The Three Dimensions of Individual Coaching

“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.”

- Tim Gallwey

In the realm of coaching, a coachs’ role extends far beyond being navigators for our clients in their journey towards specific goals. Our mission evolves from a more holistic objective, encompassing the cultivation of new skills and the transformation of our clients’ way of being. I am often asked about the differences between the methods of coaching I’ve studied and in which I’m certified, which cover various schools of thought and methodologies. A more helpful question might be “What do they all have in common?” In answer to this question, I would like to share with you the three dimensions of coaching. All three dimensions are valid and important. In working with clients I meet them where they are, depending on their needs at that moment. Choosing which dimension and style of coaching to use with each client is informed by what they are experiencing, what they want to work on, and where they want to go with their coaching journey.

Horizontal Coaching: Navigating Goals and Objectives

The first dimension of coaching is about enabling clients to navigate their way towards specific goals and objectives. The coaching relationship is a symbiotic partnership, where we aid clients in identifying their targets, strategize a roadmap, and ensure they remain committed to the journey.

This approach is reminiscent of the behaviorist school of thought, suggesting that human actions are guided by external stimuli (a.k.a. “The carrot or the stick” approaches to getting yourself or others to do what you want them to do). Such techniques are broadly used in  various facets of life, from management strategies to parenting techniques and personal motivation mechanisms (“I can have that chocolate bar when I finish this report.”), they often yield fleeting results. The absence of the stimulus often leads to a regression of behaviors.

This method can sometimes oversimplify the human experience and create dependency on others to help us move forward. On the plus side, Horizontal Coaching can provide short term wins, lay the foundation for deeper work, and provide the client the opportunity to identify a coach with whom they want to form a deep connection so that they may safely explore other realms of their life.

Vertical Coaching: Cultivating Skills

The second dimension in coaching revolves around cultivating new skills in clients. Rather than merely instructing and supporting them, I focus on empowering them with the necessary skills and growth practices to consistently accomplish their goals and dreams independently. This process demands more from the coaching relationship for both parties, involving a more significant investment of time, deeper (more vulnerable) engagement, and the forging of a more robust and trusting relationship with my client.

Let’s take one of my historic challenges, public speaking, as an example. In the first dimension, I would assist a client in preparing a speech they can be proud of, take them through some positive visualizations, and check-in to ensure their practice is on track before their speaking engagement. But in the second dimension, we would delve deeper. I would support them in educating themselves on effective public speaking techniques and developing their personal delivery style, offer practices for managing anxiety and engaging the audience, help them make sense of the lived experience of giving the speech in ways that build confidence for future endeavors, and identify further areas for exploration. By helping my clients develop skills and practices that grow their possibilities and confidence, I cultivate self-reliant clients, thus eliminating the need for constant external guidance.

Transformational Coaching: Transforming Perspectives

The third and most profound dimension of coaching is about transforming a clients' perspective and identity. This level of coaching transcends specific goals and skills to focus on personal evolution. My objective is to broaden their perspectives, bring them new insights on where they stand in the world, foster a sense of possibility, and alleviate emotional distress in favor of continuous learning and curiosity about the experiences we find ourselves involved in.

Returning to the common fear of public speaking, at this dimension, I wouldn’t just address the client's speech preparation and delivery skills. We would also explore their relationship with themselves, addressing any deep-seated fears and anxieties associated with public speaking and redefining their perception of success and failure. Transformational Coaching offers a holistic perspective, alleviating psychological discomfort and opening doors for personal growth.

Having been trained many years back as an Architect, I often describe the three levels like this: Horizontal Coaching is for when you want to reorganize the furniture in your home to make your living space work more efficiently, and you hire an interior designer to design that for you. Vertical coaching is hiring a professional builder to help you add a new top floor so that you can add new dimensions and uses into your home. Transformational Coaching is going within to change the nature of your relationship with yourself so that you can live more harmoniously within your family, home, and community.

In my coaching practice, I have added a fourth dimension: Working with the subconscious. This dimension can take any of several forms such as re-coding, hypnotherapy, or other practices which help us move past subconscious blocks and unconscious patterns.

My Calling as a Coach

My calling as a coach is to help my clients extend their horizons and unlock their potential. When individuals bump into the boundaries of their current worldviews or feel that they can’t get past unhelpful behavioral patterns on their own, they look for help. The coaching journey is one that we undertake together, as genuine expansion of understanding and growth is a collaborative endeavor. Coaching, in its truest essence, transcends mere goal attainment – it's about nurturing personal evolution.