Many years ago my understanding of the holistic approach and coaching came alive when I began to understand the fundamental principles of person centred approach as taught by Carl Rogers.
Rogers recognised that the quality of the relationship between the guide (the coach) and the learner (the coachee) was critical if healthy outcomes are to be achieved.
Fundamental to the person centred relationship is the notion that the coach applies deep listening skills in coaching and creates a safe and secure space where the coachee feels confident enough to share all aspects of their whole person.
The holistic approach is one that has been carefully studied and there is significant evidence to demonstrate that the approach is effective but not always widely applied.
See below some excerpts from a recent Harvard Business Review article on career coaching and the holistic approach:
Career Coaching
In 2018, I spent a few hours with a Stanford University research librarian pulling up all the articles, studies and books on mentoring we could find. We found that the vast majority focus on how it is practiced in the workplace and how organization-wide programs are administered.
There was remarkably little analysis or advice on how to mentor the whole person, extending beyond the career to include discussions about behavior, values, relationships, parenting, finances, and even spiritual life.
In my experience as a Wall Street executive for 35 years, as a mentor to many colleagues and friends, and now as the president of a non-profit dedicated to helping leaders establish inter-generational relationships, I’ve learned that this more holistic approach is dramatically more effective in helping people fulfill their true potential. In fact, it’s one of the beauties of mentoring and what differentiates it from coaching for skill-building or performance.
Mentoring the whole person takes more effort, more time, and more thought.
Career Coaching
Great Mentors Focus on the Whole Person, Not Just Their Career
by Rick Woolworth
hbr.org/2019/08/great-mentors-focus-on-the-whole-person-not-just-their-career
Danny asks:
- Where is your safe space, where you feel listened to?
- Who is your safe space, one who listens with “unconditional positive regard”.
Get in touch with Danny to help understand the holistic approach to coaching.
Tel: 07850 143 209
Email: email@dannymcguigan.com
