Power Tool: Limiting vs. Expansive

A Coaching Power Tool created by Rajesh Vaidya
(Transformational Coaching, ROMANIA)

Preview

Limiting perspective holds on limited choice or few choices and serves the individual accordingly. It helps individual to bring focus and converge energies on certain idea of pursuits.

If used in disempowering mode, Limiting perspective may block vision of potential and possibilities. At its extreme dysfunctional state, it can build bigotry, dogmatism or even intolerance.

Expansive on the other hand provides a broader canvass or horizons with multiple opportunities to choose from. Expansive perspective also brings forth appreciation of different, many-a-times even opposite perspectives co-existing and yet having their place in the world.

If used in disempowering mode, Expansive perspective may create a conflict to choose from, as certain choice is ultimately required to be made. If the choice is not backed by sound conviction, then resultant action shall lack required strength of resolve and determination.

“Limiting Vs. Expansive” provides functionality of the respective perspectives, how they empower us, how they limit us and how they can be used in Coaching situation in serving client’s agenda.

Subsequent sections bring out the functionalities of the said power-tool in coaching context

Limiting Perspective

Consider following statements:

There is only so much that one can do.
Opportunities after all are finite…and options are limited.
After all there are only twenty four hours in a day and one can achieve only this much.

What kind of images do these statements bring forth? There are good chances of you seeing some distant uncle or aunt of yours, who was labeled as “fatalistic” or “pessimistic” in the family. Limiting perspective presents narrow canvass, fewer options and limited opportunities. Limiting perspective brings about neutral to rather restricted energy in the mind-space, which also gets reflected in discussions. Invariably, discussions which assume limited potential or opportunities are seldom charged with positive, active energy. There is palpable caution, tension or even at times some kind of controlled anger felt in the space where discussions with ‘Limiting’ mindset are taking place.

Expansive Perspective

Why not? After all, sky is the limit…
There are unlimited choices…
We can do anything and everything..

Did you notice the change in the energy? Suddenly the canvass becomes much broader. Horizons seem to expand and many opportunities start showing up on their own.

Discussions with Expansive mindset invariably are full of energy, optimism and a throbbing, ‘can do’ attitude.

Coaching Application

Coaching Situation #1:

For a coach, it is important to recognize client’s state of awareness. Let us consider a coaching situation, wherein client- let us call him Alex, has shown up in a rather depressed state of mind. His Company is going through restructuring and Alex has an apprehension of losing his job.

Alex: I am actually worried about the way things are happening in my Company.
Coach: Tell me more about it.
Alex: There is this new Organization wide restructuring program which has started. Chances are that many people will get redundant. I am afraid, even I might lose a job.
Coach: Alex, you think that there are real chances of your job becoming redundant and you would lose your employment, is that what you said?
 Alex: Yes, and I am not feeling good about it. After all, there are very few opportunities in the market. Job market is not good these days.
Coach: When you say that there are very few opportunities in the market, which market are you referring to? Is the market your city, state or a country?
Alex: Hmmm…I am primarily talking about my city.
Coach: Would you say the same thing if we add more geographies into the definition of Market?
Alex: (thoughtful) things would be different….but it might mean exploring multiple cities…moving around.
Coach: Which option would you choose- having multiple possibilities or limited/fewer choices?
Alex: Having multiple choices is much better, but shifting your city is not easy…it takes adjustments etc.
Coach: What would you choose? Uncertainty of job, may be unemployment or new job opportunities?
Alex: Having more job opportunities is always better.
Coach: What kind of opportunities shifting to a new city might throw up?
Alex: It could be a new learning experience, new people, new contacts…

In the above conversation, coach has met Alex in his ‘Limited’ or constricted state of mind and it has progressed to a point wherein client has started to see multiple possibilities.

Questions that facilitate shift in perspective from Limiting to Expansive:

• What is the reality?
• Whatever you (client) have described until now, does it cover the entire truth? What is missing from the picture?
• What are your feelings about these limited choices?
• Are they empowering you?
• What are the more empowering feelings?
• How would you get them?
• What are the possibilities that you have not taken into account?
• What it is to have more options and opportunities versus limited options and fewer opportunities?
• What would you be without those limiting thought?

Apart from powerful questions, coach can mirror client’s language to bring about the awareness.

What happens when Client is too much into Expansive frame?

While Expansive perspective gives energy to such clients, it may not serve the purpose when the objective is to identify focus areas and action plans. In such situations, coach should facilitate client converging from multiple choices and options to specific ones wherein client would direct energy and attention.

Coaching Situation #2:

Kiran walks in excitedly for the coaching session He is an optimistic person by disposition. He is currently working on his start-up business venture in the space of coaching and training. His objective from the coaching session is to identify revenue streams in his proposed venture.

Coach: Hello Kiran, how are you?
Kiran: On top of the world, thank you!
Coach: I acknowledge your energy and enthusiasm. You are emitting positive energy.
Kiran: Yes coach, life is beautiful!
Coach: More power to you, Kiran! What would you like to achieve at the end of today’s session?
Kiran: Well, I want to identify and focus on key revenue streams in my start-up venture.
Coach: Very well then, let us get going.
Kiran: I can see lot of potential in doing life coaching, executive coaching. I was on this SME forum and some owner-entrepreneurs talking about poor quality of employees. I can train them as well. Also I want to look at overseas markets like USA and Western Europe…and there are opportunities through internet marketing….
Coach: Kiran, sorry to interrupt; however, I have a need to clarify the session objective. I heard you say in the beginning that you want to identify and focus on key revenue streams. Later I heard you talk about geographical markets and internet marketing plan. What is that you would like to focus on in this session?
Kiran: On the first one- revenue stream identification and put focus.
Coach: You mentioned of Life Coaching, Executive Coaching and Training. What kind of resources do you have to create a client fulfillment strategy?
Kiran: Well….I have two colleagues who can deliver training.
Coach: What is the best case scenario for you in terms of resources?
Kiran: Having a team of three trainers, two coaches and two support staff.
Coach: Do you have sufficient resources- financial or manpower- to start with the best case scenario?
Kiran: (energy drops) Not really, I do not. And I hate thinking about that.
Coach: Kiran, with your current resources, what are the possibilities?
Kiran: Well, we can target training to IT/ITES and FMCG industries. We have experience in that sector. I can market and do coaching myself.
Coach: What else?
Kiran: I and my colleague are good writers. We can generate and monetize content.
Coach: Given your current situation in terms of time and resources, what are your best revenue generation options?
Kiran: Executive Coaching, Skill training in FMCG, IT/ITES and content monetization
Coach: Do you have any geographical dimension mind?
Kiran: Uhh…well, I’d initially focus on two most progressive states in India- and gradually expand overseas in some time.
Coach: What is short term, mid-term and long term for you?
Kiran: (After a pause) Short term is first six to eight months, mid-term is about one-two years and long term after two years
Coach: What would focus on now; short, mid or long term?
Kiran: It makes sense to focus on short term.
Coach: What resources do you need to do that?
Kiran: I need to have a team meeting with our Finance expert and draw out the short term plan.
Coach: What are your feelings at this moment?
Kiran: I feel solid and sure. I like generating ideas and getting into details is not my forte. However, focusing on specifics is very important at this stage. I feel assured now. Thank you, coach!
Coach: Thank you Kiran, and all the best!

Questions that facilitate shift in perspective from Expansive to Limiting:

• What is the reality?
• Whatever you (client) have described until now, does it cover the entire truth? What is missing from the picture?
• What is the scenario, here and now?
• What would it be to ignore the current reality?
• What are your best options?
• What are the most powers choices you would make?
• What are the possibilities that you have not taken into account?
• What are the various other dimensions of this situation/idea?
• Where would you like to channelize your energies and focus?
• How can you create a success proof in short term?

Underlying Beliefs:

‘Limiting Vs. Expansive’ can be extremely useful to get down to the underlying belief. It would be of great help to explore what kind of beliefs are operating underneath.  Are there ‘Scarcity’ beliefs or ‘Abundance’ beliefs?

In a coaching conversation, if client is choosing to predominantly operate with ‘Limiting’ mindset, then coach may facilitate exploration in the deeper space of Beliefs. Discoveries can lead to profound learning and shift in awareness.

Personality Types and Limiting Vs. Expansive:

Is there a direct correlation between personality types and Limiting Vs. Expansive?

Extraversion and Introversion is one of the oldest and established factors in understanding/describing Personality construct.

Are Extroverts Expansive and Introverts Limiting?

As the author of this power-tool, I have no such evidence to confirm the above hypothesis.

My position on this question is not academic, but application or objective based.

As coaches, we should not assume any such co-relation.

Coach should be guided by the objective of the session- understand the awareness in which client is operating at that moment and use the appropriate perspective between Limiting Vs. Expansive-which would serve the client in the best possible manner.

Rajesh Vaidya

30-March-14, Bucharest, Romania