META+COACH- practical and easy application of Cognitive behavioral therapy

The  Meta+Coach model -  

 proven to have  significant improvement 

in both executive  functioning 

and quality of life.

The  Meta+Coach model is based on the  Cognitive behavioral Therapy  (CBT) approach.   CBT  is proven to have  significant improvement in both executive  functioning and quality of life.Since 1998 this  has been endorsed by participants in the coaching program (and by their sponsoring companies) to be effective for a range of problems of executive working such as self awareness, communication disorders, emotional dissonance;  leadership style  team working   

 The CBT approach in executive coaching (as espoused in our Meta+Coach model)  is based on fundamental principles

1.   executive work  problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.

2.   behavioral  problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.

3.   coaching can help to learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

·          The Meta+Coach model places a strong  emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. This could be done by personal efforts to change thinking patterns and behavioral patterns by:

·         identifying specific problems or issues in your daily life at home or work.

·         becoming aware of unproductive thought patterns and how they can impact your life

·         identifying negative thinking and reshaping it in a way that changes how you feel

·          Learning to recognize one's distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality.

·                Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.

·                Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.

·                Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence is one's own abilities.

·                Facing one's fears instead of avoiding them.

·          Using role playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.

·                Learning to calm one's mind and relax one's body.  learning new behaviors and putting them into practice

·        

THE STEPS IN META+COACH MODEL

·         Identify troubling situations or conditions in your worklife. 

 These may include such issues as a  work problems; team relations; leadership style of your boss and your career plans You and your coach  may spend some time deciding what problems and goals you want to focus on.

The steps in the introductory  phase in Meta+Coach model include:

Step 1: Identify critical behaviors/situation 

Step 2: Determine whether critical behaviors are excesses or deficits

Step 3: Evaluate critical behaviors for frequency, duration, or intensity (obtain a baseline)

Step 4: If excess, attempt to decrease frequency, duration, or intensity of behaviors; if deficits, attempt to increase behaviors.

 Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, coaches are  helped to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions and behavior.  I never cease to be amazed at the power of the coaching process to draw out the skills or talent that was previously hidden within an individual, and which invariably finds a way to solve a problem previously thought unsolvable 

 

COPING WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES

The Meta+Coach model  emphasizes what is going on in the person's current worklife, rather than what has led up to their difficulties. A certain amount of information about one's history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life's challenges . This process involves the following phases: 

 

·         Become aware of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs about these problems.  

Once you've identified the problems to work on, your therapist will encourage you to share your thoughts about them. This may include observing what you tell yourself about an experience (self-talk), your interpretation of the meaning of a situation, and your beliefs about yourself, other people and events. Your therapist may suggest that you keep a journal of your thoughts.

 

·         Identify negative or inaccurate thinking.  

To help you recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that may be contributing to your problem, your therapist may ask you to pay attention to your physical, emotional and behavioral responses in different situations.

 

·         Reshape negative or inaccurate thinking.  

Your therapist will likely encourage you to ask yourself whether your view of a situation is based on fact or on an inaccurate perception of what's going on. This step can be difficult. You may have long-standing ways of thinking about your life and yourself. With practice, helpful thinking and behavior patterns will become a habit and won't take as much effort.

 

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF META+COACH SESSIONS

the coaches must  take steps to get the most out of each session and help make it a success-

 

1.      Approach coaching as a partnership. coaching  is most effective when you're an active participant and share in decision-making. Make sure you and your coach  agree about the major issues and how to tackle them. Together, you can set goals and assess progress over time.

 

2.        Stick to your lesson  plan. -If you feel down or lack motivation, it may be tempting to skip coaching sessions. Doing so can disrupt your progress. Attend all sessions and give some thought to what you want to discuss.

 

 

3.      Don't expect instant results-Working on emotional issues can be painful and often requires hard work. It's not uncommon to feel worse during the initial part of coaching as you begin to confront past and current conflicts. You may need several sessions before you begin to see improvement.

 

4.      Do your homework between sessions. -If your Coach  asks you to read, keep a journal or do other activities outside of your regular therapy sessions, follow through. Doing these homework assignments will help you apply what you've learned in the therapy sessions.

 

 

5.      Be open and honest.-Success with coaching depends on your willingness to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences, and on being open to new insights and ways of doing things. If you're reluctant to talk about certain things because of painful emotions, embarrassment or fears about your coach's reaction, let your coach know about your reservations. Rework the lesson plan on what isn't helping; talk to your coach  about it. You and your coach may decide to make some changes or try a different approach.

 

 Best of luck

Dr Wilfred Monteiro