My signature offer in my coaching model is a blend of my personal interest in incorporating mindfulness, spiritual-mindedness, and elements borrowed from stoic philosophy. As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I find there is power in the mind-body connection and they must be treated as one system. An unhealthy mind impacts the body which impacts one’s overall spirituality including emotional turmoil. This interconnected system must be well-balanced for a person to reach their ultimate potential. Thus, my coaching model and approach will come from this angle and perspective going into any conversation.
What is unique about this approach is that it is less focused on the tactical aspects of the client’s goal, rather more on the whole person. It challenges the client to dig deeper under the surface and examine themselves at an uncomfortable and deeply introspective level. My niche will be predominantly focused on coaching mid-career individuals. This is a formative point in their career as this is the time when people transition into bigger roles and need to embody a new and different mindset to elevate themselves at this level where expectations and accountability are greater. This is also a period of self-discovery – individuals typically do the most learning through their early failures and mistakes on the job. It is a period of self-growth and growth in their own self-confidence. People are generally finding their footing in this chapter in their life and it is paramount the decisions they make in the workplace leave a positive impression on those around them to advance in their careers.
Embrace Coaching Model
Given this, the reason why my coaching model works and can be applied effectively in my specific niche is because of this transitional period in their lives which requires deep self-discovery and introspection. What I’ve noticed is that this is the time when people are also most competitive to advance further or are seeking short-term gains. I chose the coaching model “Embrace” because it is about practicing acceptance for what it is and embracing what we have in life. It is about the daily practice of gratitude. It is easy to focus on what we do not have in life versus being grateful for what we do have and embracing it in the present. This is the pinnacle stoic philosophy and as Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius said “Do not dream of possession of what you do not have: rather reflect on the greatest blessings in what you do have, and on their account remind yourself how much they would have been missed if they were not there.” (Aurelius, 2003). More often than not, in my coaching conversations specifically with this demographic of people in their mid-careers, the focus is on what they do not have and they lose sight of all the benefits that is right in front of them. I believe through my unique coaching model, I can shine a light on a simple shift in mindset and perspective for a population that can truly benefit from this coaching and guidance. This is especially important in the present day where the pace of work and life is fast and as a result expectations for instant gratification are expected. This is a reminder to embrace what is and to be grateful for what we have.
To sum this coaching model up in an acronym, I have chosen “EGO” which interweaves the key themes I have covered in my research paper and power tool. It also integrates a flip-it framework and perspective, turning what can be perceived as a negative, “ego” into a positive by understanding what the letters represent as shown below.
E– Embrace what is and you will find peace.
G – Gratitude. Practice gratitude and you will receive abundance.
O – Onward. Upward and onward. Focus on the future ahead rather than wasting time looking back on what could have been.
Reference
Aurelius, M. and Hays, G. (2003). Meditations