Coaching Case Studies - 1
The following scenarios invite readers to see how living into the 8 Core Competencies show up differently when viewed at the PCC-level of coaching VS the ACC-level of coaching. For each of the 8 competencies listed below, you'll find a few questions to consider and respond to.
Competency 1 | Demonstrates Ethical Practice
A Coachee comes to you seeking grief coaching. The Coachee is Asian. She lives and works in an Asian country. She speaks fluent English and her culture and demeanor are very Western. She has experienced multiple loses in her life. She tells you that she lost her brother through suicide a few years back. She also lost her mother and grandmother. In recent months, she lost a serious love relationship.
The Coachee shares that she has tried everything she knows to deal with her grief. She goes out with friends. She has tried yoga and therapy. She exercises regularly. Nothing seems to help. She feels “helpless” and can’t seem to be able to find “happiness.” When you ask her to define happiness, she talks about her relationship with her boyfriend. “That’s the only time in my life when I have been happy,” she says.
As you coach her, you notice that there is no affect in her demeanor and she speaks in a monotone voice. When you ask her about these, she tells you that she is sad all the time. She also tells you that she is constantly questioning the purpose of her life.
The Coachee shares that she has tried everything she knows to deal with her grief. She goes out with friends. She has tried yoga and therapy. She exercises regularly. Nothing seems to help. She feels “helpless” and can’t seem to be able to find “happiness.” When you ask her to define happiness, she talks about her relationship with her boyfriend. “That’s the only time in my life when I have been happy,” she says.
As you coach her, you notice that there is no affect in her demeanor and she speaks in a monotone voice. When you ask her about these, she tells you that she is sad all the time. She also tells you that she is constantly questioning the purpose of her life.
- How would an ACC coach approach this situation?
- How would a PCC coach approach this situation?
- Justify your answer using the ICF Code of Ethics.
Competency 2 | Embodies a Coaching Mindset
(For this competency, use the same case study used for Competency. Here is some additional information.) The Coachee meets with you every week for several weeks. After a few sessions, you don’t seem to observe any movement forward. Having said that, the Coachee shows up every week. Every session is almost the same as the previous one.
- What would be an acceptable ACC approach?
- What would be an acceptable PCC approach?
- Justify your answer using the ICF Code of Ethics.
Competency 3 | Establishes & Maintains Agreements
A Coachee comes to their first session. After greeting them and talking about confidentiality and the ICF Code of Ethics, you partner with the Coachee to identify what they want to explore during the session (Competency 3.1).
A Coachee comes to their first session. She tells you that her goal for the session is to develop more confidence.
- As a coach, what would be the next step?
- As a PCC coach, what’s an acceptable amount of time before you take the next step?
- As a PCC coach, what Isn't an acceptable amount of time before you take the next step?
A Coachee comes to their first session. She tells you that her goal for the session is to develop more confidence.
- As a PCC coach, what would you do next?
- As a PCC coach, what would not be an acceptable approach?
Competency 4 | Cultivates Trust and Safety
As an individual you hold strong views regarding LGBTQ issues. You like your Coachee and have been working with him for a while. During your next session, the Coachee discloses his views regarding LGBTQ issues. The views go directly against your own beliefs.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 4 markers.
Competency 5 | Maintains Presence
You are in the middle of a coaching session. The Coachee has been exploring a specific area of their professional life. As a Coach, you are personally interested in the area the two of you are exploring. Having said that, at one point the Coachee tells you that they are satisfied with the exploration. As their coach, you feel that they are not quite done and you, fascinated by the sharing, want to explore deeper.
In the middle of the session and after you and the Coachee have established the goals for the session, the Coachee brings in a different area unrelated to the initial part of the session.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 5 markers.
In the middle of the session and after you and the Coachee have established the goals for the session, the Coachee brings in a different area unrelated to the initial part of the session.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 5 markers.
Competency 6 | Listens Actively
Your Coachee is from a different culture. In his culture, respect for the elders is expected at all times. The Coachee shares with you that one of his subordinates is an elderly man from his culture. The individual is having major performance challenges. Your Coachee asks you how he should approach the situation.
In the middle of the session, your Coachee shares something very deep within herself and begins to cry. You have experienced something similar in your life and feel connected with the Coachee.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 6 markers.
In the middle of the session, your Coachee shares something very deep within herself and begins to cry. You have experienced something similar in your life and feel connected with the Coachee.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 6 markers.
Competency 7 | Evokes Awareness
In the middle of a session, the Coachee discovers she is very angry with the situation she is sharing with you. All of a sudden, she starts cursing and continues to express her anger. Because of your upbringing, you are very uncomfortable with cursing. In addition, when faced with outward expressions of anger, you tend to minimize and ignore the situation.
Throughout the course of the session, the Coachee reveals that they are dissatisfied with their job.
- As a PCC coach, what would your approach be?
- Support your position with Competency 7 markers.
Throughout the course of the session, the Coachee reveals that they are dissatisfied with their job.
- What would you do to assist the Coachee expand their thinking about their job?
- Support your position with Competency 7 markers.
Competency 8 | Facilitates Client Growth
- As a PCC coach, what questions would you ask a Coachee to meet the standards for Competency 8?
- Support your position with Competency 8 markers.
EXERCISE
Share your comments below about the coaching scenarios.
Posted in Books and Resources
Recent
Co-active Coaching (Part 4)
May 9th, 2023
Co-active Coaching - Part 2
March 14th, 2023
Unlocking Potential
December 12th, 2022
Create a plan for forming faith
October 15th, 2022
Coaching for Leadership
October 10th, 2022
Embedding accountability into coaching relationships
October 5th, 2022
Coaching Teams at Work
September 19th, 2022
Breathing new life into ministry
September 12th, 2022
Using direct communication
August 29th, 2022
Creating new awareness
August 22nd, 2022
Archive
2023
2022
January
Take time to assess your lifeUse sprints to move fasterMeasure what mattersAsk your friends WATER questionsQuestions to ask your teamIs your church is stuck?4 questions to ask faith mentorsDevelop active listening skills2 ways to make better decisionsMy 5 daily questionsHelping people changeCreate Sabbath moments everydayReframe your future5 questions to reframe your future
February
Write better emailsBlueprints for forming faithCreate safe space for clientsBecoming a virtual organization6 barriers to extending hospitalityDevelop coaching presence5 phrases to use when coachingCreate a planning road mapHelp clients ask better questionsIndicators of spiritual maturity10 giving metrics to review annuallyAre your clients ready to be coached?
March
April
May
August
October
December
5 Comments
I appreciated this walk through and start to the course. The shift from coaching the "what' to coaching the "who" and how to ask questions differently to focus on the who. I want to continue to be in tune with the client’s language, feelings, beliefs, potential blind spots, and other barriers to moving forward. This can help frame powerful questions to build clarity and context for the client. Being present is an important role as the coach and trust the process. The client is in charge.
Reviewing these case studies together in class was an excellent way to open up conversation around the 8 core competencies, specifically in the areas of digging deeper as a PCC level coach, and not being so quick to give up. Instead, a PCC level coach should push and challenge the client in order to get to the root of the problem, and never casually accept what's initially presented as the true root problem.
Working our way through these Case studies was a very effective way to begin our exploration of PCC level coaching. Digging into to the Core Competencies was an excellent refresher for me as an invitation into going deeper into the Competencies as an entre into PCC-level understanding and practice of the Core Competencies. Initially our class discussion "blew out the cobwebs" for me but as our discussion progressed I began to glimpse how being rooted in a deeper understanding of the Competencies was key to becoming an exceptional PCC-level coach. Our discussion helpfully introduced the PCC-level practice of moving beyond the "what" to the "who" of the client's situation.
I found our first class really helpful in laying the groundwork for moving from ACC level to PCC level coaching. Last spring during the ACC class, I caught glimpses of the move from focusing on the what to the Who in my own coaching and my fellow coaches. This class provided specific examples of what that move looks like. It helped clarify the work of a PCC coach and provided a great introduction for what is to come. I find myself more readily shifting now from the what to the Who as I continue to develop my coaching skills. It is becoming more natural, session by session.
Starting off to think around case studies was really motivating! It is wonderful to learn from other students how they would react/ask another question. I felt I already needed to know the difference between ACC and PCC and would have liked to have an intro class :), and maybe to learn more about the students in this class - their coaching journey, their hopes and challenges. I hope we will use case studies again in class!