My Gratitude
Happy and thankful to finally completed my CNTC certification programme. It was one full year of learning about how our brain works and how it can impact the way we coach. I value all the latest research in the neuroscience of human development, brain-based coaching tools, coaching practice sessions, the friendships and bond I had with all the expert coaches in my class. Although I had to wake up at 3 am every Friday for one full year to do this, it was worth it!
How This Programme Impacted My Coaching?
Every one of my clients wants to be successful in their lives. All of us fundamentally want to change our ability to live, work and create a new future experience that is more fulfilling. To help my clients do that as a coach, I need to help them build new neural networks, respond more calmly to stress, make good choices, access much more of their creativity, and integrate both sides of their brain. When that happens, my clients become more effective, successful, and fulfilled. As I reflected on my certification journey, 3 key insights stood out.
My 3 Key Takeaways
1. Our Brain is ‘Plastic’
A science-based approach (neuroscience) to coaching is one way I now coach my clients to achieve fulfilment. It can help them unleash their potential, optimise their human growth and change. I am now competent to engage my client’s brain in ways that create openness, creativity, and transformative change because I know that my client’s brain is like plastic and can be moulded, change, and learn.
I have learnt to use various strategies to help my clients create new neural pathways to help them see new perspectives, envision a different future, and help them deal with issues directly rather than avoiding them.
(Pls read this excellent blog post by my teacher Ann Betz on 7 keys to neuroplasticity in coaching here: https://yourcoachingbrain.wordpress.com/author/annbetz/)
2. Stress can be ‘Just Right’
We all experience stress every day. It is not about the stress. It is about how much stress is good for our brain. We all know that some stress is good for us. It’s about experiencing the right amount of stress to help our brain function at its optimal.
When our brain is flooded with too many chemicals associated with stress, it is less creative, unable to think clearly, lacks empathy, and cannot focus. Our judgement is affected, and we are not able to decern effectively. On the other hand, when we do not experience enough stress, we will be tired, bored, unmotivated, and unable to focus. Our brain cannot differentiate what is too much or too little stress. It will respond in the same way.
Now I know how to bring my client to the ‘just right’ space to help them operate optimally. This is an ideal state of being alert and interested with the right amount of dopamine and norepinephrine (brain chemicals) released to optimally stimulate the brain’s executive function.
(Pls read this excellent blog post by my teacher Ann Betz on The Goldilocks of the Brain here: https://www.beaboveleadership.com/2013/03/12/the-goldilocks-of-the-brain/
3. It is about integration
Since young, I was conditioned or taught to keep my emotions to myself. I was taught to compartmentalise and shut off emotions as I experience them. I hardly know who I am, what I want, or how I really feel at one point in my life. I was separated and I had a deep longing for connection with my Mind, Body and Soul. I was not an integrated human being. If I use an orchestra as a metaphor to describe my brain, all the instruments were playing independently and not playing a symphony together. When our brain is not integrated, we will be less effective, we will not be aware of our feelings, which will impact the way we live our lives.
(Pls read this excellent blog post by my teacher Ann Betz on Integration here: https://www.beaboveleadership.com/2019/07/12/the-orchestra-of-your-brain/)
When I coach my clients towards brain integration, I will channel them toward wiser decision-making and living. I will help them listen to their heart, tap into their intuition, become more curious, deepen their learning, and adopt self-management skills for sustained effectiveness. I am now confident that I can help my clients identify and move towards what is important, motivating, and bringing the focus back into their lives.
My Journey Continues…
My life purpose is to sow seeds to help others to succeed and realise their full potential. I genuinely believe in an individual's wholeness, creativity, and power. I know I have the skills and abilities to bring that out. My life purpose statement is,
“I’m a Shepherd Leader who empowers HIS Leaders to become the best version of themselves in the way they live, lead and serve.”
I want to live my life from the ‘inside-out’ and ‘from significance’ instead of ‘for significance’. With that end in mind, that’s WHY I coach. I’m looking forward to the next stage of my coaching development.
With gratitude and love, Jimmy
Comments