In Episode 14 of Catalyst Coach Certification Programme, Coach Sarita Rochwani introduced us to the Flow5 C.O.A.C.H Process, the proprietary framework behind Catalyst Coaching created by Coach Mel Leow.
The process combines the concept of flow as in the natural movements of being carried forward as a water current as well as Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow state as a means towards finding happiness through optimal experiences.
Csikszentmihalyi describes eight characteristics of flow:
Complete concentration on the task;
Clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback;
Transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down);
The experience is intrinsically rewarding;
Effortlessness and ease;
There is a balance between challenge and skills;
Actions and awareness are merged, losing self-conscious rumination;
There is a feeling of control over the task.
Coach Sarita then went on to elaborate how we 'flow' through the coaching process in five steps, represented in the acronym COACH. The following table summarises the rest of the discussion.
Reflections
I felt that introducing Flow5 COACH Process only after the foundations of defining the principles in Level 1 & 2 was a wise decision after reading observations that many coaches tend to otherwise venture too quickly to practice and making mistakes. I have a tendency to want to activate quickly and being slowed down to think and reflect on what it means to BE a coach and not just DO as a coach.
Coach Sarita reminded us that before we coach, we must first experience being coached or being asked the same questions we will be asking our Coachees. If we don't even know the answers for ourselves, how can we help others answer their own questions?
She reiterated the first principle of Coaching - That our Coachee is Creative, Resourceful and Whole and as Coaches, we should stay open, not be overly attached to outcomes in sessions but flow with this in mind. The Openness is critical for us to unblock so we hear our Coachees clearly, to be sensitive to how they are thinking and feeling
The Flow5 COACH Process is simple enough to be remembered and intuitive in many ways. It broadly encompasses the whole framework of coaching and also allows us to develop depth. Where areas cannot be fully covered, there seems to be sufficient direction to go deeper so that we have a bigger worldview & toolkit to support our Coachees who may think very differently from ourselves.
I am mindful that my readings have only been on the internet and the following reflection is something I need to work through. One slight issue is while there are a few principles in Flow Theory which might be similar and desirable in the Coaching eg developing Focus and Concentration, Clarity of purpose, raising the bar on Challenge and Skills, the merging of Awareness and Action, Overthinker Mary feels that
we may not always have immediate reward/ feedback that builds towards to flow state
the change in which Time is perceived is ambiguous. Does this mean that in the activity of coaching we lose track of time?
Also the sense of control over the task runs counter to advice that we should let go of control of outcomes and trust the process.
Then again, is it more important to relax, to go with the flow than to aim for a flow state?
Final Takeaway
When I tried to answer the 5 questions for myself especially on my Core, I realised that even in a space of a few months since I last asked WHY, there has already been some change because I have begun more to think about the origins of my thoughts and actions, more than about just changing what I do. This helps me shift the focus of my asking when I am aware how the Process can change me and understand what a shift may feel like for my Coachee.
I also had the opportunity of asking two friends in a social setting the first question "What is your highest intention?". Responses took a longer time first because they had never been asked this question. It was interesting that the conversation flowed differently - though we were relaxed, there was a depth in sharing which I had not seen. I am keen now to practice this process within and beyond coaching and develop the sensitivity I need to co-create with my Coachee.
Coach Maire, peace off...
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