Coaching Model: Inspired Coaching

A Coaching Model Created by Lay Li Tan
(Career Coach, SINGAPORE)

Background

This model is targeted at grooming and developing talents within an organization. Talents are defined as high performance and high potential individuals who are motivated to take their career to the next level. They will be clients in this model and are deemed by the management to have the potential to take on greater responsibility and managerial position in near term.

The coach can be an external or internal one. It is important that the confidentiality agreement is set up and agreed upfront between the client and sponsor. In an organization, the sponsor is the person who pays the fee or has a vested interest in the outcome of the coaching. A proper confidentiality agreement will create trust that is key throughout the coaching.

The coach is the independent party who supports the client in accelerating the change. He/she will act as a cheerleader and accountability partner that inspires the clients to maximize their personal and professional potential in their own ingenious way.

About the model

The cornerstone of this model is “Inspired Client”, also known as coachee. All humans need to be motivated to excel, either it is through self or externally. A coach can create inspiration by partnering the client through the process to establish outcome, create awareness, discover self and commit to action. While these steps are important, it is the coach’s trust in the client that brings about the “Inspired client”. The coach needs to trust the client to be resourceful, creative and whole individual. With that, the coach is able to release judgement and follow the client’s agenda in authentic manner.

The “Inspired client” is embedded in a pentagon shape. It illustrates that significant time will be spent on the exploratory process to create awareness and discover self. This process reveals the clients’ feelings, thoughts and behaviors associated with their goals. Clients come into the session with their purpose, values, beliefs and accomplishments from their life experiences. Through awareness and discovery of self, the integration of information takes place. Their choices and action will naturally take place based on the new information, their motivation and personality.

Step 1: Establishing Outcome

People are able to achieve unbelievable things and we must help them unleash them. We motivate them by asking how success looks like. What do they hope to achieve? What do they hope to have?

To help clients accelerate their career, we need them to set courageous goals for themselves. Not safe and achievable ones. We need them to dream and achieve the unimaginable goals.

Step 2: Creating Awareness

Acknowledgement This creates trust and intimacy. This acknowledges that the client is whole and complete as of now. It reveals the strengths we observed in the client. This creates the energy and motivation in the client.

Active Listening Every client is different. Coach needs to be able customize the style of learning and communication accordingly to the client. Listen for the unspoken.

Powerful Questioning Explore the situation. Follow the client conversation. Get curious. Understand the language.

Feedback & Paraphrasing This creates empathy and presence. Share observations, intuitions and what is being heard. This information provides new learning for the client.

Step 3: Discover Self

Support the client to discover their intent and perspective. Intent is the driver behind what we are doing or thinking. It affects the thoughts and behaviour. It is powerful but yet it may not conscious to us.

Perspective is a point of view; a way of looking at or interpreting a circumstance. It is factor of our past experiences, beliefs and values.

Uncover the perspective and intent can be empowering. It brings new way of thinking, options and alternatives that may not be there before. Align the goal, values with this discovery. It can be the most refreshing and energizing experience for the client.

Step 4: Commit Actions

The previous steps lay the foundation and commitment for actions. With awareness and discovery of self, the choice will be made and action will be built upon. Design the best accountability method. Support the creation of specifics, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-related action plan. Acknowledge and monitor the progress made by the client.