THE COACHING PROCESS – BEYOND PROBLEM SOLVING
A friend recently shared this strategy framework. It neatly captures the four elements that help in driving towards a solution to a business problem.
Made me wonder how the framework could apply in an executive or leadership coaching context. Here is an attempt in that direction:
PROBLEM – You don’t always define the starting point as a problem. It could be an issue or challenge that the client brings to the table where they want to move from a current state to a desired state. Yes, sometimes the client may express the situation being faced as a problem or a state of being stuck. In all cases, the exploration is to move from the ‘what’ to the ‘who’- coaching the person not the problem, as it were!
ADVANTAGE – This is where you acknowledge and honor client’s strengths. Be it Positive Psychology or Appreciative Inquiry or Unconditional positive regard, the focus is on leveraging the unique talents the client has. The underlying assumption is that the client has the requisite resources to find their own solutions. The emphasis is on making use of client’s inherent strengths to work on their intention and action.
INSIGHT – An interesting definition that I came across about insight is “an unexpected shift in our understanding about something” from author Gary Klein. Sometimes referred to as the ‘aha moment’ in coaching! As coaches support them in expanding their sense making of the issue/challenge, clients relook at their beliefs, blind spots and their own ‘being’ in a new empowering light.
STRATEGY – Evoking this awareness opens up fresh perspectives. New possibilities, which were hitherto hidden behind set behavior patterns and mental models suddenly emerge for them. The next step is to facilitate an actionplan where the client takes full accountability to convert insights gained into concrete efforts. The coach checks barriers that could come in the way of these actions and encourages client to evaluate the right path towards growth and success.
Coaching is not just about ‘problem solving’, rather supporting and challenging a ‘solutioning mindset’. Helping clients move forward, drive sustainable change and make progress.
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Framework-courtesy Mark Pollard, Strategy Friend
