Coaching for Performance Fifth Edition: The Principles and Practice of Coaching and Leadership UPDATED 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

by John Whitmore

We can trace our experience of our own life track or that of others on a two-dimensional graphical model, of which the horizontal axis represents material success and psychological integration and the vertical axis represents values or spiritual aspiration.

Some people get severely stuck in one subpersonality, thereby denying their own access to other parts of themselves that may be more interesting, creative, humorous, appropriate, and so on.

This raises the next question, “Can I become the conductor of my own orchestra?” The answer is yes, by disidentifying or stepping back from your subpersonalities and becoming the observer of the process. I hasten to add that this is quite deep stuff and it does not happen overnight, but being the conductor of your own orchestra is a very calm and powerful state that we call self-mastery.

Another very simple and yet powerful exercise is to ask the client to recall a time when she really valued what she was doing; then a time when she was very passionate about what she was doing; and then a third question would be to ask what she does very well. Again, give the coachee plenty of time to dwell on each question one at a time, and to make notes if she wants to. A key question here is about the common elements of these scenarios and the common qualities that the coachee was expressing at those times.

Says who?! Yes coaching is ideal, but different styles are sometimes needed. Coaching as one-style-fits-all might not be appropriate.