People often use the term “lightness” to describe their feelings after they have received ministry from the Lord. This is an interesting word that describes a beautiful expression of the Lord’s touch of freedom on the soul.
When we coach with “presence” we bring this same lightness of the Lord to the coaching conversation. I say we bring it and in one sense this is true since we partner with the Lord. But in a deeper reality, He is the one who brings lightness and presence. This is a wonderful thing truly. Since I have been coaching I lean into the Lord for this sense of His Presence and it is the bedrock of my coaching practice. When you first learn to ride a bike you concentrate so much on balance, pedaling and avoiding the concrete. But after a time you forget those things and just pedal away on your bike without thinking about what you are doing. In the same way there is a grace from the Lord for bringing coaching presence that can come very naturally. And as with biking, it is a combination of working (pedaling) and coasting (at rest), all in a balance and flow.
As coaches we have the privilege of bringing a bit of the fragrance of heaven to others to bless them, encourage them and to set the atmosphere to coach them without striving but by simply “dancing in the moment” fully trusting in the Lord’s anointing to guide you intuitively as you serve others for His sake.
ICF Standard for Coaching Presence
Let’s explore this “coaching presence” from another angle. The International Coaching Federation (ICF), which is the World’s largest coaching organization, sets the standards for coaching excellence and ethics. They also use the term “Coaching Presence” but define it from a different perspective. It is listed as one of eleven core competencies of coaching. They define this as:
Ability to be fully conscious and create spontaneous relationship with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible and confident.
This is a beautiful description of coaching style that I also resonate with. The coaching presence incorporates both skill and confidence flowing in a relaxed lightness that fosters creativity and ignites hope for the client.
What can we do as a coach to increase or improve our Coaching Presence?
- Decision: To improve our coaching presence we must first decide on a heart level that we truly want this. That one decision will open up heaven to bring to you the instruction, self-awareness and the outside support you may need to access both a flowing style (ICF) and a sense of His presence in every single coaching conversation.
- Engagement: Practice opening your heart with compassion to fully engage with your client. You know you are in the zone when you care deeply for the same desired outcome of your client and can sense yourself pulling with them.
- To Believe: To confidently believe that you, in your flawed state of humanity can truly make a life transforming difference in someone else’s life by preparing and showing up to coach them. This internal confidence helps you find a place of rest and faith where you are wide open for His loving grace to flow through you.
There are many wonderful tools and techniques in coaching that help to open up the soul of our clients, challenge them to own their dreams and reframe stagnant viewpoints. But all of the coaching skills work best in the flow of Coaching Presence. Coaching is like a sailboat carried by the wind gliding through the buoyancy of the water. Sailboats are designed for the water and the wind and so coaching is designed to work at it’s very best in the flow and breeze of Coaching Presence.
Martin Flack, Riverstone Coaching & Consulting
RiverstoneCoaching.com
Below I have as a reference, the ICF’s bullet points on Coaching Presence. It is interesting to note that phrases are used like creating lightness and energy, being present and flexible, and accessing intuition.
Coaching Presence—Ability to be fully conscious and create spontaneous relationship with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible and confident.
- Is present and flexible during the coaching process, dancing in the moment.
- Accesses own intuition and trusts one’s inner knowing—”goes with the gut.”
- Is open to not knowing and takes risks.
- Sees many ways to work with the client and chooses in the moment what is most effective.
- Uses humor effectively to create lightness and energy.
- Confidently shifts perspectives and experiments with new possibilities for own action.
- Demonstrates confidence in working with strong emotions and can self-manage and not be overpowered or enmeshed by client’s emotions.
International Coaching Federation
Coachingfederation.org