This document discusses aligning coaching philosophy, knowledge, and practice. It presents different coaching philosophies such as humanist, behaviorist, and positive psychology approaches. It emphasizes that a coaching philosophy should include beliefs about people, change, and the world. It also discusses building a body of knowledge from various perspectives like neuroscience, existentialism, positive psychology, and more. Further, it addresses finding direction in practice through considering whether a coach takes a directive or non-directive approach and whether they focus on personal development or goals. The document stresses aligning these three elements - philosophy, knowledge, and practice - to guide a coach's work.

1. ALIGNING PRACTICE AND
PRACTITIONER
Robert Smale
Thursday 28 February 13

2. ALICE IN COACHING LAND
• “Who has won?” Alice asked“Everyone has won and all must
have prizes” said the Dodo.
• “studies to date demonstrate positive, non specific effects
regardless of the conceptual foundations espoused by
practitioners” (Kilburg, 2004, p 203)
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3. LEARNING FROM
PSYCHOLOGY.
• “Coaching is not therapy but it is therapeutic”
• The difference in practice between coaches and psychologists is 0.26!!!
(Mckenna and Davis, 2009)
• There are as many differences between psychologists of different
disciplines as between psychologists and non psychologist coaches
(Smither, 2011, p 137)
• Narrative and Pragmatic Paradigms
• The role of the relationship, the individual and the context,
expectancy and theory and techniques (Mc Kenna and Davis, 2009)
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4. DEFINE ECLECTIC
Humanist -“Coaching is above all about human growth and change” (Stober, 2006, p17).
Behaviourist - “The purpose of coaching is to change behaviour” (Peterson, 2006, p51).
Adult Development - Coaching is about helping clients develop and grow in maturity.
Cognitive Coaching - Coaching is foremost about developing adaptive thoughts.
Goal-focused - “Coaching is a goal orientated, solution focused process” (Grant, 2006, p156).
Positive Psychology Approach - “Shift attention away from what causes and drives pain to what
energises and pulls people forward” (Kauffman, 2006, p 220).
Adventure Coaching - Stretching the client through entering into challenging situations and the learning
that arises.
Adult Learning - A learning approach that helps self-directed learners to reflect and grow from their
experiences.
Systemic coaching- “Coaching is a journey in search of patterns” (Cavanagh, 2006, p 313)
Approaches to Coaching (Ives,Y, 2008, p 102)
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5. ALIGNMENT
• Philosophy
• Body of Knowledge
• Practice
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6. Philosophy - “A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step”- Lao Tzu
• What do you believe about
people?
• What do you believe about
change?
• What do you believe about
the world?
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7. CREDO - I BELIEVE
I believe there are no new ideas in the world just different ways of reframing
the conditions by which we perceive our reality. This shapes the coaching
process as a journey of reflection to build the competence of self-learning
rather than a series of specific goals to be achieved
Compassion – I am driven to support and encourage others as they take action and to be rigorously
optimistic by holding them accountable for their choices
Care – I empathise with my clients and value both their experience and uniqueness whilst actively
supporting them through change
Connectivity – We do not exist in isolation we are part of ever more complex systems of action,
interaction and reaction
Simplicity – The relationship between the coach and client is an attempt to synthesise action from an
understanding and evaluation of the clients’ complex experience
Character Creation through Storytelling-“existence precedes essence: or, if you prefer, that
subjectivity must be our point of departure” (Sartre, 1945,Existentialism is a Humanism p 22)
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8. BUILDING YOUR BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE
• Truth AND truth
• Experiential AND Propositional
• Reflect AND Accept
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9. PERSPECTIVES
SDT Time to Think
Hawkins Secular Humanism
Harvard Business
McKinsey Quarterly
Neuro-semantics
Existentialism ReviewHistory
Maslow Ethical Choice
Kabbalah Seligman Greaves
Present-Past Kolb
De Bono Lane Simplicity
Reki Evidence Liberalism
Meta-Coaching Based Coaching
Lucas
Dickens
Present-Future Buddhism
Sufism Rogers
Oprah
Strengths and Virtue Sartre
Higgs
Organisational
Grey
NLP Positive Psychology
Meta Programs
Proctor Present-Present Design
Spiral CRM
Dynamics
Integral Psychology
Supervision
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10. PRACTICE
FINDING DIRECTION
• Directive or non-directive
• Personal-developmental or goal focused
• Therapeutic or performance-driven
• (Ives, Y, 2008, p 100).
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11. Uniform
Directive (Simple) Master (Sophisticated)
Change driven, controlled, managed by top person Change driven, controlled managed by top person
Simple theory of Change or a few rules of thumb Complex theory of change - lots of elements, drawing
Small range of interventions used on more than two theorists, use of change models
Few targets set Wide range of interventions used
Little or no attention given to capacity development Capacity Development
Predictable Unpredictable
Change Change
Self Assembly (DIY) Emergence
Tightly set direction Few big rules and loosely set direction
Limited capability and capacity development Lateral connections important
Strategic direction but local adaptation Innovation and experimentation
Use of tool kits and templates Emphasis on sense making and improvisation
Differentiated
Higgs and Wren 2005
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12. QUESTIONS?
Contact Details
web: www.robsmale.co.za
email: rob.smale@me.com
cell: 082 552 6573
linkedin: Robert Smale
blog: www.coachrobsa.wordpress.com
Thursday 28 February 13

13. Chapman, L. Integrated Experiential Coaching 2010
Dahlsgaard, Katherine, Peterson, Christopher and Seligman, Martin E. P. Shared Virtue: The Convergence of Valued Human
Strengths Across Culture and History 2005
Deci, E.L. Why we do what we do 1995
Diener, Ed, Suh, Eunkook M., Lucas, Richard E. and Smith, Heidi L. Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress 1999
Fredrickson, Barbara L. The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology 2001
Grayling, A.C. Meditations for the Humanist 2002
Harris, S. The Moral landscape 2010
Henderson, Sheila J. 'Follow Your Bliss': A Process for Career Happiness 2000
Hinchliffe, Geoaffrey. Work and Human Flourishing 2004
Joseph Sirgy, M., Wu, Jiyun. The Pleasant Life, the Engaged Life, and the Meaningful Life: What about the Balanced Life? 2009
Lustein, David L. The Role of Work in Psychological Health and Well-Being 2008
Ryan, Richard M., Deci, Edward L. ON HAPPINESS AND HUMAN POTENTIALS: A Review of Research on Hedonic and
Eudaimonic Well-Being 2001
Sheldon, Kennon M., Lyubomirsky, Sonja. Achieving Sustainable Gains in Happiness: Change Your Actions, not Your
Circumstances* 2006
Stout Rosteon, S. Business Coaching Wisdom and Practice 2009
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