Graphic Coaching

This comes to us from coach, mapmaker, master hypnotist, and graphic facilitator, Christina Merkley, based in British Columbia, Canada. See www.makemark.com for information, articles and the informative SHIFT-IT E-zine about Graphic Coaching.

Did you know that researchers estimate that upwards of 72% of the North American population are visual learners and thinkers?  This means that the vast majority of our coaching clients think and learn better when visuals are used.  However the standard mode of coaching - over the phone - is an auditory medium that naturally benefits only 12-18% of the population!

For the last six years, I’ve been experimenting with using visuals or graphics with my coaching clients.  I work both face-to-face (using large sheets of poster paper to graphically ‘record’ my client’s thoughts, ideas and experiences) and also over the phone (using pre-prepared visual templates either assigned as homework between calls or filled out live while on the call). 

The creation of my Graphic Coaching practice has been a natural evolution.  For the last decade I’ve been involved in a niche consulting industry called Graphic Facilitation.  We are consultants, facilitators and others kinds of group leaders who use all sorts of visual methods to help groups of people think and work together … mostly in strategic planning, dialogue and visioning kinds of settings.  While I enjoy helping groups of people make decisions and move forward, my true passion is doing that for individuals. 

As I took my CTI training (and also alchemical hypnotherapy training), I naturally began to experiment … using the graphic techniques not with groups, but one-to-one with people.  Drawing out their thinking so they could literally SEE it.  I believe in the CTI model that my clients are creative, resourceful and whole, and, that they have their own best answers inside of them - my role as a Graphic Coach is to literally draw those answers out of them!

Where the Graphic Approach Seems to Work Best
Not every coaching situation lends itself to the graphic approach.  I have found it works best to help people construct personal visions and actions plans.  And to help identify the ‘gremlin’ or ‘inner critic’ thinking that is interfering with a client’s ability to manifest what they desire. 

I tend to use graphics in the upfront or assessment stage of working with a new client.  We sketch out their past, present and desired future.  Identify some of the patterns, negative thinking and blocks that are standing in the way of their vision.  And then construct action plans to link their vision to their current reality. 

After working visually (either in-person or via templates emailed back and forth), we default to more traditional telephone coaching.  Using the Vision and Action Plan we constructed together, as a guiding North Star for our work together.  These tools guide us and act as a spring board for the ongoing coaching - allowing plenty of room for Process along the way. - zigging and zagging where the client needs and wants to go.  The graphics are a starting place, which often change as the client changes. 

General Benefits of Using Graphic Coaching Methods:

• Gathers thinking of your client into one place, gets you literally ‘on the same page’;
• Focuses conversations yet allows for roaming room;
• Helps clients see their best and worst thinking;
• Makes coaching work more tangible and sharable … clients see their work and progress and can easily share it with others (therapists, business advisors, loved ones, etc);
• Improves your ability to market/sell your coaching work (you can show what clients can expect to get);
• Enables you to systematize and productize repetitive processes (helps you create physical and electronic products as another stream of income).

See www.makemark.com for information, articles and the informative SHIFT-IT E-zine about Graphic Coaching.

Comments

[Barney cunningham]

I have been a big fan of Christinas shift it process since I discovered it about 4 months ago, via regular contact with christina I have been taking myself through the the process,
I have only praise for the process , via the use of graphics and the questions it asks of ourselves and others, The potential of the process is massive for all soughts of people from all aspects of life,
Well done Christina !