NVC Facilitator Annie Scott explains why life coaching can be a great fit for NVC Practitioners
With the foundation of deep listening and compassionate Presence, coaching can profoundly support personal and social transformation.
I have come to realise that there are two distinct understandings of what coaching is:
Life Coaching has a whole skill set to itself and is about being fully Present in the coaching partnership with the client, creating a sacred relationship that cultivates a deeper level of self awareness and choices in life. Usually the client comes with something specific they want support with. It might be additional accompaniment through a time of transition or to work on realising a specific project or dream.
The coach does not need to be an expert in the given focus because coaching is based on coaching Presence and asking strategic and empowering questions to help the client to find their own path and tangible results. This may include;
* connecting with the vision of what it is they want
* explore and gain insights for themselves
* work through challenges that arise
* invite them to bring attention to inspired actions and
* offer accountability support if wanted.
Transformational Coaching can also involve attending to inner blockages or core jackals ( limiting beliefs ) that may be hindering a person’s ability to live in alignment with their values and how they want to show up in the world. This can give rise to healing, growth and breakthrough.
In the context of a compassionate space, clarity and creativity emerge and the client can access their own resources and way forward.
Topic based coaching however can be more like consulting, mentoring or training where participants want to learn a particular skill or increase their capacity in a given area.
NVC practitioners with coaching skills, can offer be either or both of these.
Coaching is part of a cultural shift from a perspective of pathology into trusting in resourcefulness. This aligns with Marshall Rosenberg’s invitation to bring our attention to what we DO want and to trust that from a place of connection, an abundance of creative strategies can be accessed to address any issue.
“You can think of the kind of transformation described here as drawing new water out of your old well — by going deeper than you ever dipped before. The way to get your bucket deeper into your well is by taking on powerful questions, instead of jumping at attractive looking answers.” — John Scherer.
You might like to check out this book – one of the authors, Martha Lasley is a certified CNVC Trainer. It includes a rich array of coaching tools and techniques together with stories and examples of coaching conversations.
If you are looking for new perspectives, or possibilities, personally or in leadership, I invite you to consider coaching by way of support or as a potential career path in this exciting and expanding profession
Annie Scott.