STRENGTH-BASED COACHING (CONNECT)

 20220818 Module 22: 

Key Idea: Strength-based coaching focuses on amplifying well-being rather than the traditional suffering-relieving. It emphasises building strengths rather than solving problems.

Strengths-based coaching is another tool or technique that focuses on the positive rather than the negative. In other words, it’s about building on your strengths & potentials, rather than trying to problem solve a weakness or fix a trauma. In the metaphor of whether people are driven by the carrot or the stick, this tool works well for those who are motivated by the carrot.

Having taken some courses in counselling in the past, I was taught to dig up the past to unveil hurts and traumas that affect & influence a client’s thoughts & beliefs in the present. The techniques there were very much focused on the past. But here, the focus is on the future and the possible goals the client wants to achieve. This is not to say that Coaching completely ignores the individual’s past, but that the goal is in the future.

So why use strengths-based Coaching? A Metaphor was shared during class: why use a fork to eat rice when you can do it so much more efficiently with a spoon? When I was in the UK, I was baffled by the locals who ate rice with a fork, as well as my China-born friends who insisted on eating rice with a pair of chopsticks. Their reason for it was purely sentimental & traditional rather than practical. So functioning in your strengths is not only more practical, but also builds confidence, efficiency and generally makes things easier. Developing potential rather than fixing issues.

7 Principles of a Strength-Based Approach

1. Your coachee has unique potential / capabilities. 

- They have their own abilities yet to be discovered in their blindspots.

- Your coachee is capable, don’t rescue them.

- Ask questions for the client’s benefit, not your own.

2. Your coachee is the story-teller of their story.

- This is how your coachee understands his story.

- Your coachee’s story, are not your stories.

- Don’t try to advice.

3. What your coachee focuses becomes reality.

- Their narrative is what is lived / real. 

- Your coachee’s focus, not your agenda.

- Magnification leads to manifestation.

4. Pay attention to your coachee’s narrative.

- Be present, listen attentively, listen actively & ask good questions. Pay attention to what is not said.

- Your coachee’s narrative, help reframe them.

- What does it mean to be/feel stuck? What will it feel when you are free / unhinged?

5. Encourage shifts / changes to happen

- Challenging the narrative, exposing the blindspot.

- Your coachee’s shifts, it’s their options + actions.

6. Build upon their experience, to dream their future.

- Flowing along, travel partner, reflection, paraphrasing, etc.

- Your coachee’s dreams, explore, challenge + brave.

7. Be collaborative, adaptive and value differences.

- Traveling partner, Creativity, a place of play, allowing them to roam around.

- Your coachee’s partner, flow, flexible + value.

- As their coach, you value them more than they value themselves. Believe in them.

During session, we also took some time to identify one another’s strengths. We were introduced to Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder and Daniel Ofman’s Core Quadrant. Using a combination of both, I was able to identify a strength of mine is my Adaptability. From here, I used the tool to gain further insights to my Pitfall (Lack of Focus), my Challenge (Clear Boundaries), and my Allergy (Rigidity). This helped me to understand what I needed to build on (having clear boundaries) so that I can grow my strength even further.