A Coaching Power Tool created by Leni Mathews
(Executive Coaching, INDIA)
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience.
Teilhard de Chardin, a French philosopher
This I believe in essence would describe the difference and significance of transformational coaching vs. transactional coaching.
Transactional coaching addresses the human beings experience of challenges, problems, concerns, issues of the unknown etc. as it appears or shows up in one’s life as an external manifestation.
Transformational coaching addresses the spiritual beings inner condition as one explores and unfolds the internal state of being and recognizes it as the cause of a certain behavior.
Transaction is defined in the dictionary as, “transacting of any piece of communication, business deal or negotiation.”
Transformation is defined in the dictionary as, “change form, appearance, condition, nature and character” considerably.”
Transactional coaching and transformational coaching both have a place in coaching which is valid. However, while transactional coaching takes the client from Point ‘A’ to Point “B”, transformational coaching takes a client from “Point “A” to Point “D”. Transactional coaching typically focuses on getting a client to solve a perceived problem and therefore focus on the “doing” at the external level. So the coaching value is limited. Whereas, transformational coaching goes beyond, therefore without limitations.
Transactional coaching facilitates the client to arrive at his/her own problem solutions from an external action. Transformational coaching, through self awareness, facilitates the client to arrive at a transformed state of being, which addresses an inner shift or movement in spirit. It facilitates a spiritual shift. When this happens, then it changes the glasses through which the so called “problem” is perceived by the client. This then leads to the client having a “reframed perspective” of his/her problem. Often the client may arrive at finding that the problem has dissolved or that the clients misunderstanding of the problem is why he/she has not been able to resolve it in the past. So now the client sees a new reality for himself / herself and is able to see the possibility of helping himself / herself.
So transactional coaching facilitates a shift in doing, whereas transformational coaching facilitates a shift in being. Because the focus shifts, the problem one realizes is often only the symptom of the problem and not the cause. Therefore it does not solve the problem, but just temporarily bandages / fixes the manifestation of the problem.
Self Application
Self Awareness is the key to self application of transformational coaching of self. Awareness is having an inward focus, not an outward focus. Awareness is knowing – from how we breath to knowing the patterns that we have in our everyday life and understanding our connection to the universe, our beliefs, our mind, our spirit, our body.
There are many ways we can support ourselves in developing self awareness. The list below outlines just a few ways. The best approach is to determine what works best for us.
- Keep a journal everyday so you can discover patterns that emerge in your life.
- List your strengths and find ways to develop them.
- Employ a coach who will support you on your journey of self awareness.
- Ask friends and family to support you as you learn more about yourself. Ask them to share what they see are your strengths, your qualities, etc.
- Create a holistic fitness schedule to keep you focused and healthy- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
- List your self-awareness goals, and how/what you need to achieve them.
- Meditate regularly asking yourself what you need to learn more about yourself.
