Coaching Model: Banana

A Coaching Model Created by Marguerite McGugan
(Youth & Parent Coach, USA)

Banana
B-bond
R-result
E-empower
A-awareness
D-desired action

Bread signifies the positive qualities and great things you have learned on your journey of life.

I woke from a dream and all I kept hearing was a voice in my head saying Banana Bread Coaching. I found it very odd so I shared this experience in one of my ICA classes on Coaching Models.

The instructor was Darryn Snowdown and she was wonderful, very open and creative with ideas. We discussed the possibilities this image could bring out. She opened it up for the class and it was so helpful and supportive to hear the thoughts and ideas from the class.

Banana Bread ideas and descriptions from the class were:

comfort, homey feeling, being humble, repurpose, reuse, transform cozy, warm, nurturing, creating, mothering, heart center, heartfelt, loving, nourishment, energy stimulating.

Banana Bread, transforms, repurpose simple ingredients, working them together as an interconnected whole, creating a result that is warm, loving, nurturing, heartfelt. The baking process heightens the senses; the feelings and smells gives rise to a tangible measurable result. The nutritious bread is full of energy and comfort. All this promotes well-being for the soul.

The love flowing energy put into the making of the bread will ultimately flow into the world. Bread is the food of life.

The ingredients needed to begin the process of creating the banana bread coaching.

B-Bond

The ingredients needed to begin the coaching relationship would be Bond of trust. In creating this bond we must allow for a safe space where our clients can feel listened to without judgment. The security in knowing you can share thoughts and feelings in total confidence. The client needs to know they can count on their coach to be fully present with them. Working in this trusted interconnectedness is an essential ingredient to the whole of the coaching relationship.

R-Result

The focus of coaching, any type of coaching, is on the desired outcome or Results. It focuses on where the client is in the present moment, how they want to be, where they want to be, and how they want to get there. The outcome is something that is tangible and measurable. For instance, a client who desires more peace in his life might be asked: “How will you know when you have the level of peace you want? What will be present or absent when there is more peace?” In order to generate new ideas, interpretations, ways of being and doing, a client will need to choose to see things differently and then act differently in order to generate the agreed upon results. In other words, the client needs to have some tangible and measurable indicators so that the client and the coach will know when they have met their target.

E-Empower

The clients every thought and emotion has an internal space within which it occurs. A space of truth within which they think, feel, sense and take action. Their thoughts, feeling and actions are based solely on what they say is true. Within this internal space, there are outcomes that are possible and outcomes that are impossible. When the client requests coaching for a particular outcome, the coach carefully listens for the context within which the client is working. Asks powerful questions to reveal opportunities bases on client’s values, passions, interests, and strengths. Opportunities based on the client’s authentic heartfelt truth. The coach then Empowers the client to see what is possible and impossible based on their internal space. The important ingredients here are space and emotional stillness. The coaching conversation can provide both of these ingredients to allow the mind to figure out perspectives and re-frame them, so that new empowering perspectives flow into place. From here, the client can practice taking the steps required to shift ways of being and acting to support their intended outcome.

A-Awareness

When exploring patterns of being with a client, the coach cultivates Awareness of who you are and how you be you. The coach uses the ingredients of active listening, powerful questions, reflection, being present and holding a nurturing space. The coach is mindful and intuitive of the clients energy, body language, and voice tone. These ingredients of the coaching process assists the client in gaining clarity, discovering for themselves their thoughts, beliefs, feelings, behaviors about the world (internal and external) they live in. The ingredients are then put together to sustain growth and transformation this is important in the clients journey. The reality is that, wherever you go – there you are.

D-Desired Action

Any result we are going for can only be generated through our Desired Actions. Desired action is the process, the steps that will move a client to their results. It is the pathway to learning growth, confidence and self-esteem.What energizes and excites the client? It can be helpful for the client to create a daily ritual for themselves that motivates them to stay connected to their result. This will keep them inspired and focused with their desired action. In coaching the client is ultimately responsible for the desired action they design and the desired action they take. The coach is there to support this process and hold the client accountable. The coach helps obtain and organize with the client, information during a session that leads the client to the desired action. Coaches will check with the client their level of commitment and acknowledge awareness of follow through from session to session. The coach focuses on the agreed upon plan and is open to modifying behaviors and actions as necessary. The coach constructively and positively brings attention to the client if agreed upon actions have not taken place.

Value, Strengths, Behaviors, Beliefs, Feelings, Perception, Purpose, Experiences, Desires, Thoughts & Feelings