I recently conducted a life coaching session with my client Mathew. He is a 34- year-old Marketing executive at a marketing agency. Mathew has been in the same job position for ten years and feels stagnant. He dreams of opening his marketing agency but is skeptical about leaving his work with good pay for a risky business. Mathew has decided to seek life coaching to help him make this transition. In my initial conversation with Mathew, I helped him understand the basics of life coaching, including my role in the process, the potential value of the coaching experience, and the nature of confidentiality in accordance with the ICF Code of Ethics, which requires coaches to disclose nature of privacy and the value of coaching prior to or at the initial meeting (International Coaching Federation,2021). I explained to Mathew that my role as his life coach is to support and guide him through this life decision. I also explained that this process would help him transition to his new business venture. I also explained that his records would be kept confidential throughout the process.
ICF Code of Ethics dictates that coaches should ensure that their practices are supported by scientific study (International Coaching Federation,2021). I complied with this standard by ensuring that Mathew understood that the coaching experience was based on positive psychology. I explained that positive psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on individual strengths to promote happiness and well-being. I also ensured Mathew understood that I applied this concept since he was mainly struggling with believing in himself. Thus, positive psychology would help cultivate a positive mindset toward this change. I specified that I would be applying the strength-based approach, which utilizes strengths to achieve meaningful goals that align with his strengths, virtues, and capabilities to ensure goal achievement.
I explained to Mathew that I would be administering a strength assessment to understand his unique qualities using the Virtues in Action (VIA) questionnaire. I defined to Mathew that the VIA is a tool that measures 24 character strengths and categorizes them under six virtues as dictated by the VIA Institute (n.d.). I ensured Mathew understood that identifying these character strengths and virtues could improve his ability to accomplish goals, happiness, performance, and reduce stress. I clarified that the assessment has its capabilities and shortcomings prior to the assessment. I explained that the VIA questionnaire helps in identifying the major character strengths and virtues, which makes leveraging them easier. However, I also explained that some of them may be positive traits and not necessarily strengths, such as humor. I elaborated that this was because for a positive trait to be considered a character strength, it must possess elements of morality (Park et al.2017). I also explained that the VIA tool may not accurately rate strengths since some of them may be demonstrated on specific occasions, such as bravery in times of danger. However, I also emphasized that the most essential aspect of the VIA tool was that it encouraged self-awareness, which led to the formation of meaningful goals that would increase happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction.
Having understood these aspects, Mathew proceeded with the questionnaire and identified his five main strengths as creativity, leadership, perseverance, spirituality, and perspective. I explained to Mathew that these strengths would play an essential role in making the transition and successfully running his marketing agency. As a creative individual, he would manage to develop intriguing marketing campaigns for his clients. As a leader, he would run successful teams and projects. As a resilient individual, he would overcome challenges in his new venture and see them as opportunities for growth. Perspective would help him assess various aspects of a marketing campaign and shape it to meet the client’s needs. His spirituality strength would offer support and encouragement in his new venture. I then engaged Mathew in setting goals that aligned with these strengths to help him successfully transition from his job to his business.
After the session, I reflected on the impact of the VIA on my personal and spiritual development. I realized that the VIA could make a significant impact on my life. The tool identified my main strengths as kindness, honesty, love, spirituality, and creativity. Creativity can help me improve my personal life by fostering innovation and enhancing problem-solving skills, leading to new opportunities that inspire life satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. Kindness, honesty, and love can help me improve and form meaningful relationships that provide support. Implementing these strengths can lead to increased compassion, reduced stress, and overall well-being. Spirituality as a strength plays a critical role in improving the spiritual aspects of my life by providing a sense of purpose, inner peace, and a connection to God, which offers a sense of comfort, support, and a framework for living.
My client Martin is worried about succeeding in his new venture, and therefore, I implemented positive psychology to change his mindset and also to influence his resilience. This change can also be inspired by grit. According to Duckworth (2018), grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. To demonstrate grit, one must show incredible resilience. Grit can influence my personal and spiritual life in a more significant way. Grit can help me overcome obstacles and inspire me to achieve my long-term goals, such as working as a counselor. Grit can instill resilience when I am facing spiritual challenges and inspire steadfast commitment to religious practices such as praying. While resilience may be difficult to sustain during difficulties, deliberate practice can ensure that I remain resilient towards challenges and focus on my long-term goals.
References
Duckworth, A. (2018). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.
International Coaching Federation. (2021). ICF Code of Ethics. International Coaching Federation- Professional Coaching Association. https://coachingfederation.org/app/uploads/2021/01/ICF-Code-of-Ethics-1.pdf
VIA Institute. (n.d.). VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character. VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute. https://www.viacharacter.org/
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