Coaching Model: SOAR

A Coaching Model Created by Esther Muthoga
(Transformational Coach, KENYA)

SOAR: Self-awareness – Opportunities – Action – Review

Self-awareness:

Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.

The key to change is self-awareness. It is important for better relationships and for a more fulfilling life, both in the workplace and at home. With a good understanding of how we relate to others, we can adjust our behaviours so that we deal with them positively. By understanding what upsets us, we can know what belief is attached to that feeling, and improve our self-control. And by understanding our areas of improvement, we can learn how to manage them, and reach our goals despite them.

Here both the coach and client look at the current situation and inspired future. It is in two levels:

1. Exploring current reality and context based on values, beliefs, and philosophies.
2. Bringing focus and clarity in goal setting; aspirational / behavioural goals.

Opportunities:

A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.

Once the client has explored the reality, context and defined a goal, the coach helps the client identify opportunities and choose the best to pursue. Brainstorming is used to find possibilities, solutions and alternatives to support the achievement of goal/vision. This is achieved through a five-point process:

1. Having the right mind-set
2. Seeking opportunities both current and upcoming
3. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses in light of the opportunities
4. Identifying other factors important to you
5. Narrowing your choices

Action:

The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim. The more consistent and bold the action, the faster a client will move towards their desired outcome. The coach supports the client throughout this stage in challenging the client’s views beyond his/her perceived limitations as well as provision of additional resources for guidance. This entails co-creation through three levels:

1. Planning and commitment to change
2. Encouraging experimentation and ownership of the process
3. Highlighting evidence

Review:

A formal assessment or examination of something with the possibility or intention of instituting change if necessary.  This is the final stage of SOAR coaching model where the coach reviews and reinforces performance (actual & desired), celebrating accomplishments and holding the client accountable.

Focus is on two items:

1. Performance- Awareness, choices made, actions taken and present position.
2. Sustaining change – Client is supported to revise goals, evaluate and establish new support structures.

The coach also encourages feedback from the client on what was helpful about the coaching process, what was difficult and what they would like to be different in future coaching sessions.