Coaching Model: The Spark Model

A Coaching Model Created by Susie Parker
(Life Coach, AUSTRALIA)

The Spark Model: Lighting the Touch Paper

Typically, clients come to me because they’re stuck. They’re looking to change their lives in some way, whether it’s a career change, a lifestyle change or simply to increase the level of positivity in their lives.

I’m committed to helping clients ignite hidden passions and fan the flames of hitherto unfulfilled dreams using the values which underpin my practice: compassion, honesty, integrity, humour and positivity.

The SPARK model looks like this:

Stage 1: What do you want to achieve from coaching?

This is the most important stage. It provides the platform for each and every session going forward. This is where we establish long, medium and short-term goals; define what outcomes are desired at the end of each session and how these will be measured. In the very first session, it is also an opportunity to explain the coaching process and set ground rules for working together.

Common questions asked at this stage are:

What has brought you to coaching?
What are you expecting from me as your coach?
What would you like to take away from this session?

Stage 2: What’s stopping you?

This is where we go into detail about how a client has got to where they are and what’s preventing them moving forward.

Possible questions at this stage are:

If you could wave a magic wand, what would your life look like?
What does your life look like now?
What’s preventing you from moving forward?

Stage 3: How well do you know yourself?

This is where the journey really begins. We start to explore core values, challenge underlying beliefs and reframe negative perspectives so that the client gets a clearer idea of who they are and what they want. It’s like twisting the focus ring on a camera and getting a sharper image. Often at this stage the client will have an “aha” moment, suddenly realizing, for example, that there is no evidence to back up a long-held belief that they are “not clever enough”.

Possible questions are:

What is unique about you?
If you were to eavesdrop on some of your greatest admirers, how would they describe you?
How does it suit you to stay exactly as you are?

Stage 4: What are you willing to do?

This stage is all about action planning. Based on what has come up during the session, we will work on a series of mini-goals. My role is to make sure these goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based) so that the client doesn’t become overwhelmed.

Possible questions are:

What structures do you need to put in place to achieve these goals?
Who will hold you accountable?
How will you know it is done?

Stage 5: How was it for you?

It’s important to review what has been covered in each session for both the client and the coach. It’s how we know if the outcomes defined at the beginning of the session have been achieved or, if they haven’t, whether they need to be carried over into future sessions. It’s an opportunity for the client to feed back on how they felt the session went, what worked, what didn’t and how they feel about the coaching process.

Possible questions are:

How are you feeling?
What takeaways do you have from today’s conversation?
What aspects of the session worked well for you?

A Final Note:

Above all else, I believe personal development should be enjoyable and coaching sessions should be something to look forward to. We are all extraordinary in one way or another and we all have the potential to change our lives for the better.

The SPARK model focuses on the positives the client already has and then challenges, encourages and provokes them to make the shift from good to great, all in an easy, relaxed, informal atmosphere.