Perspective – Coaching the Brain

“Seeing is believing” has been well used since it was first recorded in 1639.  However, what we see will probably be different from what someone else sees and the ‘facts’ are not easily interpreted.  Wikipedia, where I found the above nugget, refers to this as a ‘sophistry’.  In fact, just the opposite is true.  Believing is seeing.  And this is confirmed by neuroscience.  The latest thinking on the relationship between neuroscience and coaching is bringing a welcome level of science and empirical research to this issue.

So how does what we know about the brain relate to coaching?

  • Our brain is designed to find patterns.
  • Each person’s brain with its patterns is unique.
  • The brain hardwires recurring ideas.
  • This hardwiring drives the way we perceive.
  • Hardwiring cannot be undone.
  • But we can create NEW wiring.

neurons

This fine graphic of neurons comes from the ehumanbiofield wiki.

And here is the part I really like about this new world of neuroscience gone practical:

  • First, creating new wiring takes time, but not all that much time.
  • New wiring requires POSITIVE FEEDBACK to be successful.
  • When learning new habits we tend to forget to practice a new habit.

So there are three really good reasons for coaching.  But not just any coaching.
Solutions Focused coaching has at its heart the principle that the client knows their situation best.  The role of the coach is to learn from the client, adopting a stance of curiosity, respect and being tentative.  You can read more about this article here.

 

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Technique – SolutionsCircle

Here is an application of Solutions Focused Coaching for teams, developed by Daniel Meier.  This approach has been elaborated and adapted by various authors to create a range and interesting and effective team workshop exercises.  I have used this in various forms with teams and have found it to be really powerful.

The big idea in SolutionCircle is “Change happens more sustainably, more dynamically and more effectively when it rests on strengths”.  In the sessions problems are acknowledged but not analysed in detail.  The focus is on solutions.

We have enormous potential. SolutionCircle also builds on the assumption every human being and every organisation have a far bigger potential than we may be conscious of.  Therefore a team is not a problem to be analysed and solved but a potential to be unfolded.

There are four principles worth considering:

  1. Focus on solutions.
  2. Build on success.
  3. Illuminate resources.
  4. Find new perspectives.

The process can be shown as follows:

SolutionCircle

 

I drew the little men in PowerPoint.  Daniel Meier and David Rock both use a surfing metaphor.  Watch this space for some great surfing analogies.

You will notice the steps are not numbered and there is no arrow showing direction.  You really can mix and match the steps to your requirements.

You can read a brief description of each step here.

 

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A Small Adventure – Bass Lake

This month the small adventure takes us to Betty’s Bay, under the Kogelberg Mountains.  I have been asked to paint some scenes by someone I have never met before.  They found me on my blog and contacted me by e-mail.  Social media works for me.  I think that is quite exciting.

Here is my view of Bass Lake looking towards the Botanical Gardens:

Bass Lake

This is painted on Arches 300gm rough and is 560x760mm.

You can read about the creation of the painting here.

 

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At StrategyWorks we assist leaders who choose to collaborate, with those crucial conversations for clarity, decisions, action and outcomes.  These conversations can be frustrating when people are not heard, the team cannot make decisions or the way forward remains vague.  Leaders contact us at StrategyWorks when they are ready to do something different.  In the process those involved in the conversations feel understood and challenged.  At the end of the intervention, the leaders and their teams feel focused and released around a clear plan of action.

Find out more from our website at:www.strategyworks.co.za or better still contact us at the email address: stephen@strategyworks.co.za to arrange a meeting with Stephen.

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© 2011 Stephen Quirke, All rights reserved.  You are free to use material from this Conversaction newsletter in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear.  The attribution should read:  ”By Stephen Quirke of StrategyWorks.  Please visit Stephen’s web site at https://www.strategyworks.co.za/ for more resources on how to hold effective conversations in your organisation.” (Please make sure the link is live if placed in an eZine or in a web site.)

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