A Coaching Model Created by Claudia Landini
(Cross-Cultural Coaching, PALESTINIAN TERRITORY)
I have chosen to use the acronym WHEREVER to go through my coaching model because the word indicates the wideness coaching implies, the freedom to stop and taking things in your hands wherever you are in the world and in your life. This is especially true in a mobile lifestyle, which is the situation where most of my life and professional experience has developed, and where I feel my coaching skills are employed at their best.
The first three letters refer to the coaching environment that I want to create to make the client feel at ease, relaxed, protected and safe:
Warmth
It has always been a constant in my life and human relationships. You cannot connect to human beings unless you create a WARM connection. By warm I mean a participative, involved, interested and caring attitude towards the person I am relating to. The initial focus of the session will be on making sure that such a premise is achieved. I do this, amongst others, by exercising a bit of…
Humor
Everywhere I lived in the world, I always found that a bit of humor works wonders in a variety of ways:
- It relaxes people
- Makes them feel at ease
- Creates intimacy
- Warms the relation
- Adds a touch of optimism to the relation
- Makes people feel loved and understood
- Defuses heavy situations
- Transmits strength and trust
Humor is culture-related and I use it consciously and only when I am sure that it will be perceived the way I want it to be. I have practiced humor in eight countries on four continents, and made people laugh in six different languages. I feel I can master the use of humor to create the right environment for a productive coaching session, which would not be complete without…
Empathy
In my experience being empathic means being able to enter a person’s situation and feeling it in all of your cells. Once this is achieved, it will naturally translate into a state of empathy that will put the client at ease. I have a natural tendency to empathy, which I have nurtured and practiced through the years by being genuinely interested in human beings and facts of life. Powerful listening, openness and humility is what is needed to always keep your empathy levels at their most.
Once the environment has been nurtured with warmth, humor and empathy, it is Eme to move on to…
Reviewing
Often people do not take the time to stop and go through their lives and feelings. The power of coaching also resides in giving them the possibility to review their lives with the accompaniment of someone that can listen to the most hidden nuances and feelings. This phase is designed to help clients take stock of where they are, of how they reached that state, and of what feelings and emotions revolve around their situation. Here the role of the coach is vital. While listening intently to the words and tone of voice and emotions that accompany them, the coach can pick up the essential elements to help clients review their life or the particular situation or issue they want to be coached about. With honest and clear feedback the coach assists the client in gaining clarity. By acknowledging and reinforcing the positive and helping to let go of the negative, the coach supports clients in building a sturdier structure. All this is done in the review phase, which is the base that needs to be strengthened before moving on to..
Evaluating
Once clients are clear about their position and about what is causing their feelings at the moment, it will be natural to move on to evaluate what the most pressing needs are. Evaluating in this phase means to decide what it is important to focus on and where to direct energy, i.e. to set clear goals – here the coach will help clients to prioritize the field of action and also encourage them to…
Venturing
People often discard options because they are afraid of consequences or because their underlying believes block them in thinking great. Whatever the reason, venturing into what they ideally like and resonates with them has an immense power. It opens their minds, opens the way to new ideas and possibilities and fosters optimism. Visualization can be used here to help clients feel the power of something that is up to them to realize. Going towards goals that might look unattainable to the client is the focus of this phase, that will be enhanced and made 100% useful by inspiring clients with…
Enthusiasm
Clients can enormously benefit from sincere enthusiasm expressed by the coach. Transmitting enthusiasm is a fantastic way to empower clients and give them the needed energy to move forward. Enthusiasm motivates clients, makes them feel powerful, positive and appreciated, and it is in this environment that they find the energy to move towards…
Results
Assessing results is a phase that needs to be carefully developed. Results can come both in form of reflections, increased awareness, formulation of actions, accountability and positively powerful feelings.
Whatever shape results will take, it is important that clients acknowledge what they have gone through during the session and take stock of what they have discovered, cleared or envisioned. In this phase the coach can assist clients in clearly see what the sessions has brought about, and gently push them to set clear goals for the next one.