A Coaching Model Created by Maha Khaliq
(Personal Development and Growth Coach, UNITED STATES)

Introduction

Assuming life will always go the way we plan is desirable but not necessarily accurate. As life takes us through our journeys, we must navigate through it in ways that are best suited for us and will yield the highest possible reward. How do we set ourselves up for success? I believe it is through understanding and reflecting on our experiences and using that to set goals that we want to achieve.

Coaching is a way to help clients follow their passions and live their life in a way that is true and serves them best. To be fulfilled in our lives, we have to assess helpful and unhelpful behavior, thoughts, and feelings equally. A client may have figured out what works for them and continue on that path, whereas another may still be in the process of figuring this out. Either way, we all strive to LIVE a life most meaningful to us and are on our journeys towards that.

Explanation with Visual

The LIVE coaching model – living our lives to our fullest potential!

Learn:

The first part of the LIVE coaching model is to ‘Learn’. Before we can live or as we live, we are learning and going through various experiences in life. To yield the most satisfaction in our lives, it is essential to acknowledge and learn from our past experiences. After all, it makes us who we are, and what better way to learn than from our own lives. It shows what’s true and important for us. In this coaching model, a client can learn and reflect on their past experiences whether positive or negative to gain awareness. Reflecting on past situations where a client demonstrated their strengths can be very refreshing and motivating. Similarly, reflecting on their mistakes can help them become more aware of their next steps and what to do differently. Clients must use this information to move forward. Learning about ourselves is perhaps the most powerful aspect of our journey in development and growth.

What did you do when faced with a similar situation in the past?
What are you learning about yourself/this situation?
How will this experience/learning aid you?

Ignite:

The second part of the LIVE coaching model is ‘Ignite’. Ignite can have various meanings but in this context, it is being used to drive what will occur once a client has become aware of their learnings. Ignite can take the form of goal setting as clients get ready to set themselves in motion. This can be powerful in moving forward to achieve goals as they continue to explore their options. This can be compared to a light being ignited for the client. It can represent guidance and a shift in perspective. When a client is unsure, they can be lost and unable to make a decision, but as they learn about themselves, they can find the light that can guide them. Similarly, their learnings can ignite a fire which will drive them to accomplish their goals.

What are you willing to do?
What drives/motivates you?
What will keep you on this track?

Verify:

Verifying will prove helpful as a check-in process. In our coaching sessions, we may check in with a client to see if they are receiving what they wanted from the session to make sure they are moving in the direction they want. As a coach, we want to be on the same page as the client while we let them take the lead. Verifying can help clients by checking to see what they’ve ignited is working in their favor or not. Verifying will help discern whether they would like to continue moving forward in that direction or change their goal. This is where other options can also be considered. A client may set goals for the week which may seem difficult to achieve but with this step, they can determine for themselves how much burden they can carry or not. This is especially useful because it keeps the client from feeling like they failed to in case they are unable to achieve their goal in the period they initially intended. This step will guide clients to reevaluate their goals instead of feeling like their path did not work.

How do you know which plan is the best course of action for you?
What could get in the way?
What could go well?
How realistic is this goal?

Engage:

As a client explores, learns, sets goals, they will eventually engage in taking actions. The coach will help the client build this action plan. It is important to remember that during a session, a client’s work could show up in the form of actions or even mental work. This means preparing or planning mentally is also essential before engaging. As clients engage, they can set targets that will best serve them. As clients take these action steps they’ve set, they will accomplish their goals!

How will you accomplish the goal you’ve set?
What steps can you take?
Who or what can support you?
How will you know your plan is working for you?

Clients should be able to believe they can do anything they have set their minds to. This is where I will come in and serve clients through active listening, unconditional support, and empathizing. We all have some sort of philosophy of this life and whatever that maybe it is a good reminder that flowers can grow from rocks. Sometimes it’s about making the impossible possible while still appreciating the journey we go through.