reframe them. Perspectives are like blinkers that partly cover a horse’s eyes so that it can only look in one direction.

IGNITE CHANGE promotes change. Of what? Of the way we look at a situation, ourselves, our behavior, our attitudes. Changing the point of view ignites new thoughts, feelings and behaviors regarding a given situation. This reframing process promotes the movement from point A (where you are experiencing the challenge, issue or problem) to point B (where you want to be). This transformation is caused by a shift in perception, from inside out.

The IGNITE CHANGE Model creates awareness, bringing light on the path forward.

The coach enables 360 degrees views of challenges, promoting reflection on new angles to empower coachees for new pathways.

Points of view, that’s what it’s all about.

Methodology

Pause

Start with Why 

What the coachee wants to change, and the vision of the desired outcome. How it might look like, and the advantages of that state. Start with the end in mind (future state) helps the coachee to get clarity on where she or he wants to go and what makes that important.

Current State

Picture of the current status regarding the issue. What’s happening now?

Become aware of the coachee’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors about the situation. Clarity arises!

Expand

Zoom Out… What if?

Allow the coachee to explore fresh new perspectives with measurable outcomes in a confidential and safe place.

As the photographer does when taking a picture: try different angles, a macro lens for details, or a wide angle lens for a nice landscape. With this exercise, we break the beaten pathways (habits) and new ones open as we start thinking differently about the situation. New points of view arise!

In this expansion step, the coachee reframes the stories that has been telling to her or himself.

Focus

Zoom In

Opportunity to fill our own picture frame and photo album with what matters the most.

Life is the art of filling our photo album with valuable pictures. It’s the moment to choose the new points of view the coachee wants to integrate in her or his current state and the changes that will need to happen.

Identification of potential obstacles, support structures and builders.

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Roadmap

Once we have come to this point, it is time to establish a clear action plan towards a brighter future. It should consist of concrete, measurable, and timely actions.

A Dream written down with a date becomes a Goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a Plan. A plan backed by Actions makes a dream Reality.