Shaping your coaching style and methods is an art form - the way an artist develops, evolves and creates a painting; or a composer creates music. In an article in Psychology Today, Douglas LeBier says one way to do this is to stretch towards new challenges. When you challenge yourself to stretch towards a higher level of your abilities, you also increase your overall well-being.
Research indicates that the capacity for self-evolution -- of your personality, mental capacities, relationships and actions in the world -- is based on conscious intent. So how do you shape your intent and what are the ways a coach can stretch himself? The Pasteur's Quadrant can help shape plans.
Ways of Research
In the Pasteur's Quadrant, author Douglas Stokes describes a classification for research projects that, simultaneously, are fundamental for the advancement of knowledge (finding meaning) and are relevant for immediate applications (utility). Each of the scientific quadrants identified by Stokes can be important to a coach as focus areas of intent. Let's see what these quadrants are.
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| The Pasteur Quadrant |
The Niels Bohr Quadrant: The work of the theoretical physicist, Niels Bohr, is an example of the quadrant in which researchers search for fundamental knowledge or meaning, with little concern for application.
The Pasteur Quadrant: The research of Louis Pasteur, whose studies of bacteriology were carried out at the behest of the French wine industry, characterizes the work of scientists who select their questions and methods based on potential relevance to real world problems.
The Edison Quadrant: The work of Thomas Edison, whose practical inventions define the 20th century, exemplifies the work of scientists whose stock and trade is problem solution. They cannibalize whatever basic and craft knowledge is available, and conduct fundamental research when necessary, with choices of action and investment driven by the goal of solving the problem at hand as quickly and efficiently as possible.
A Coach's Evolution Paths
The Pasteur Quadrant is of special significance to coaches, as it helps them decide the paths to tread for their evolution as coach - should the quest be for meaning or for utility? Which direction should a coach's stretch for new challenges and when? A second graphic I found here can act as a useful compass.
Coaches are mostly solopreneurs and as such, left to their own devices to inspire themselves toward new goals and objectives. They need to find ways to refuel with new knowledge, new abilities and skills, and get inspiration from somewhere. They need to insert some goals into their “mind-drive” to fuel motivation. Learning something can enable coaches do one of the most fulfilling things in the world - contribute in new and exciting ways to help their clients achieve their goals. By seeking new ways and abilities of working, a coach can feel energized and recharged - all of which can have a direct impact on their coaching outcomes, if not on their incomes.
With the Pasteur Quadrant serving as inspiration, here are some ways you can evolve as a coach.
- Search for Novel and Creative Solutions:
Objectives: Explore new as well as utilitarian coaching solutions. Invent new technology and discover knowledge that will benefit the types of clients you service. For experienced and senior coaches this means use of the bold, novel, and unconventional approaches to the core practices and technology challenges in this area.
Applications: To Coach and Produce better and better results. Success in practice Inspires more success and fulfillment.
Benefits: Refueled with new knowledge, new abilities and skills,
- Explore Applications of Immediate Relevance:
The Objective: Research projects that are highly complementary to the immediate needs of your current clients.
Applications: To find tools and techniques to coach and produce results for ongoing assignments..
Benefits: Sharpened existing abilities and skills
Applications: To find tools and techniques to coach and produce results for ongoing assignments..
Benefits: Sharpened existing abilities and skills
- Work on Projects of Potential Economic Impact:
The Objective: Direct impact on your coaching revenues and which has the potential of sustainability beyond the current needs of your current coaching niche.
Applications: To produce coaching products and delivery with an eye on the future.
Benefits: Inserting goals into your “mind-drive”.
Applications: To produce coaching products and delivery with an eye on the future.
Benefits: Inserting goals into your “mind-drive”.
- Research Areas for Dissemination and Communication:
The Objective: Write articles, blogs and academic papers for the development of the coach community at large.
Applications: To share and/or teach to increase one's knowledge and build credibility as coach.
Benefits: One of the most meaningful things in the world - share and teach others
Applications: To share and/or teach to increase one's knowledge and build credibility as coach.
Benefits: One of the most meaningful things in the world - share and teach others
- Design Products/Tools/Techniques for Pilot Deployment:
The Objective: To advance the state of the art of coaching technologies through field testing on a pilot scale.
Applications: To keep oneself inspired and motivated by creating and testing experimental coaching tools. These Pilot deployments may have direct impact on your potential revenues and for dissemination and communication.
Benefits: Validation of new knowledge, abilities and skills,
Applications: To keep oneself inspired and motivated by creating and testing experimental coaching tools. These Pilot deployments may have direct impact on your potential revenues and for dissemination and communication.
Benefits: Validation of new knowledge, abilities and skills,
These are all paths I have personally tried and tested over the years as a coach. Do tell me whether they work for you too.
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