OUR COACHING MANIFESTO
COACHING ANOTHER PERSON IS A PRIVILEGE. IT’S A JOY TO PLAY A PART IN ENABLING A PERSON TO BECOME ‘UNSTUCK’, BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE, AND SEE THEM TAKE ACTION TOWARDS THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.
At Oasis, we take a whole-person approach. This means we work with who you are as well as the issues you are facing. As a result the outcomes are sustainable, and the impact is transformative.
This manifesto will help make clear what a whole person approach means in practice.
Coach with your head, heart and soul. Great training and regular supervision will all help you coach. What makes the real difference is you, fully present, fully human, giving your attention to another person.
Create a relationship. The real power of coaching comes from the trust and connection you are able to forge with each other. A strong relationship means more is possible: more support; more choice; more challenge; and this will have a powerful impact on the outcome of the coaching.
Work in partnership. Not something you do to someone, but something we do together. You play a particular, recognised role in the partnership. In this context, the power is shared.
Coach with courage. To work deeply with clients, creating a safe space to explore unknown territory for both of you. Working without knowing the answers can unlock hidden resources and previously unrecognised strengths. Working this way requires you to fully be yourself..
Be aware of the bigger picture. Explore the personal and professional context your client is living in. We are all part of a living system of connections, opportunities and potential restrictions. Having time and space to make sense of these is both healthy and necessary when engaging a person’s readiness to take action.
Keep on learning and growing. Our clients are also our teachers. If we are open and enquiring, we can learn through them. Beyond our technical coaching skills, it’s vital to keep learning about ourselves. The more we learn, the more effective we become, and the further we are able to go with our clients.
Know your place! It is not for you to drive change nor take charge. Goals, agendas and the decision to act or not lies with the client. As a coach, your role is to facilitate your clients’ learning, growth and choice. Create a safe space, challenge and offer guidance for clients to explore, but meet people where they really are, as opposed to where you think they should be.
Get help yourself. Whether this is through regular supervision, or gathering a group of supportive peers around you with whom you can explore your own questions. Having your own support in place will make for greater freedom for you and safer, more effective coaching for your clients.
You can download a copy of our manifesto HERE