Research Paper By Khalid Nizami
(Value Addition Coach, SINGAPORE)
Introduction
Transformation – This is what we as coaches aspire from us and our clients. As coaches we master the art of reflecting, generating awareness about ourselves, taking meaningful actions and improve in various aspects of life and in life generally. And this is mostly how we support our clients and help them get to their desired state – Make the shift, change the perspective. — Transform.
Transformation or Change is not easy, but it is easier than being able to sustain it and it is an important aspect of change. How to sustain transformation?
This is the subject of my research – Sustaining Transformation and Ongoing Development: Let us take a relook at what is Transformation?
- to change in condition, nature, or character; convert.
- to undergo a change in form, belief, behavior, appearance, or character; become transformed. A coach’s definition of Transformation (based on a short survey I conducted for this paper)
- A (constructive) sustainable change in the desired direction.
- Change a behavior
- Shift in perspective
- Being related in my thoughts and able to take action It is also important to understand what sustaining means –
- To keep in existence; maintain.
- To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
- To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
- To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.
- To keep up competently.
Consider the visual on top
How many squares do you see here? Most of us will count 16. But, if you transform your perspective you will see as many as 30 squares here. How? In addition to counting the 16 obvious squares, take your attention to the 2X2 squares as well as the 3X3 squares. Finally, take your attention to the final 4X4 square on the outside. What did we do to count all the possible squares? We just adjusted the focus of the lens in our eye. This helped us transform the pattern of our visual perception.
Transformation is nothing but this dance of change. Any change process has two aspects: that which changes and that which is relatively stable. In the example above, that which changes is our visual perception. That which does not change is the presence of the hidden squares that constitutes the reality of the picture. Therefore the goal of any change process is the discovery of reality. Also Transformation is not a milestone but a continuous journey towards a bigger purpose. Hence it is very important that once you begin this journey you should be able to keep going and sustain it.
Case study
Many of us take on new things in life – It usually starts with – a thought or feeling – Sample situation – ‘I am smoking a lot, this is not good for me and my health, and this is not how I want to live. I want to change, quit this habit and live a better and healthy life’.
You try different things and in the end get a coach. With the coach you begin your transformation – gain awareness as to why do you have this smoking habit, reflect on what good it provides you and how is it bad for you. Commit to quitting. Take the right actions and over the next 6 – 12 weeks you give up smoking. You are a transformed person. You have achieved your goal – your desired state. But the tough part is just beginning. You have just started your journey as a new transformed you – the million dollar question now is – HOW WILL YOU SUSTAIN THIS TRANSFORMATION AND CONTINUE YOUR DEVELOPMENT??? You can go two ways – You start smoking again after sometime (bad habits die hard) or you are able to sustain the transformation – You are committed to living a better healthy life.