A Coaching Power Tool created by Khalid Nizami
(Value Addition Coach, SINGAPORE)
Peak
As defined in Oxford dictionary – The highest or most important level. The maximum point, degree, or volume of anything. Any place, period or situation filled with elation.
Used as – To attain a peak of activity, development, popularity etc.
Valley
As defined in Oxford dictionary – A low point or interval in any process, representation, or situation. Any place, period, or situation filled with fear, gloom, foreboding: And also a Learning and development ground.
Used as – The valley of despair Peaks v/s Valleys
The key questions to ask ourselves are:
- Are we considered the best and successful if and when we are at the peaks?
- Are we considered the average to worst and failures if we are in the valleys?
- What is life without Peaks and Valleys?
Peaks
Being at the peak is like being elevated, enlightened, aware, transformed and arriving to a desired state. A completion of the journey. Peaks are important in the goal attainment process to establish: (i) Who am I, (ii) Where am I currently.
However being at a peak it is also important to know and gain awareness about – What value do I bring to others and self and where do I go from here? (i) What do I want to do now – Next steps, (ii) How would I like to go about the next steps? Without this awareness there is only one destination which you have already arrived on and there is no further journey required and hence there are no further reflections, evolution, actions, awareness, improvements, transformations and elevation. You may not be curious and inquisitive about other things and areas, this leading to stagnation in human development.
Valleys
Being in the valley is like being in a discovery or exploratory mode. Being a learner, committing to something, reflecting, evolving, taking meaningful actions, being in a transformational phase and continue to elevate as a human being, a person and a professional and continuing the journey of transformation. Valleys are important in the goal attainment process to help in continuous learning, improving and developing and new elevations and transformations. The same questions apply – (i) Who am I, (ii) Where am I currently (iii) What do I want to do, (iv) How would I like to go about it.
However being in the valley it is also important to know and ask – Why am I here? What new I want to learn? What is that I want to be aware of? What is my next desired state? Are you in the valley by choice or were you forced to be here? Hence – become more aware and in a journey towards the next Peak, towards another elevation.
Reflections
- Are there peaks without valleys?
- What would life be without Peaks and Valleys?
- What is the importance of Peaks and Valleys in our lives?
- What peaks have I already attained?
- Which valleys I want to be in next in order to attain NEW peaks?
Imagine life as a Plateau – You climb up once and you stay there forever. Consider the different facets of life taking the Wheel of Life as an example – Career, Financials, Spirituality, Family and Friends, Relationships, Health and Well being, Learning and development, Environment, Community, Fun and Recreation, Dreams and Aspirations. Now let’s consider each of these areas of Wheel of Life as mountain ranges, and a range of mountain has different peaks and valleys.
Now let’s consider your current focus area to be Improving your Career. As part of this improvement you go through peaks and valleys.
You go through different stages, and as part of this process you are spending time in the valley – exploring, discovering, learning, reflecting, becoming aware, and peaking, you are at the top and then you are back in the valley of the next stage and so on and so forth until you have reached your desired state.