Resource created by: The Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling Community

What is the Seed?: We heard in the political pod in October 2021  of a powerful metaphor – Standing with clients by the window as a companion and opening it together.

This reminded me of the wonderful methodology of Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling I use and have been trained in by Penny Tompkins and James Lawley, Marian Way and Caitlin Walker. Their books ‘Metaphors in Mind’ Penny & James and ‘Clean Approaches for Coaches’ Marian Way are worth reading. Using metaphors related to nature and inviting clients to explore these metaphors bring this model to life in a coaching conversation. For example, looking out of the window to notice changing seasons might invite the clients’ reflection on the cycle of life and e.g. renewal and energy (in spring) or taking stock (in autumn).

What have you done with it and what did you learn?: Clean language and symbolic modelling is highly respectful as it uses the language and world view of the client. It allows the exploration of the topic in a different and creative way and in times of crisis helps to overcome stress, overwhelm, and negative emotions. It often brings the client into their body or something outside of their consciousness which can be very empowering. For example, a client of mine who was struggling to motivate her team decided on an image of a beehive with a sound of irritating buzzing. She then realised that the bees were very focused on the making of honey and when I asked her what she wanted to have happen with her team when they were focused, she replied “oh they can all select a clearly identified role like the bees and working together like this they are so productive. That’s how I’ll explain our project to my team- they’ll be like bees making honey in a hive! I’m sure they’d love it.”

The downside is that it can appear ‘clunky’ (it’s how I described it at first) However, as I became more proficient in the methodology and techniques, I realised how powerful it can be for clients. It is also quite daunting at times to be in a space of complete unknown with the client as you have no idea of their metaphor or where they are going with it. However, that’s where the real magic happens in my view. Metaphors describe one thing in terms of another. People find them less scary, for example a client found his metaphor of his Boss as a ‘rally car’ really helped him focus on his Boss’s considerable strengths and not feel so threatened by him. He saw himself as the navigator and this broke down many barriers when thinking about his interactions at their 1-2-1 meetings.

Seed planted by: Jackie Arnold

We met to brainstorm ideas and then played back our progress to like-minded coaches and OD practitioners at The Forest Floor organised by Katherine Long. The annotated slide attached includes contributions from attendees.

This is a work in progress between Maureen Ghirelli and Laura Re Turner

There are many original sources used here which are not my own. All are included in a course authored by Laura Re Turner, Systemic Agile Coaching, accredited by ICAgile. https://futurefocuscoaching.org/product-category/systemic-agile-coaching/

Seed posted by Laura Re Turner

Reviewers notes: The diagram provides a useful scaffolding and points to the complexity of the landscape, as well some big pieces of the jigsaw that we might explore and become informed about as part of our work as coaches. The starting point, the inputs, is a really great foot hold for coaches and coaching.

In essence: Stories and practical ideas and questions on how to bring nature into coaching and supervision work.

This seed provides stories of nature, especially trees, being a part of the coaching space and how using nature-inspired questions and metaphors can open new thinking, provide perspectives, spark ideas, and invite new possibilities.

It is supplemented with 49 questions rooted in nature and gathered under the headings of nature, seed, root, storms, bloom, branch, growth, and wisdom. These questions have been gathered and tested with the individual clients and teams, and are ready to be used in the coaching conversations. The articles also provides references to some useful evidence of the benefits of spending time in nature.

The article by encouraged me to experiment with nature-inspired questions in my coaching sessions in a way that was aligned with my coaching philosophy. Since it would have been new for my clients, I initially considered pre-empting this idea and explaining what I was doing with my clients. However, in the end I decided to just go with it, without introducing and explaining my intention.

I first reviewed all the questions in the “Card Deck” to get the idea of possible questions, but never tried to memorise anything specific. I used the questions as inspiration and for guidance only.

Directly before the session I usually take a few moments to ground myself with the aim to bring nature in. During the sessions I allowed the questions to emerge in the moment without “looking for an opportunity”, and therefore there were sessions where it didn’t happen. I’ve noticed that looking through the window was an accessible way to invite nature into coaching space.

Three key learnings:

• By asking questions related to nature clients look for and find their stories and draw meaning from them. It can be a truly sensory experience with pictures, sounds, smells, touch.
• The space for nature-inspired questions emerges naturally but holding an intention before the session was a useful reminder if this is a new part of the practice.
• The clients don’t have to be in nature to connect with it – a view from the window and plant at home/office are great “tools”. Using memories related to nature and imagination can add an important emotional lens.

The nature-related questions have also changed my daily walks in the nearby woods. Anytime I go out on a walk now I pay much more attention to trees along my favourite path, the colour of leaves, the textures, listening to the sounds have become mini meditations. And in the face of a more challenging day, I often ask myself “What question would you like take with you on a walk today?” – and use the time to reflect and draw inspiration from nature.

References

Jackie Holder, “The Soul of Nature”, Coaching Today, October2020

Jackie Holder, “Inner & Outer – Nature Self-Discovery Deck”, Coaching Today, October2020

Reviewed by: Gosia Hendereson

In essence: If you know you can become a good ancestor then what will you do differently now? – An approach for coaching

The seed is the question: What if we become good Ancestors, and the perspective that underpins it:

• that there can be a more sustainable future, that what we do now matters, and
• we can be good ancestors.

As coaches helping those that we work with to consider their responses to this question could help them take positive action towards a life-affirming future

As a first step I asked myself the question and used the staged process given in Strong et al.’s ‘ What if we became good ancestors guide’ to ask myself what I want to do now to move towards being a good ancestor.

Before coaching sessions reminded myself that could be valuable to bring the perspective to the coaching context. When felt appropriate asked questions that invited the ‘thinker/ coachee’ to consider if they travelled forward in time and looked back what would they want to have done/been.

3 insights

• The personal shifts in mindset and actions feel ‘good’ and seem important for me to be authentic when coaching. For example, each week when I do the shopping order I change one item to a more planet-friendly purchase. As a family we discuss on a weekly basis how we can contribute to regeneration rather than simply being consumers.
• When people engage and connect with a ‘higher purpose’ they feel energised and as a coach I feel good. Often asking about the purpose of their identified goals and the legacy they want to leave helps with this engagement. For example, when working with school leaders I have asked “ What is it that you want your pupils to say about you when they are adults?” This starts to get into thinking about future generations.
• Bringing the perspective into some coaching conversations is tricky. When people voice a view that is more short term we can wonder how to manage this. Sometimes it seems appropriate to persevere, perhaps by noticing that staying with the short term and sometimes it seems appropriate to ‘back off’. But it is not always clear!

Reviewed by: Rebecca Raybould

Original source: “The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World” by Roman Krznaric

I found this an incredibly grounding set of slides. The premise of greater earth connection builds a pathway I can follow and invite my clients onto.

The premise is that the stronger the earth connection, the greater our:

• Conscious relationship recognising the interconnectedness of earth’s ecosystem
• Awareness of the need to support earth as earth supports humanity
• Connection to a divine cycle of life
• Clarity and sense of who we are.

There are simple ways of generating earth connection experiences, each one is valid and impactful.  The most concrete nature connection I create with my clients are nature walks and coaching outside. I realise that I often use metaphor and mental imagery to evoke trees, gardens, and the application of living systems leadership principles. I am wondering how I might make these experiences more concrete.

The NatureConnected Framework (Slide 9) is a great practice reflection tool. I use it to rate myself and my conversations on a daily basis, asking: What earth connection am I / have I facilitated for myself and my clients today?
What impact has it had on me, on my client?

A stretch for me would be to take this NatureConnected Framework tool and use it with my clients. I have no idea of how I or whether I could do that.

Reviewed by Alison Whybrow