The business case
One of the questions I get asked the most is “Lydie, what do you do exactly? What is coaching?” Even my clients often start with that question during our discovery call. Either because they’ve been offered this opportunity by their management or because they’ve heard about it and want to explore it by themselves, they are curious about coaching while not being exactly sure of how it works…or even if it is effective.
So, let’s demystify what professional coaching is…and is not!
Coaching is not consulting. We do not do the work for our clients.
Coaching is not mentoring. We do not “teach” or advise our clients about their job or industry.
Coaches are not mental health professionals and do not work on trauma.
Coaching is not magic…coaches do not have a magic wand to help you change everything you want in an instant (even if we do have some great tricks in our hands!)…
Coaching is a partnership between the coach and the client(s).
Coaching is to inspire you, through thought-provoking questions, to maximize your personal and professional potential.
Coaching is a process that helps raise awareness, discover blind spots, define goals, and manage needed change.
Coaching is a powerful key to increasing your performance and results.
Coaching is not about the problem you want to solve but about the outcome you want to get. That’s why it always starts by creating the vision of what you really want.
This is why in a coaching session I will ask you many questions…especially the ones you never stop to ask yourself. This is to help you see things from a different perspective, pause to consider all possibilities, and envision the global picture you want to create (for yourself or for your organization).
Whether it is to help a successful executive take on a new leadership role, change Industry, join the C-suite, move to another country, lead a post-merger reshuffled team, or build a highly performing (remote, global) team…my work will always start with analyzing the present, defining your desired future and helping you pave the way to get there.
The tool
The 4D Model of appreciative inquiry: Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny.
Organizations and individuals often develop problem-focused strategies, concentrating on fixing what isn’t working and adopting a “root-cause” mindset. While this approach has its place, it can limit possibilities and sometimes miss the mark in today’s volatile and unpredictable business environment.
This is why I love leveraging the 4D Model of Appreciative Inquiry in my coaching practice.
It’s a collaborative, strengths-based approach to change (for both, organizational and/or personal development) that focuses on identifying and amplifying strengths rather than solving problems. The framework consists of four iterative phases:
1. Discovery In this phase, I help my clients explore “what is” by identifying their strengths through stories and experiences of past successes and peak moments. Together, we rediscover strengths, values, and achievements that may have been overlooked or minimized.
2. Dream This phase is about envisioning "what could be." I guide my clients in imagining a future that builds on the strengths identified in the Discovery phase, setting ambitious and meaningful goals.
3. Design Here, I assist my clients in creating actionable plans, systems, and structures to turn the envisioned future into reality. This involves practical steps to align resources, processes, and actions with the shared vision.
4. Destiny (or Delivery) In the final phase, we focus on sustaining the change to deliver the desired outcome. I work with my clients to take ownership of the change implementation, celebrate their progress, and adapt as needed to bring the vision to life.
The 4D Model emphasizes positivity and collaboration, fostering innovation and engagement by building self-determined change rooted in existing strengths.
If you haven’t experienced it yet, I highly recommend trying it! And if you’d like guidance, please reach out—I’d love to help.
The quote
Without VISION, there is no passion for change or growth.
As a results-driven person, I thrive on taking action. However, I’ve realized that without a clear goal or expected outcome, it can be difficult to get started—or to keep going.
Often, it’s only when we visualize the prize, that we can embrace the discomfort of change and stay motivated to persevere.
This is why I love this quote—it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of setting a clear vision for what we want to achieve.
As a coach, my role is to help my clients move from their current challenges or status quo toward a clear vision—and ultimately, a solution. So, the journey always begins with a crucial first step: shifting focus from “what is” to “what could be.”
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