Coaching and Beliefs by Jan Elfline

Coaching and Beliefs Page 2 of 3
by Jan Elfline
In contrast, when beliefs begin to transform, desired and lasting behavioral
changes come about with less effort. As an old belief shifts, we find that
changing what we do seems natural and even inevitable. Our old behaviors
produce a feeling of incongruence. Our new actions reflect current beliefs and
“feel right”.
In coaching you will have opportunities to address both beliefs about capabilities
and beliefs about identity. From about the age of five onward, we develop skills
and capabilities consciously by choosing what we learn. As we continue to grow,
our beliefs about our capabilities expand. Children rarely question whether or
not they are capable of doing something, they just try it. If they fail, they try
again or in a different way. But as we grow older, we may try something several
times, but when frustration sets in, we often assume that we are not capable and
we never try again. As a coach, you may want to question the old evidence the
client is referencing; how did they come to this belief about their capability?
As adults, we have little tolerance for moving through learning curves and we
get easily frustrated and jump to conclusions about our capabilities. Albert
Bandura at Stanford University studied how learning takes place and created the
now famous Bandura Curve. He found that learning is a process of moving
through crisis points that require that we believe we can change or improve. As
we believe in our capabilities, our performance rises to meet the belief. As we
question our ability, our performance falters.
In working with clients, it is useful to assume that learning and change are
processes that are influenced by our underlying beliefs. As coaches, we often
speak about the processes of learning and change. We identify a dip as what it
is, a stumble, not evidence that the client should quit striving for what they want.
Beliefs about identity show up in the coaching relationship as “I am” statements.
The client just assumes that “this is the way I am.” Here again, the coach can
challenge the client by suggesting that their statement is a belief. The coach
could suggest that the client “try on” on a different belief about who they are,
and notice what behaviors would follow from the new belief.
People often have a sense that change at the identity level is difficult or even
impossible. In reality, we are constantly in the process of inventing ourselves. By
deciding to work with a coach, the client has chosen to be conscious about the
process of defining what their life will be like. In essence, they are inventing a
© Copyright 2004 Jan Elfline, ICF MCC www.JanElfline.com