A Coaching Model Created by Megan Bautista
(Life Coach, AUSTRALIA)
Coaching as we know in its truest form is the process of supporting and aiding an individual to help themselves overcome problems and achieve results. My SUN model focuses on exactly that – recognising that everything must come from within oneself in order to radiate and be one’s best self. Self-Awareness, Understanding and Now Act is a simple 3 step coaching model that outlines the process I would undertake to help an individual to become their best self and achieve the things they may have always wanted to achieve and could not do on their own. This happens by understanding that we must fill ourselves up with self-love first and foremost before being able to share and spread that love elsewhere.
Self-Awareness
Oftentimes we do not realise what we are doing and how we might be self-sabotaging. Having self-awareness can be very helpful in determining what might be stopping us from achieving our goals or preventing us from succeeding. Self-awareness involves examining what is going on within us – what are our beliefs, values, assumptions, fears? What are the behaviours and habits that hold us back? I would support a client to be more self-aware by asking powerful questions and by being very present in order to make meaningful observations. This is the curiosity stage. I would take particular focus in looking at the self and whether the client has any limiting beliefs, especially around self-love and self-esteem. Self-awareness also helps clients to see things that they may not have seen before or realised. It may help them to see a situation or ordeal in a different light which is the beginning of the journey to understanding our actions, thoughts and behaviours in order to then have the ability to take action and make lasting changes for the better.
Understanding& Exploration
Once an individual is self-aware and able to see their life, choices, and actions clearly, the next step is being able to decipher and truly understand what the meaning is behind how and why they feel the way they do. This is where the processing and discomfort happens, as you look inward and make sense of the things you are now aware of.
An example maybe you set a goal to lose weight and not realising why you’re not able to. Self-awareness first helps you to realise that you keep self-sabotaging whenever you get close to your goal weight. Understanding this then involves looking at why you are self-sabotaging – are you afraid of success, are you afraid of who you might be without the excess weight, are you running away from something? This can be a difficult process and may take time to grapple with your newfound understandings.
The understanding and exploration stage is all about coming to terms with how you feel, accepting the current state you may be in, in order to then decide to take action. Without acceptance, it is very difficult to move forward and one may resist the things they have become self-aware of. Accepting however is not being complacent with the current situation, it is recognising that we are all human and have our own weaknesses and helps us to stop fighting against what is happening and instead, work with how we are feeling and behaving to move forward.
It is especially important in this exploration stage for myself as the coach to actively listen and respond with powerful questions to dig deeper and understand the root of the problem or challenge.
Now Act
Once a client has become self-aware of their actions, thoughts and patterns, it is now time for the most important part of the process which is to take action. How do we help a client to take action? A client will only be propelled to take action if they themselves have decided and concluded that action must be taken. The only way this is to be achieved in the coaching process is for me as the coach to support the client in creating simple action steps and ways for the client to stay accountable. The action steps must be designed by the client with a real sense of commitment and motivation. The motivation will come from the previous self-awareness and understanding of what needs to happen in order for there to be real change.
Part of taking action is also helping the client to develop a sense of accountability around the goal or change they hope to make. Accountability is also very important in terms of what happens after the coaching session so that if the client has any setbacks, the accountability will help to keep them on track. I personally am someone who thrives off external accountability and I hope to help my clients set up accountability systems that will help them to be their best selves.
Conclusion
I don’t just want to help clients take action on the goal they present there and then in a coaching session. I have called my model the SUN model not only to reference the centre of the self which is what is needed to radiate outwardly but also to recognise that life and goal setting is somewhat circular. We start a goal at a certain point and end at a certain point, but life does not finish there as we discover a new goal or a new aspect of ourselves – good or bad, but the importance is that we continue to move forward around the circle onto the next phase or chapter of our lives. I want to help clients through the entire journey, not just one part of their life but holistically.
