A Coaching Model Created by Dana Ashkar
(Life Coach, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
The N.O.W Model
Unlike therapy that deals mostly with a client’s past, coaching deals with a client’s present to help design a desirable future. So regardless of coaching styles, all coaching conversations take place in the NOW moment.
Notice
Noticing is key aspect in the NOW coaching model; here the coach invites the client to an inward journey of self-awareness. At this stage the coach’s intentions is to raise client’s awareness in the present moment, allowing the client to explore mindfully his or her values, needs, emotions, and even physical feelings that are present. Creating awareness is so important because then the client will start noticing what is shaping his or her relationships, behaviors, choices, and even goals.
Coach can create awareness by asking powerful questions, listening, and mirroring. Some questions that can be used at the Noticing Stage:
- Where are you now?
- What is really important to you?
- Why is this important to you?
Openness
Openness is the next stage after noticing. At this stage client is invited to open to new discoveries, ideas and perspectives. Coach can encourage client to be open by using powerful questions, metaphor and visualization tools to stimulate options, and provide space for the client to think and own his/her new ideas.
One visualization technique that I personally use (it also has inspired the name of this stage) is “Opening the door”. Ask your client to take a few deep breathes, and imagine there is someone at the door, that guest can reflect an opportunity, a goal or even the client him/herself. Ask the client: Was there any obstacles to opening the door? How are they welcoming the guest? What are they noticing about their reaction? Etc… Some questions that can be used at the Openness Stage:
- What possibilities does your current situation offer you?
- What would make the biggest difference in your life right now?
- How can you challenge the situation instead of letting the situation challenge you?
- If you were an expert, what would you advise someone to do in this situation?
To further encourage openness, coach should provide client with the space full of trust and confidentiality, and free of judgment by trusting the client is the expert of his/her own life!
Willingness
Willingness is the last stage of my coaching model, and it’s the stage where the client proactively decides to take action of moving forward. Don’t rush the client to actions; remember it is the “willingness” of the client not the coach!
Coach can use many tools at this stage such as scaling, visualization, and powerful questions to support client in taking the appropriate action. Some questions that can be used at the Willingness Stage:
- What needs to happen now?
- Where are you now?
- Who could be on your success team?