Focus on the whole person

The whole is more than the sum of its parts #Aristotle.

A significant problem among coaches generally is that they want to solve problems, and as such, the foremost question on their minds is this "what's the problem to be solved, goal to achieve, or milestone to reach? Of course, we have the best intentions; a genuine desire to understand and then provide solutions to the problem.

Most times, as coaches, we want to dive right in without looking at the bigger picture and, as such, take advantage of the solution to the problem. It is easy to look at the symptoms or consider external causes and solutions to issues without pausing to consider what is causing the individual to exhibit those symptoms. However, it is critical to coach the whole person, not just aspects of them. Now, what does it mean to coach a real person?

In a coaching session, you are not sitting across a problem but across a person. Although the coachee has a problem to solve, a dream to fulfill, or a change to make, still the individual is more than the problem at hand. This is the whole person, including the heart, mind, body, and spirit. Regardless of the situation, you can't address it in isolation. It is inextricably intertwined with the client's whole life.

As life coaches, we must consider all those other aspects of the client's life. This includes an awareness of their early formative experiences, past experiences, race, culture, values, skills, education, ethics, and class. You focus on the person and aim to work with the coachee's entire heart, body, mind, and soul rather than just focusing on the individual problem.

These are all parts of what make up the whole person. It would help if you took the time to understand the client's makeup and then utilize that knowledge to shape your interaction with them during the coaching session. Having that level of insight will help you more effectively coach the whole person. A significant benefit of focusing on the entire person is that your level of engagement will be higher, and with this comes better results.

Sometimes the right solution to a problem may have emotional consequences that are equally important. Therefore coaches must become acutely aware of all the different ways a specific issue is interlinked in a person's life. The fact is that no problem exists in isolation; a decision in an area will inevitably affect other spheres of life. For instance, an exciting career move may be advantageous but negatively impact relationships, family, and health.

Of course, solving a problem externally may be a part of resolving an issue; however, in most cases, external solutions are not the most crucial part. The missing piece is the 'person as the whole.'

A client approached me recently and said that he needed help with financing. He just wanted to get things rolling right away. However, I bulked at his request and told him I wanted a fuller picture of what he was going through.

At first, he didn't seem to understand what I meant. But I helped him to see that getting the financing is not the problem, but there is a need to uncover some underlying issue, not just scratch the problem at the surface. If I had followed his lead, I would focus on the external, coaching the problem. Instead, I focused on what was happening inside of him.

If you endeavor to follow the leaf to the branch and then travel from the branch to the trunks and finally the root, you will be able to uncover a deeper connection. With these internal insights in place, you will be able to focus on the problem and the person as a whole. The coachee may only be focused on a specific goal, but as a coach, pay attention to the larger and fuller connections – the expression of something much more valuable.

You can only evoke transformation when you help your client to find internal solutions to their problems. This does not necessarily mean a change in the circumstances of the coachee, but it is reflected in a person's way of being, mindset, and perspective. The result is a far-reaching transformation that goes beyond just the immediate problem. It offers an opportunity to expand the coachee's potential and capacity for growth. Coaches can inspire and ultimately evoke transformation by taking a firm stand for the most significant possible impact.