The Future of Coaching – Dr. Peggy Marshall
Due to the pandemic, many conferences were moved online. While it did not seem to be good news at first, it actually created an opportunity for attendees to experience international speakers personally on a variety of topics. Global IOC believes that there is a need to link empirical research to coach development programs as well as to design our own research studies that inform coaching practice integrating empirical knowledge with practice wisdom. This article will review four specific thought leaders who were highlighted at summer conferences.
First, Dr. Richard Boyatzis shared his ideas about the difference between coaching for compliance and coaching for compassion. Dr. Boyatzis is the H.R. Horvitz Professor of Family Business, at Case Western Reserve University. https://weatherhead.case.edu/faculty/Richard-Boyatzis Integrated into his work are the concepts of Positive Emotional Attractors (PEA) and Negative Emotional Attractors (NEA). Essentially, our bodies (brains) respond differently to PEA and NEA with PEA eliciting optimism, possibilities, future orientation, and open-mindedness to change. Conversely, NEA elicits the opposite effect with clients feeling pessimistic, pressured about outcomes and fear. In addition, Dr. Boyatzis has a change process, Intended Change Theory, that incorporates the concepts of PEA and NEA into coaching which guides the client in determining ideal states, real states, strengths, gaps, and development of learning agendas that lead to the ideal state. You can read more about the theory in a recent book “Helping People Change” which Boyatzis co-authored with Melvin Smith and Ellen Van Oosten. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/helping-people-change-richard-boyatzis/1130296637
Next, Dr. Reinhard Stelter, shared ideas about “lingering in dialogue” and 3rd generation coaching. Dr. Stelter is the Professor of Sport and Coaching Psychology at the University of Copenhagen and visiting professor at the Copenhagen Business School (Master of Public Governance). https://www.taosinstitute.net/about-us/people/institute-associates/europe/denmark/reinhard-stelter Third generation coaching suggests that we are moving beyond a solution focused appreciative dialog approach with clients to transformative, fruitful, and genuine dialog. The approach begins with uncovering the values of the client followed by exploring how the client makes meaning of those values. It is in giving the meaning making responsibility to the client that coaches can surface what is behind the values. Finally, this process is followed by “lingering” in dialog to create a nourishing conversation that guides the client in discovering what deeply matters most. It is not a process that is rushed.
Another thought leader, Hetty Einzig, MA, PCC., has written extensively on the future of coaching and the changing dynamics of the coach and client. https://hettyeinzig.co.uk/ In her book, “The Future of Coaching” and during a conference presentation, she outlined what she believes about the evolution of coaching particularly in a VUCA world. She believes that learning will be both horizontal and vertical, will include both the individual and system, will incorporate holistic measurements such as body, mind, emotions, and spirit and will focus more on purpose and less on goal-orientation. This last statement is completely aligned with Dr. Stelter’s thinking.
Finally, Dr. David Clutterbuck shares that as we become “liberated coaches” we are able to see the coaching process of “managed eclectic”. https://davidclutterbuckpartnership.com At this level, the coach weaves models, processes, and philosophies into conversations, allowing coaches to become “thinking partners” with clients. Global IOC has designed all the learning modules to include the concept of “integrated eclectic” which means that throughout the training modules techniques, models and processes are introduced for integration during coaching discussions . In using this what has been learned, the coach becomes proficient in choosing when to introduce models, processes, and techniques into the coaching conversation. Global IOC also encourages developing coaches to construct their own coaching philosophy which adapts, expands, and evolves as they grow in coaching knowledge and expertise.
The central theme from all thought leaders is that the landscape of coaching is changing. Coaching is becoming more about developing “thinking partnerships” with our clients than guiding specific behaviors. It is also about taking time to explore who the client is based on values and understanding the meaning they make from those values. Instead of simply focusing on a goal, clients are also focusing on purpose and coaches need to help clients surface desires and passions while connecting them to purpose. Compassionate coaching invites coaches to think about the positive actions clients can take towards an idealized self while recognizing that the real self has growth edges. Finally, coaching is evolving as it combines a focus on deepening relationships with prolonging and emergent conversations in order to interweave processes, models, and techniques.
The Global IOC Core and Senior Registered Professional Coach Programs integrate into the curriculum the concepts from these four thought leaders along with other ideas from forward thinkers in fields of coaching, human behavior, psychology, and organizational development. If you find yourself resonating to the ideas and would like more information please call 800-973-5702. To apply for admission to either the Advanced or Core programs, click on this link: https://globalioc.com/apply-for-admission-into-a-coaching-program/. Finally, Global IOC’s first webinar of 2021 is on January 13th at 10 AM EST. Global IOC faculty will frame the discussion around the learning from the four specific thought leaders discussed in this article. Use this Zoom link to attend the call. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85671563794?pwd=TmNGbVNEYXc5LzdVcDdnUzhwdWhCdz09