Coaching Model: The Instinct

A Coaching Model Created by Craig Hedge
(Work Life Balance Coaching, AUSTRALIA)

Common definitions of instinct:

• A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking
• A powerful motivation or impulse
• An innate capability or aptitude
• A natural or innate impulse, inclination or tendency
• Natural intuitive power
• Behaviour that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.

Importantly, as a coach and creator of the INSTINCT coaching model, I see this approach acknowledging the complexity and the unique qualities of each and every client I work with. I see the greatness in everyone I coach.

Introduction

Ensuring the client is comfortable and cognisant of what coaching is and how it can help them to help themselves is incredibly important. INSTINCT values relationships and people and sees the potential in all clients. The introduction is warm, friendly, supportive and professional. The client is assured that the coaching space is all about them. It is their place to shine. It is their place to be truly listened to, to feel heard, and importantly, to feel understood. The client is encouraged to create new possibilities in their life that if they choose to; they can move towards and live in to. INSTINCT seeks to unearth and further develop the existing talents and capabilities in people. INSTINCT encourages greatness in people.

Narrative

INSTINCT acknowledges the importance of clients’ narrative – in other words, their story.

INSTINCT values the client narrative. Their story is rich and intertwined with their life experiences, their hopes and their aspirations.  This narrative is rich in the client’s beliefs, opinions and values. It communicates their expectations, their limitations, and their areas for further development. Importantly, it is their opportunity in the coaching relationship, to align much closer to who they are and what they really want out of life.

Strengths

INSTINCT is strengths focused. The model recognises that strengths are clues to what truly inspires and motivates the client. They are also strong foundations to future performance and in taking SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, Timely) action as the client truly aligns to who it is they are, and what it is they want out of life. The model also understands that the model itself, and the strengths focus, is not linear. INSTINCT ensures that the fundamentals of listening, language awareness, presence, and powerful questioning determine the strengths focus. This ensures the client is followed and the coaching session is congruent and appreciative of where they are in the coaching space. Strengths focus and the exploration of a client’s strengths are acknowledged and explored when the timing is right to do so. INSTINCT determines when that time is.

Thoughts

INSTINCT seeks to further understand and connect to the client by listening to their thoughts about their life. Their thoughts are conveyed and expressed in their language. INSTINCT understands that language leaves clues. The meaning of that language can be further explored by reflecting and paraphrasing their thoughts and their specific use of the language they use back to them. This enables the client to truly be able to listen to their own thoughts and language in a unique way. This process can create opportunities for the client to become aware of what they say, how they say it, and what it means for them. This process can help the clients gain more awareness about themselves. It can help them move through and beyond previous sticking points or mental blocks.

Intuition

INSTINCT understands the value and the importance of intuition. This is the intuition that is both individual to the client and the coach. The coaching space is a powerful conduit for intuition. The coaching space itself has its own level of energy and opportunity that is unique to the coach and the client. This acknowledges both what is seen and unseen, and what is said and unsaid. It understands that a person is a multi dimensional being who has capacities and understandings that go beyond a primarily focused 5 sensory perception and explanation.

This acknowledgement encourages and promotes possibility. It also invites the client to move beyond perceived sticking points and obstacles in their life.

Intuition also acknowledges that a person is not just a human doing – it asserts that they are a human being. Intuition also offers the opportunity for the client to see themselves as a spiritual being having a human experience. Importantly, INSTINCT acts on where the client is at, and what they consider important and relevant to them.

Non-judgmental

INSTINCT is non-judgmental. The coaching space is all about the client. Judgement is about the coach – therefore judgement has no place in the coaching session.

INSTINCT coaching does not have time to judge – powerful coaching presence focused on the present moment does not enable judgement to interfere with the coaching process. In the moment coaching ensures the client benefits from this focus and commitment to their goals and objectives.

INSTINCT knows the power of non-judgement and the benefits that can flow from a place and a space where it is strongly encouraged and valued.

INSTINCT seeks to encourage and support the client towards their further development and empowerment.

Co-creation

INSTINCT strongly acknowledges co-creation. The coaching process and outcomes are dependent on the power and presence of the coach, and the energy and approach of co-creation with the client. This collaborative and cooperative approach ensures that both client and coach work together. This acknowledges that both coach and client are creating and unearthing new possibilities that the client, if they choose, can further develop, explore, and live in to.

 Transformation

• The INSTINCT model was created to encapsulate and describe how I work with people as a Life Transformation Coach
• This model recognises that life is made up of a series of complex relationships, dimensions and systems that are interconnected and interdependent.
• The INSTINCT model supports the view that to move through life in, and with balance and awareness, a person must make what I call those necessary connections in their life to ensure they are fully present and aligned to who it is they are – and are becoming.
• INSTINCT is natural and it is intuitive. The model accentuates the importance of listening and the use of language.
• INSTINCT acknowledges that just as language is important – so is the space or the silence between the words and the language being used. This is where listening, intuition, life experience and knowledge are important.
• INSTINCT also recognises that a client is met where a client is at. This model has the capability to move between the phases and degrees of active coaching to empathic listening and presence. The model (and I am the model) understands that wherever the client is at the coach will follow.
• INSTINCT recognises that the client relationship is about meeting the client where they are. INSTINCT assumes and recognises that for the client to get maximum benefit from the coaching relationship, the processes and the actions must be congruent to who the client is and where the client is at in their life.
• INSTINCT strongly acknowledges the power of the process of coaching. The model acknowledges that if the process is not understood and calibrated to who the client is, then any action resulting from the coaching session may not have any lasting impact or meaning. The focus is process – the outcome will follow the process. This supports SMART action.
• INSTINCT acknowledges the strength and power of personal transformation
• INSTINCT understands that the ego often seeks quick outcomes or actions to satisfy a need in order to see or feel that progress is being made. By focusing on the power of process, INSTINCT ensures SMART action follows - if that is the clients choice to do so.
• INSTINCT acknowledges the value and the power within the coaching relationship. The model assumes and understands that working together as co-creators in a truly supportive, encouraging, and friendly coaching space, enables the client to empower and enable themselves.
• INSTINCT acknowledges that life is full of possibilities. It understands that life cannot be completely defined, explained or understood by any one system or approach.
• INSTINCT acknowledges that the complexities of life and the systems and structures in which we live, can create challenges and opportunities for all people.
• INSTINCT also believes that coaching is an opportunity to recalibrate and realign to a life that provides meaning and purpose.

Summary:

• INSTINCT is a coaching model of practice that strongly acknowledges and moves with the client. It seeks to enable the client to understand who it is they really are, and what it is they really want out of life.
• The power of INSTINCT is in providing a friendly and supportive coaching space. This is reinforced with strong listening, powerful paraphrasing, and clear questioning
• INSTINCT acknowledges the importance of language and the power of the process in the coaching relationship. By focusing on the process, any outcomes or actions that follow will be congruent and powerfully aligned to the client’s innate intentions and aspirations.