Coaching Model: G.U.T.S.

A Coaching Model Created by Maria Margarit
(Spiritual Coach, ROMANIA)

The Insight

Why Guts

Starting a coaching session often means embarking in a self-exploration journey to discover what it takes to make dreams possible. As a client, it takes guts to take action and make the first step towards following your dreams.

As a coach, it also takes guts to commit to a coaching relationship, because it means staying true all the time, being non-judgmental, totally present and letting go – to control, to fear, to expectations.

During the coaching process, both client & coachwork with guts to transform dreams into real-life plans that turn into reality.

Also, one of the impressive results of a coaching session as well as the process is a balanced human-being, able to follow his guts instead of being controlled by fear and guided by underlying beliefs.

The Process

How it works

Gig (Goal)

Upbeat

Tempo

Song (Solution)

Step 1 Gig

A live performance, either musical, theatrical, or physical

Source: https://www.urbandictionary.com

What

GIG is the first step of the process. It pretty much relates to the start of the session, with the intent to create the agreement with the client and space of trust, intimacy and creation. It is more of a visualization exercise, in which the client is invited to visualize his dream as if it were a GIG, a live performance, thus making it more “tangible”

ICF Competencies

1. Establishing the Coaching Agreement
2. Establishing Trust and Intimacy with the Client
3. Coaching Presence

Coaching Question(s)

Take a moment to think of your dream and write it down. Now imagine this dream is a live performance.

• In what moment of your life does it take place?
• What does it look like for you?
• How does it feel "performing" it?

Possible Tool(s)

(Creative) Visualization

Step 2 Upbeat

A live performance, either musical, theatrical, or physical

Source: https://www.urbandictionary.com

What

The second step, the UPBEAT, is meant to meet the client where the client is, together with keeping a high intensity and positive feeling about what he wants to accomplish. However, just as an upbeat is followed by a downbeat, this step is also meant to uncover any of the challenges, limitations, underlying beliefs the client might have in following his dream.

ICF Competencies

1. Active Listening
2. Powerful Questioning
3. Direct Communication

Coaching Question(s)

Upbeats

• How do you picture yourself as the performer of your own dream?
• What is that makes you stand out?
• What quality do you like best in yourself that can help you perform?
• Describe a “high-point” moment in your life, a time that is memorable and stands out.

Downbeats

• What can stop you from "performing"?
• What weaknesses do you see in yourself that can stop you from "performing"? What else can be in the way of your life active?
• What weaknesses do people see in you?
• What in this "weakness" do you see positive? How can this weakness help you perform?

Possible Tool(s)

Strengths Finder

Appreciative Inquiry

Step 3

1. the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage indicated by one of a series of directions (such as largo, presto, or allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking
2. rate of motion or activity, pace

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

What

The third step is the TEMPO. Based on the findings from the previous step, the coach asks questions to help the client discover his own pace, his „self-tempo”. Different perspectives should be uncovered, that can help the client set the tone for the actions to come.

ICF Competencies

1. Creating Awareness
2. Designing Actions

Coaching Question(s)

• What’s stopping you from performing?
• What can you do right about this fear/boundary?
• What would you need to make this live performance become real?
• Are you willing to let this go in order to go LIVE with your dream?
• What would the first step look like?
• What research could you do to help you find the first (or next) step?
• Where is your starting point? 
• Have you put it down on paper?

Possible Tool(s)

Commitment vs. Trying

Mindfulness

Step 4

You know when your song comes and you just gotta dance? Movie Quote: Blue Valentine

What

The last step, the SONG, is the key takeaway of the session, the insight, the lesson learned that should be transposed in a strong action item. The client is feeling released and is now able to perform at his GIG, free from limitation or worries.

Coaching Question(s)

1. Planning and Goal Setting
2.  Managing Progress and Accountability

Coaching Question(s)

• When last did you achieve an important goal that made you happy? What steps did you follow and can you apply some of those steps now?
• Think of an already accomplished dream.  How did you do it? What can you apply now?
• What would the steps be toward this goal?
• What structures do you need? Support people?
• Are you committed or are you just trying?
• Are you committed to putting in ALL the necessary time, energy and money?
• Look over your plan and the steps to achieve your goal. Do you believe that you can do it?