Coaching and Continuous Learning

 

Coaching and Continuous Learning

Coaching occurs in a continuous learning cycle that clients experience repetitively over time.  The cycle begins with awareness.  What could this mean?  New awareness could include the following:

·         A new goal, objective, issue or need is recognised

·         Realising the root of a conflict that is occurring

·         Dissatisfaction with current performance

·         Recognising a barrier to better performance or fulfillment

 

Based on this awareness the coach helps the client to become very clear about their intention.  Intentions often involve clarifying exactly what the client wants, what the current situation, given the particular awareness.

Once the intention is clear, the coach works with the client to develop a range of options or choices for achieving that intention.  Often there is interaction between choice-creation and intention as greater insight is created through the coaching conversation.  Creating choices or options may lead to a shift in intention, as well as intention guiding the choices.

As the client narrows the options, commitment to the one they will do is needed to move forward.  With commitment the client then acts and learns from the consequences of those actions.  The learning often sparks new awareness and a new coaching cycle.

 

 

Coaching not only supports clients as they move through the learning cycle, but also helps them remove barriers that inhibit completion of the learning.  For example if a client repeatedly makes a choice to act, then does not follow through, the coach can explore the client’s commitment.  Without commitment, action is unlikely!

Similarly if the client sees a multitude of options, but feels stuck and unable to choose, the coach can work with the client to clarify intention.  Without intentional direction making choices is challenging, if not prevented.  In this way the learning cycle acts as a diagnostic for the coach.

Taken from a concept by Linda Tobey from “Human Resource Development” by F Sofo et al, 1999

 

Coaching over Time

Coaching usually takes place over a series of conversations – that is as a process over time.  This allows the conversation to continuously focus attention and effort on those actions that will best facilitate movement to the client’s desired outcomes.