International Coach Academy

Coach Training School

  • LANGUAGES
    • English
    • Chinese
    • Italian
  • COMMUNITY
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Egypt
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Lebanon
    • New Zealand
    • Singapore
    • Switzerland
    • Taiwan
    • Trinidad Tobago
    • UAE
    • UK
    • USA
  • Contact Us
  • OUR SCHOOL
    • Training Methodology
    • Coach Certification
    • Why Choose ICA?
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Alumni
  • PROGRAMS
    • Become a Coach
    • Add Coach Skills
    • Advanced (ACP)
    • Professional (CPC)
    • Vocational (VCP)
    • Workplace (WCC)
    • Life Design
    • Bridging Pathways
    • Group Coach
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • Inside the Classroom
    • Study Schedule
    • Coaching Confidence
    • Your Niche and Model
    • Portfolio Creation
    • Unparallaled Support
  • COACH LIFE
    • ICA Coach Alumni
    • Get A Niche
      • Life Coaching
      • Health Wellness Coaching
      • Leadership Coaching
      • Business Coaching
    • Getting Clients
    • Coaching Demonstrations
    • Coaching Tips
    • Day in the Life of a Coach
    • Community Library
  • FLIPIT
    • A Framework for Change
    • Certified Group Coaching (CCE)
      • FlipIt Facilitation License
    • ICA Power Tools
      • Graduate Power Tools
  • BLOG
    • Graduation Yearbooks
    • Coach Portfolio
      • Power Tools
      • Resources
    • Articles
    • Podcasts
  • Join Login
You are here: Home » COACH PORTFOLIOS » Research Papers » Research Paper: Becoming a Mountain Seeker

Research Paper: Becoming a Mountain Seeker

2016/06/06

4.2 Put a label on it

To be able to leave their IS behind, it is important to first get them to acknowledge what it is they feel. To acknowledge it, to talk out loud about the fear of being found out as a fraud, is a major step in moving beyond IS towards a future in which they can feel self-confident and proud in their achievements.

Putting a label on it makes it real. Once the IS feelings have been brought out into the open it becomes easier for the client to start talking about their experiences.

To help the client through this process it is extremely important the coach maintains the safe and confidential space for the client. Positive affirmations, careful feedback, support and encouragement help shore the client’s confidence in working through this first step of leaving their IS behind.

Recommended reading (for everybody!!):

  • Valerie Young, Ed. D., “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women” (Crown Business, 2011)
  • Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, “Daring Greatly. How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead” (Avery, 2012)
  • Sheryl Sandberg, “Lean In. Women, work and the will to lead” (Lean In Foundation: WH Allen, 2015)

Recommended viewing (for everybody!!):

  • Chris Lema, “The Impostor Syndrom”, https://youtu.be/uKTm3TV9u4M (WordCamp Phx14, 2014)

4.3 Acknowledge strengths and successes

Though they themselves may not think so, clients with IS are usually successful even very successful people. Coaches can help them come to view the achievement of their successes in a much more realistic way as well as help them discover how their IS has brought them where they are now.

What talents and expertise did they bring to the table? What role did they play in the successful completion of that project? What was it that they could do, that no one else was able to? What do they do well? How have their IS coping mechanisms served them? In what areas of expertise do colleagues ask them for help?

It can be very effective to invite the client to keep a journal of positive feedback they get on their competence and performance. It helps clients realize and remember what it is they do well. For the client the challenge in just receiving the feedback is to refrain from automatic negative self-talk.

Focusing on their strengths instead of their weaknesses is also very helpful. Inviting the client for example to explore their strengths and list at least 10 things they are good at can help them focus more on their strengths. Once they have good idea of their strengths and talents, they can start focusing on how to put them to good use.

In acknowledging successes and internalizing positive feedback instead of spiraling into automatic negative self-talk, clients become aware of those thoughts. In focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, their attention is on the positive rather than the negative. When they become more experienced at employing positive self-talk and focus, the client will become ever more adapt at nipping their IS feelings in the bud.

Useful tools:

  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • DISC
  • Strengths Finder 2.0
  • Journaling

4.4 Change the talk

Having suffered from IS for what likely is a long time, certain thought patterns have become so ingrained the client no longer notices them. Much like riding a bicycle where after a while maintaining balance has become an entirely unconscious act, so has negative self-talk in response to compliments and successes become an unconscious act for the person with IS.

Focussing on accepting compliments and positive feedback gracefully, brings awareness of the automatic negative self-talk in which they have engaged for so long. Now when automatic thoughts appear in the form of negative self-talk these thoughts can be challenged and more balanced, even positive thoughts can be formulated in their stead.

Related Posts

  • Meet ICA Coach, Gerdi Verwoert (AUSTRIA)Meet ICA Coach, Gerdi Verwoert (AUSTRIA)
  • Power Tool: Marathon vs. Sprint
  • Life-Coaching-Model-Gerdi-Verwoert-600x352Coaching Model: The Hike
  • Research Paper: Light & Dark Coaching It ExecutivesResearch Paper: Light & Dark Coaching It Executives
  • Coaching Model: ELEVATE ITCoaching Model: ELEVATE IT
  • Power Tool: Inquiry vs. AssumptionPower Tool: Inquiry vs. Assumption
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Filed Under: Research Papers Tagged With: coach austria, gerdi verwoert, life coach

International Coach Academy

Categories

International Office

PO Box 3190 Mentone East,
Melbourne AUSTRALIA, 3194

ABN: 83 094 039 577

Contact Us Online

Ask Us A Question

Click HERE

Terms

Terms and condition
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · International Coach Academy ·

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT