The Iceberg Theory is a metaphor often used to illustrate how most of the human psyche - our thoughts, motives and feelings - lie beneath the surface, the way most of a real iceberg remains hidden beneath the water. In Episode 15 of the Catalyst Coaching C Programme, Coach Wendy Koh used the model to spark the discussion of human needs & drivers, part of the Core in COACH Process.
The visible part above the surface i.e. our behavior, speech and actions are a very small part of what is actually going on within a person. Hence, one should probe deeper beneath the surface to uncover what might be the submerged issues which the Coachee may or may not be consciously suppressing, in particular mindsets and motivation are closely connected to human needs and drivers driving change.
A key contributor to our understanding of Human Needs and Drivers is Abraham Maslow who presented a Hierarchy of Needs a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.
Maslow's theory posits that individuals are driven by a series of needs that are arranged in a hierarchical order, with basic physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter forming the foundation, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem, and ultimately self-actualization at the pinnacle.
The theory of motivation underwent 2 major modifications - Although it was implied that one could not move to the next level until one had fulfilled the more 'basic' ones, Marslow revised this to explain that progression was not linear. Maslow later introduced the concept of self-transcendence, which goes beyond self-actualization and focuses on the idea of connecting with something greater than oneself, such as spirituality or a sense of purpose.
Coach Wendy noted that needs and drivers may significantly change depending on a person's life stage eg highly successful people leaving the corporate world to "give back" to society or people realising their limited mortality achieving self-transcendance by downsizing their needs to focus on community. Once again, it is important that we understand what is our Coachee's motivation within the context of his life stage and because these are fluid and they shift, instead of having certainty, the Coach must be curious at all times and must be comfortable with the sense of not knowing but still pursuing a deeper understanding.
Coach Wendy also introduced The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey. This book examines the psychological aspects of sports and performance. Gallwey's insights on the mental side of the game are not only applicable to tennis players but can also be beneficial to performance in other areas of life, such as importance of mental strength, focus, and self-awareness. The Inner Game of Tennis explores concepts like self-doubt, concentration, and the relationship between the mind and body, offering a fresh perspective on how anyone can improve their performance by mastering their inner game.
Reflections
I have used the Iceberg model and Abraham Marslow's HIerachy of Needs in teaching marketing of arts events as well as how to write characters in plays which are multidimensional and real. In both instances what stands out is that while both state that humans are complex, these theories may oversimplify motivation and are somewhat dated. This is because most of us live in societies that are driven by wants rather than needs and wants undergo change. I may need some form of transport but my motivation might perhaps be directed at the latest model of Tesla. Technology has made it such that though I am struggling to feed my family, I need a mobile phone and other tech devices.
New models of motivation such as the 4 Drive Theory by Harvard Business School's Lawrence and Nohria and Daniel Pink's Driven have more recently become more useful models and it is likely that the post-pandemic workplace will see the need to generate new theories to motivate a disengaged generation of workers. (Gallup's State of the Workplace Report 2024 cites that globally only 23% are actively engaged, 62% are disengaged and 15% are actively disengaged)
Mental health and well-being have also not been factored in the longstanding theories of behaviour because productivity has been the focus. Work-life integration rather than work-life balance is what people seem to aspire to - their success may no longer be defined in promotions and pay raises but also includes how well they have parented their children, maintained good health and developed strong connections with their communities. Stopping at Love and Belongingness Needs does not necessarily mean that they are any less motivated nor fulfilled and they don't have to dial this down till after they retire.
Final Reflection
I confess I have always been the oddball in my family - they are all in banking and finance while I am primarily in the arts and therefore seem flakey to them. I also rebelled and became a Christian in a non-Christian home at an early age and I won't go into the list of other rebel stories. For the most part of my life, my motivation has been to prove to my family and the world that I have some worth and am not flakey. I ended up being an overachiever but it gets tiring to seek affirmation all the time from people.
The change in my driver was when I had a spiritual revelation that I was placed in particular time and space with a specific purpose. As God is the Creator and the first person He put His spirit into was a craftsman/ artist, the arts is not just expressive - it has the power to heal, to bring communities together, it transcends cultural barriers. it is a catalyst to spark difficult conversations that will lead to change and transformation. My work with young people in pre-employment stage of their lives opens me to hearing about the dreams, goals and frustrations of our next generation and I encourage young people to find ways to tell their stories or re-write their narratives and give these voice.
At 65, where people are ticking off bucket lists for travel or Michelin star restaurants to visit or their next trophy ie the latest Birkin bag,I draw strange looks as someone who wants to start a strengths-based learning and development company, trail blaze advocating grief recovery in the community and teach younger kids that they already have unique value so that they will not need to find influencers to mimic and that they have something good which is worth protecting. I think I have just enough wind in my sails for another adventure.
I see the complexity of what drives me, sometimes my insecurities more than lofty aspirations of fame or desire for the next new gadget (gadgets are very good though). When I certainly understand that the person sitting in front of me is also a bundle of fears, insecurities, hopes, dreams and desires which are unlike any other person's and do not fit anymore into theoretic models. I then begin to listen more and unpack with them what they really need and help channel their energy to what will drive them for the future.
Coach Maire, peace off...
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