Level 3 – Unpacking the FLOW5 C.O.A.C.H Process

Core – Outcome – Awareness – Connect – Highpoint

I am in true harmony when I am not just in flow but with flow – It creates ease and calm in my mind, body and soul.

I have a sense of anxiety and urgency as we pass the half way mark, onward and forward I flow into the final stages. As I listen to Mel talk about the river, this resonates deeply with me as I coach parallel to the lessons, missing most of the live sessions and wondering about the flow in my own life. I often associate flow with ease and calm, free from rush and urgency. That is the embodiment of a Coach to create an environment for the Coachee that offers freedom from rush and urgency . The modules before have given us ways in which we can show up as a Coach to create this ease for our Coachee’s. Is it easy ? definity not. As Mel said it is because we are going deeper.

A coach needs to offer a process to his/her client which is a flow and model which is different, i.e. the G.R.O.W model, offers what we use to frame the model. The analogy of the River that Mel used to introduce FLOW describes life, even when you are not paddling you are are still moving. It resonates with my own thinking around ” learning happens even when we are still.”

There is flow in everything we do, at times it feels natural and other times it feels disruptive. Our coaching is not to just support our Coachee reach their desires, it is to take them beyond their own original thinking towards a transformational change. If we do it any other way the process becomes transactional, to move from one point to another, where it should rather be a journey towards transformation. This is not an entirely wrong way of coaching, however will it truly serve the Coachee ? We are working with the human and not necessarily a singular challenge or problem. When I heard Mel say this, it re-affirmed everything I believe that the role of a Coach should be. As Coaches we are walking alongside our Coachee’s towards a journey of true transformation. To be in a position to do this we have first do the work ourselves to be in flow before we can expect our Coachee’s to do the work.

Life is going to happen regardless of how much we plan, or do not plan, it is however how we are able to approach each situation that will create a flow of harmony for us or turbulence.

There are things that we do daily that keep us in flow. How do you flow? My own personal flow is to sit outside in my garden enjoying the sunshine and watching the tree’s. I am also rejuvenated when I take time to sit down and eat breakfast in the morning. My calendar also acts as a source of flow for me, it guides my planning and gives me ease to prepare for my day and be present for myself and others. ” We need to feed our FLOW” before we can offer others the river of life that can flow from our own presence to others. It has to come from within us first. If we are brave enough to ask our Coachee’s the tough question, we should also be brave enough to answer those same questions for ourselves. This speaks to our own why, who we are, and what we might becoming.

C – starts with our own Core, this is about me before anyone else. It is essential, for our own health and well being, the later impacts can be negative if we do not take care of ourselves.

O – The Outcome is important, it is not the be and end to all, however important. It allows the commitment towards action to become greater.

A – Awareness in ourselves help us understand our layers and filters and triggers towards certain environments or individuals. We need to be aware of our blind spots. We can connect to our Coachee’s better when we are more aware of our own filters and self.

C – Connect – when we have awareness then we can actually connect the dots for ourselves and to guide our Coachee’s. There is no shortcuts to life or a committed journey towards transformational.

H –Highpoint, is moving higher or deeper from where we were. This gives us purpose and possibilities. It also allows us to acknowledge our achievements and celebrate the milestones of our journey. It is a learning point with new insights and learning that allow the flow to continue with ease.