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Coaching in a crisis

5/4/2020

18 Comments

 
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In times of perceived crisis, the lines between coaching and therapy can sometimes feel more blurred than usual. This is because the kind of issues that people bring to coaching may touch on more personal dimensions and at a deeper level than they would normally. The Coronavirus and the intense drama that surrounds it is a case in point. People may find themselves not only, say, dealing with the impacts of lockdown on their business and work, but also anxieties they hold for the health, safety and well-being of their family, friends and colleagues. So here are some insights from four psychological fields to help coaches enable people to navigate such times and experiences.

First, Gestalt. Notice if and when a person is fixated on one specific dimension of what is taking place, as if that is the only dimension. A vivid, current example is the mass media’s fixation on the number of people contracting or dying from the Corona virus – to the exclusion of attention to a far, far greater number of people who haven’t contracted the virus and who haven’t died from it. It can create the impression that everyone is contracting the virus and that everyone is dying from it. If, therefore, you notice a person becoming overly-preoccupied by one dimension of an issue, acknowledge the underlying feeling (e.g. anxiety) and enable him or her to notice what they are not-noticing.

Second, Existential. The Corona crisis has evoked deep fears, particularly in wealthier countries where people and communities are no longer used to facing these levels of perceived vulnerability and threat. Dramatic soundbites in social media, claiming this is the worst crisis the world has ever faced, add to the sense of fear and alarm – that death and destruction of people, communities, organisations and social systems are imminent. Whilst such apocalyptic visions ignore previous and arguably far-worse crises (e.g. Bubonic plague; Spanish flu; Two World Wars), the coach can use this opportunity to enable people to explore their deeply-held beliefs, values and stance in the world.

Third, Psychodynamics. People, groups, organisations and communities experience the present through the emotional, psychological and cultural filters of the past. People will very likely have experienced crises of one sort of another before that from their standpoint and experience ended badly or, conversely, worked out well in the end. Such experiences will influence what the person perceives, how they feel about it and how they will respond to a crisis now. If you notice a person reacting very strongly, particularly if it appears disproportionate or out of character, acknowledge the feeling and explore how it may be reverberating with experiences from that person or group’s past.
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Fourth, Social Constructs. People create personal and cultural narratives that give focus and shape to their experiences and, thereby, enable people and groups to make sense of them. So, for instance, politicians, health professionals and the media are, currently, presenting very specific versions of events in relation to the Corona crisis. They are construing facts, stories and images selectively to convey a particular narrative that will lead to a certain response; whether that be e.g. to engender public confidence, influence public behaviour...or sell more newspapers. Listen carefully to the stories people are creating and using and, where helpful, enable them to construct a healthier narrative.

Can I help you with navigating a crisis? Get in touch! info@nick-wright.com
18 Comments
Gwen Griffith
6/4/2020 12:02:44 am

Wwwooooooooowwww!!!!

Yes!!

On POINT!! (You are my forever coach guru! Besides Jesus...)

Gwen

Reply
Nick Wright
6/4/2020 04:31:36 pm

Thanks Gwen. Your effervescent feedback made me smile! 😀

Reply
Tamara Seidel
6/4/2020 08:19:04 am

Coronazeit ist schlimm! Es trifft die Menschen unterschiedlich schwer und Menschen lassen sich unterschiedlich schwer treffen. Vieles Äußere kann ich nicht direkt beeinflussen. Hier brauche ich Vertrauen und Gottes Schutz und Segen.
Wie ich persönlich mit dieser Zeit umgehe, kann ich besser steuern.
Ich kann bewusst an positive Ereignisse denken, über andere Themen reden und meinen Alltag nicht nur von Corona bestimmen lassen. Dazu brauche ich Kraft, Mut, Hoffnung und manchmal Hilfe.
Aber es zeigt mir: Es gibt ein Leben in und nach der Corona-Zeit. Gott sei Dank!

Reply
Nick Wright
6/4/2020 04:42:10 pm

Vielen Dank für eine so persönliche Antwort. Ja, die Wahl, worauf wir uns konzentrieren, insbesondere wenn die Nachrichten mit negativen Geschichten gefüllt sind, ist klug und hilfreich für die psychische Gesundheit - insbesondere, wenn wir nicht zur Ablenkung nach draußen gehen können. Möge Gott dich beschützen und in Frieden halten.

Reply
Tamara Seidel
6/4/2020 05:36:34 pm

Danke Nick für diese Kraft gebende Antwort. Gottes Segen für dich und deine wertvolle Arbeit!

Nick Wright
6/4/2020 05:51:26 pm

Danke Tamara. 😀

Tom Johnston MBA
9/4/2020 05:24:35 pm

I'm on a journey from Board Member, leading large scale customer experience solutions with 1000+ team members that's taking me towards a new, more exciting I hope, role as an executive coach for leaders of our future.

I'm not a psychologist but I am studying a Level 7 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring with the British School of Coaching, and I found this article quite fascinating, and very reflective of whats happening, at least in my world, today.

As we all scramble to put business continuity plans in to place, it is very hard, as Nick points out, to notice what is not being noticed. We are running so fast we may forget to slow down and check we are all ok. As a new coach I struggled at first to stay in the moment, and this training, together with a Mindfulness course I recently undertook compliment one another and are helping me to do the right things whilst living in the present. It is what it is.

The headlines are so focused on "the virus" that when a senior lead on a telephone conference coughs, others are frantically checking that we have a succession plan in place, ready to roll out tomorrow. Life isn't just about how we are feeling and coping right now.

The colleagues and friends who were lonely and in need of a hug before the virus are probably more in need of that elusive hug right now, and painfully know that no hug is on the horizon.

Great thought provoking article Nick, and a lot of food for thought not just for today, but also as I grow and develop my coaching skills. I will follow with interest.

Reply
Nick Wright
9/4/2020 05:37:44 pm

Thanks Tom. It sounds like you are on an intriguing personal and career journey at the moment. I will be very interested to keep in touch and to hear how you get on!

I too have noticed that many leaders, in reaction to the Coronacrisis, are feeling disorientated, working long hours and running around in circles in an attempt to re-stabilise. A simple cough, which would previously have gone un-noticed, can create panic.

Whilst very understandable at one level, it can mean that some leaders are making sub-optimal decisions because they don't feel able...or are unwilling...to pause long enough to b...r...e...a...t...h...e, and then to see and feel what emerges into awareness.

I found your comment about 'need of a hug' profoundly moving. Perhaps in situations like this, we need to be even more aware of our own and others' humanity as we seek to navigate and support each other through numerous challenges and opportunities.

On the psychological dimensions, you may find this related article interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/seeing-is-believing.html

Reply
Melodie Turk, MHA
9/4/2020 05:39:06 pm

Thanks for posting this. I recently took a trauma informed care series hosted by Coordinated Care Health. I found the session on resilience particularly helpful and would recommend any OD professional invest in this type of learning. The key to resilience is healthy attachments, so how we foster those healthy attachments will be important and critical to recovering productivity.

Reply
Nick Wright
9/4/2020 05:46:25 pm

Thanks Melodie. I was interested to read of your trauma informed care series. I recently ran a 'psychological dimensions of change and transitions' workshop for trauma informed leaders and practitioners in the UK, c/o Rockpool Life.

I agree that there is a strong link between resilience and healthy relationships. On that theme, you may find these short related pieces interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/isolationship; http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/a-5-x-rs-framework

Reply
Melodie Turk, MHA
10/4/2020 04:58:17 pm

Thanks, Nick. I enjoyed the articles. And your 5 R framework really resonates with me and a simple way to explain the complexity of our work.

Nick Wright
10/4/2020 04:59:15 pm

Thanks Melodie. I’m pleased you found it helpful. 😀

Honeylyn Sillacay
12/4/2020 05:16:02 pm

Thanks for sharing this Nick. What resonates me most is the Second, Existential-while people being lockdown in staying home, they're attention will likely most be in social media where they see lots of opinions, news, and updates about the Corona crisis then coaches can use this opportunity to enable people to explore their deeply-held beliefs, values, and stance in the world.

Reply
Nick Wright
12/4/2020 05:22:31 pm

Thanks Honeylyn. Yes, the media has definitely created a frenzied drama out of the Coronacrisis. It has caused widespread fear and panic...forcing people and communities to face their deepest anxieties. This type of ‘kairos moment’ is often when people are willing to consider and confront deeper existential-spiritual issues than they may ordinarily be willing to do.

Reply
Scott F. Paradis
23/4/2020 12:21:37 pm

True Nick - we often don't have the narrative right and that is what leads us astray. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 12:23:46 pm

Thanks Scott. You reminded me of Brené Brown: 'Beware the stories we tell ourselves.' On that theme, you may find this short related piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/narrative

Reply
Linda Aspey
7/5/2020 11:56:48 am

Great piece Nick - helping people to develop their understanding of their own and others' psychological processes and emotional worlds is so valuable during these times of huge uncertainty and unpredictability. Everyone would benefit from reading this!

Reply
Nick Wright
7/5/2020 11:57:30 am

Thanks for such affirming feedback, Linda. Much appreciated!

Reply



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