In a previous post, we covered the differences between Whole Person Coaching (WPC) and standard coaching methods. To briefly recap, your coach is a behind-the-scenes human strategist – someone who is ready to help you figure things out for yourself and leverage all of who you are. In this way, a Whole Person Coach enables you to be your very best as you pursue what matters most to you.
But that’s not what makes the WPC process so unique and, more importantly, effective.
At Coach Training World, we believe success begins with the coach’s mindset and specifically the way in which they view and work with the client. So in this post (and a few more to follow in coming weeks) I’d like to address the principles of Whole Person Coaching. They are at the core of our clients’ success in life, business, entrepreneurial ventures, creative projects, and wherever they choose to apply the tools they learn. These principles are also what enable a Whole Person Coach to be highly effective at bringing out the best in others and themselves. Let’s explore!
WPC Core Principle #1: Wholeness: You are WHOLE – perfect just as you are.
One of the primary tenets of Whole Person Coaching is that you are not broken. You do not need fixing. Instead, you are held and honored as whole and perfect just as you are. This practice of viewing an individual as whole – resourceful and complete – allows the coach and client to create a space from which they can both flourish. This means that clients can more easily see and develop themselves at their highest capacity. More importantly, it allows the client to draw on every part of their experience and expertise as they work towards their goals. This is because there are no preconceived ideas, judgments or evaluations – just trust and faith in the client’s wholeness and capacity to learn and develop the skills, knowledge and capacity required to reach their desired outcome.
You have tremendous potential within you. Your WPC coach invites you to step into this potential by activating your imagination and intuition through the power of inquiry inside a collaborative conversation. This, in combination with your experience and the deep inspiration that comes from within, is the secret to leveraging all of who you are in life and business.
And the good news is: you don’t have to be an expert in everything to achieve the success you’re after. A Whole Person Coach may work behind-the-scenes but they don’t keep their methods or wisdom a secret. Following your lead, they collaborate with you. In doing so, they add their perspective and wisdom to the conversation without attachment, supporting you to design and lead a life of great fulfillment and achievement, now and for the rest of your life.
Someone who genuinely believes in you
Within the principle of Wholeness are best practices that inform the coach on how to show up and interact with the client. This guides them as they work to co-create and bring out the very best from the relationship – with a focus on leveraging your best!
One of those practices is called “Believing”. Believing is the act of offering authentic, unconditional faith in you and your capacity. Each coaching relationship is as unique as the clients themselves. But common ways for a WPC coach to demonstrate belief to the client include:
- Being deeply present
- Unconditionally accepting the client and remaining open to their ideas and ways of navigating their life
- Simply just ‘being there’ for them until they find their way, tapping into what they already know subconsciously
Though far from being a complete list, these demonstrations foster a level of trust and confidence that is often greater than the client may be giving themselves in that moment.
Remaining true to you
Your WPC coach remains true to you and your goals. What happens next is the beauty of it all: you gain more trust and faith in yourself as you confidently take steps toward creating what you want and become who you want to be! Your coach has your back. It’s an extra layer of support within which you can safely explore new areas that would otherwise seem too intimidating or unattainable on your own.
Because of this, you’ll experience “ah-ha” moments more frequently – instances where you easily recognize that the stopping blocks that have held you back, often for years, only have the power YOU give them. Possessing this clarity, you’ll release those limiting beliefs or habits and replace them with what you need to succeed. Any of our coaches will tell you: an “ah-ha” breakthrough is one of the most rewarding parts of the coaching experience.
On a personal note, believing in someone is one of the greatest gifts you can offer. I am where I am today because someone believed in me – quite a few someones, come to think of it. I’m not saying it’s always easy. But in the end, having someone believe in you, as a whole and perfect individual, helps remove the barriers and silence that nasty inner critic that holds us all back at times. Plus, it just feels good!
In my next post, we’ll discuss the second principle of Whole Person Coaching: CONNECTED.
Learn more about Whole Person Coaching or call us today at 1-888-660-5588 to find your personal behind-the-scenes life and/or business strategist.
