Coaching only works when clients are motivated and genuinely want to do the required introspection and reflection work. The outcomes are a result of the coachee’s strong will and effort under the coach’s spacious guidance.
At K2C2, we believe the best way to achieve sustainable and lasting results is through a partnership in which client and coach are fully invested and committed to the coaching relation, its identified goals, and the work to be done. This is why we extensively explore the client’s needs, wants, and aspirations, and thoroughly assess their motivation.
We always start with an ‘exploratory conversation’. Those conversations serve several purposes:
- Help clients fully understand and assess their needs.
- Help us understand the scope and scale of the client’s needs.
- Assess the client’s motivation.
- Give clients an idea of our coaching style.
Clients are always given the temporal space to start thinking about the changes they envision, their aspirations and goals, and the effort they are willing to invest in their transformation. We deliberately ask our clients to take their time and think things through.
A surprisingly fluid experience
A few powerful elements in my coaching experience with Houda are noteworthy.
The first powerful element is the space where awareness is birthed between two opposing energies. One is made of trust and care, where humanity steadily grows. The other is disturbing, destabilizing, and initially intense, yet slowly diffuses over time. The first one allows the second one to be accepted, even activated. Indeed, I never felt judged or demeaned; instead, I felt supported, encouraged, and celebrated. This allowed us to cover otherwise uncomfortable subjects, such as religion, where we stand on opposite sides of the faith spectrum. Houda has challenged me with genuine humane respect on all fronts and has held me true to my dreams.
Another powerful aspect of our coaching journey is the absence of an agenda or schedule in our sessions. The conversation flow was synched with life events, reflections, and my own evolution. No matter where we started the discussion, it always took us somewhere profound. Often, imperceivably at first, something ‘unlocked’. This moment is emotionally liberating and releases a flow of possibilities and hope. I would always take those precious nuggets home thinking I had done the work, only to find myself reflecting even more between our sessions.
An important tenet of our coaching approach is to work with our clients to increase their awareness of the limitations that have shaped their lives, beliefs, and perception of their world. Sometimes even their knowledge and expertise. We examine their underlying reasoning and rationale, deconstructing their scaffolding one piece at a time until it dissipates.
This process allows our clients to step ‘Outside the Box!’ they have unconsciously built around themselves over the years and adopt a more deliberate attitude toward their choices.
Simultaneously, our clients step ‘Inside the Connection!’:
- The connection to themselves first, in understanding their place in their systems, as well as their strengths, passions, and purpose
- The connection to others, in understanding the power of relating to others from a position of interdependency, true exchange, and authenticity, at the core of their communication and collaborative skills
- Finally, their connection to the world, in understanding the impact they have and want to have on it
This organic and holistic approach is iterative in nature, allowing our clients to learn to observe their own patterns and progressively develop mechanisms to self-manage.
Noticeable outcomes include:
- Increased self-confidence and presence
- Better collaboration
- Improved communication
- Widened perspectives
- Joy
I love ME!
A significant shift accompanying this transformation occurred when I started to love myself. It sounds weird, right? At the beginning of the coaching journey, Houda had asked me to write “I love Faiza” on my bathroom mirror. What I initially thought of as a joke actually triggered an awareness process for me AND my family! Everybody added a few words of love to the mirror. This marked a turning point in my relationship with myself and my loved ones. The gloomy feelings of ‘sacrifice’ dissolved and were replaced with love and gratitude.
As our clients evolve, so do their needs. The type of engagement that served them initially must evolve to answer their emerging requirements. K2C2’s partnerships are always tailor-made to accompany our clients as far as we can.
In this specific case, the client must now work on establishing strong fundamentals, partnering with K2C2 to Seed Up! its new venture, Thrive.
Radically on purpose
While my marketing mandates allowed me to resume a professional activity, they simply didn’t fulfill me. As I came to this realization, Houda deployed a lovely ‘kickass’ move and challenged me to focus on what I really wanted to do. After my scenic meanders in marketing, I was about to define and pursue a dream. We meticulously explored my life’s purpose, and I wrote a business plan in no time. Houda has agreed to shift gears and work with me to bring my project to life. Thrive was launched in the fall of 2022…
Coaching or no coaching?
Becoming aware of my need for a change and acting on it
Driven by curiosity, I attended an ‘Introduction to Coaching’ gathering one day. I had been coached in the past, knew what coaching was, and was not expecting much from this workshop. My curiosity kicked in when Houda asked me a question that shook me to my bones and made me realize that what I perceived as ‘normal’ was actually not. I was even more intrigued by the humane, almost maternal energy that welcomed my response. Something in her intense look locked my trust: I felt heard and understood and knew someone was there for me. I felt I could venture outside my known patterns. I realized, without much talking, that my desire to be reunited with my dead mother was not so ‘normal’.
My journey of introspection and exploration started by acknowledging that I needed/wanted to be coached. As a culturally stigmatized perception of coaching mellowed down my desire, it became my path to discover. Houda gave me all the space I needed to investigate this new trail further. Alone, mostly. With her, at times, when I had questions. She extended her hand without insistence, ensuring I knew it was my choice and mine only.
This organic spaciousness revealed the relationship we could have: a partnership based on an equal-to-equal interaction and positive and genuine exchange. If we examined various avenues together, I found my solutions on my own terms under Houda’s benevolent and trusting eyes.
In line with our philosophy, the relationship comes first.
We weave deep and reliable connections that foster an unshakable trust between client and coach. This trusting space becomes an exploration ground for our clients who, supported and celebrated, dare to push the limits of their quest.
We attune to the needs of our clients, continuously encouraging them out of their comfort zone, and standing by them when challenges occur. The clients’ ‘topics’ provide us with a door to engulf in the coaching as it triggers awareness and insights. Models and frameworks provide us with a shallow canvass to converse and explore; the only real structure is the one dictated by the truth that wants to emerge.
Freed from Pac-Man
At the beginning of this journey, my deeply rooted biases and beliefs –all self-constructed- would resist each breakthrough as our conversations opened new perspectives that disrupted my certitudes and the way I lived my life. It felt like a free fall into the unknown, which was uncomfortable and often chaotic. The ‘order of things’ I had come to normalize did not appear so normal anymore. So, where did I find the strength to go through this process? Houda walked the path with me, gently yet firmly holding my hand, reassuring and encouraging me along the way. Soon enough, the outcome of my work became the motivating driver; each conversation would take me to a better place. Not necessarily easier, but definitely better.
As we progressed, I started to ‘connect to myself’. What does it mean? It means that I began to see myself as a whole person with needs, desires, wants, and dreams, not conscribed only to the roles of spouse, mother, daughter, sister, or even friend. These roles were highly encumbered with duties and responsibilities that had come to define my life without much satisfaction. This initial breakthrough was significant given my cultural background, where strict social codification prevails. I realized that I had let BARRIERS rise from my various roles, imprisoning me in a diabolic tempo of ‘must dos’ that completely disconnected me from myself. I was trapped and unhappy, going through life like an automat without much joy. And with no perspective of change. I simply could not imagine any possible change. My self-made Pac-Man monster was cannibalizing me.
After a few sessions, I understood that those barriers were my own mental construct and that I could collapse them at will. It almost became like a game: identifying what was blocking me and simply getting rid of it! But I did not always see the barriers; some are more tenacious than others. Slowly, however, the process became more manageable. I discovered that my rational mind could not always be trusted; I learned to feel deeply and let my emotions inform me. And when the ‘monster’ was finally tamed, it felt like a liberating explosion of energy and freedom. Life had become colorful, joyful, and dynamic. My horizon had expanded, and I could see endless possibilities.
The expert is back to work
By then, I had started to feel firmly anchored in life and wanted to resume a professional activity. And while I knew that my heart was yearning for something else, I resumed my activity as a marketer. I had several years of previous experience in a multinational company, and I knew I was good at it. It allowed me to regain my self-confidence and professional dexterity. It boosted my ego.
Soon, however, I again started to feel confined to a box. During that period, Houda sat on the fence, observing me, giving me the space I needed to realize that I had outgrown my marketing career. I was dissatisfied, yet I struggled to let go of the past to embrace what I felt was my calling.
With her subtle intuition, Houda zoomed in on the word ‘expert’ I repeatedly used in one particular session with a simple question: “What does ‘expert’ mean for you?” Being an expert provided me with a sense of security and status. But it also confined me to being the ‘depository’ of a contained creative process, and it hindered my relationships with others. This was an invaluable insight. It opened my eyes to the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of allowing energy to flow between people. It also empowered me to detach myself from people’s opinions about me and from the outcomes of my endeavors. This attack from my Pac-Man monster was as insidious as it was subtle. Vigilance is undoubtedly always needed!
Coaching or no coaching?
Becoming aware of my need for a change and acting on it
Driven by curiosity, I attended an ‘Introduction to Coaching’ gathering one day. I had been coached in the past, knew what coaching was, and was not expecting much from this workshop. My curiosity kicked in when Houda asked me a question that shook me to my bones and made me realize that what I perceived as ‘normal’ was actually not. I was even more intrigued by the humane, almost maternal energy that welcomed my response. Something in her intense look locked my trust: I felt heard and understood and knew someone was there for me. I felt I could venture outside my known patterns. I realized, without much talking, that my desire to be reunited with my dead mother was not so ‘normal’.
My journey of introspection and exploration started by acknowledging that I needed/wanted to be coached. As a culturally stigmatized perception of coaching mellowed down my desire, it became my path to discover. Houda gave me all the space I needed to investigate this new trail further. Alone, mostly. With her, at times, when I had questions. She extended her hand without insistence, ensuring I knew it was my choice and mine only.
This organic spaciousness revealed the relationship we could have: a partnership based on an equal-to-equal interaction and positive and genuine exchange. If we examined various avenues together, I found my solutions on my own terms under Houda’s benevolent and trusting eyes.
Coaching or no coaching?
Becoming aware of my need for a change and acting on it
Coaching only works when clients are motivated and genuinely want to do the required introspection and reflection work. The outcomes are a result of the coachee’s strong will and effort under the coach’s spacious guidance.
At K2C2, we believe the best way to achieve sustainable and lasting results is through a partnership in which client and coach are fully invested and committed to the coaching relation, its identified goals, and the work to be done. This is why we extensively explore the client’s needs, wants, and aspirations, and thoroughly assess their motivation.
We always start with an ‘exploratory conversation’. Those conversations serve several purposes:
- Help clients fully understand and assess their needs.
- Help us understand the scope and scale of the client’s needs.
- Assess the client’s motivation.
- Give clients an idea of our coaching style.
Clients are always given the temporal space to start thinking about the changes they envision, their aspirations and goals, and the effort they are willing to invest in their transformation. We deliberately ask our clients to take their time and think things through.
A surprisingly fluid experience
A few powerful elements in my coaching experience with Houda are noteworthy.
The first powerful element is the space where awareness is birthed between two opposing energies. One is made of trust and care, where humanity steadily grows. The other is disturbing, destabilizing, and initially intense, yet slowly diffuses over time. The first one allows the second one to be accepted, even activated. Indeed, I never felt judged or demeaned; instead, I felt supported, encouraged, and celebrated. This allowed us to cover otherwise uncomfortable subjects, such as religion, where we stand on opposite sides of the faith spectrum. Houda has challenged me with genuine humane respect on all fronts and has held me true to my dreams.
Another powerful aspect of our coaching journey is the absence of an agenda or schedule in our sessions. The conversation flow was synched with life events, reflections, and my own evolution. No matter where we started the discussion, it always took us somewhere profound. Often, imperceivably at first, something ‘unlocked’. This moment is emotionally liberating and releases a flow of possibilities and hope. I would always take those precious nuggets home thinking I had done the work, only to find myself reflecting even more between our sessions.
A surprisingly fluid experience
In line with our philosophy, the relationship comes first.
We weave deep and reliable connections that foster an unshakable trust between client and coach. This trusting space becomes an exploration ground for our clients who, supported and celebrated, dare to push the limits of their quest.
We attune to the needs of our clients, continuously encouraging them out of their comfort zone, and standing by them when challenges occur. The clients’ ‘topics’ provide us with a door to engulf in the coaching as it triggers awareness and insights. Models and frameworks provide us with a shallow canvass to converse and explore; the only real structure is the one dictated by the truth that wants to emerge.
Freed from Pac man
At the beginning of this journey, my deeply rooted biases and beliefs –all self-constructed- would resist each breakthrough as our conversations opened new perspectives that disrupted my certitudes and the way I lived my life. It felt like a free fall into the unknown, which was uncomfortable and often chaotic. The ‘order of things’ I had come to normalize did not appear so normal anymore. So, where did I find the strength to go through this process? Houda walked the path with me, gently yet firmly holding my hand, reassuring and encouraging me along the way. Soon enough, the outcome of my work became the motivating driver; each conversation would take me to a better place. Not necessarily easier, but definitely better.
As we progressed, I started to ‘connect to myself’. What does it mean? It means that I began to see myself as a whole person with needs, desires, wants, and dreams, not conscribed only to the roles of spouse, mother, daughter, sister, or even friend. These roles were highly encumbered with duties and responsibilities that had come to define my life without much satisfaction. This initial breakthrough was significant given my cultural background, where strict social codification prevails. I realized that I had let BARRIERS rise from my various roles, imprisoning me in a diabolic tempo of ‘must dos’ that completely disconnected me from myself. I was trapped and unhappy, going through life like an automat without much joy. And with no perspective of change. I simply could not imagine any possible change. My self-made Pac-Man monster was cannibalizing me.
After a few sessions, I understood that those barriers were my own mental construct and that I could collapse them at will. It almost became like a game: identifying what was blocking me and simply getting rid of it! But I did not always see the barriers; some are more tenacious than others. Slowly, however, the process became more manageable. I discovered that my rational mind could not always be trusted; I learned to feel deeply and let my emotions inform me. And when the ‘monster’ was finally tamed, it felt like a liberating explosion of energy and freedom. Life had become colorful, joyful, and dynamic. My horizon had expanded, and I could see endless possibilities.
Freed from Pac man
An important tenet of our coaching approach is to work with our clients to increase their awareness of the limitations that have shaped their lives, beliefs, and perception of their world. Sometimes even their knowledge and expertise. We examine their underlying reasoning and rationale, deconstructing their scaffolding one piece at a time until it dissipates.
This process allows our clients to step ‘Outside the Box!’ they have unconsciously built around themselves over the years and adopt a more deliberate attitude toward their choices.
Simultaneously, our clients step ‘Inside the Connection!’:
- The connection to themselves first, in understanding their place in their systems, as well as their strengths, passions, and purpose
- The connection to others, in understanding the power of relating to others from a position of interdependency, true exchange, and authenticity, at the core of their communication and collaborative skills
- Finally, their connection to the world, in understanding the impact they have and want to have on it
This organic and holistic approach is iterative in nature, allowing our clients to learn to observe their own patterns and progressively develop mechanisms to self-manage.
Noticeable outcomes include:
- Increased self-confidence and presence
- Better collaboration
- Improved communication
- Widened perspectives
- Joy
I love ME!
A significant shift accompanying this transformation occurred when I started to love myself. It sounds weird, right? At the beginning of the coaching journey, Houda had asked me to write “I love Faiza” on my bathroom mirror. What I initially thought of as a joke actually triggered an awareness process for me AND my family! Everybody added a few words of love to the mirror. This marked a turning point in my relationship with myself and my loved ones. The gloomy feelings of ‘sacrifice’ dissolved and were replaced with love and gratitude.
Radically on purpose
While my marketing mandates allowed me to resume a professional activity, they simply didn’t fulfill me. As I came to this realization, Houda deployed a lovely ‘kickass’ move and challenged me to focus on what I really wanted to do. After my scenic meanders in marketing, I was about to define and pursue a dream. We meticulously explored my life’s purpose, and I wrote a business plan in no time. Houda has agreed to shift gears and work with me to bring my project to life. Thrive was launched in the fall of 2022…
As our clients evolve, so do their needs. The type of engagement that served them initially must evolve to answer their emerging requirements. K2C2’s partnerships are always tailor-made to accompany our clients as far as we can.
In this specific case, the client must now work on establishing strong fundamentals, partnering with K2C2 to Seed Up! its new venture, Thrive.
The expert is back to work
By then, I had started to feel firmly anchored in life and wanted to resume a professional activity. And while I knew that my heart was yearning for something else, I resumed my activity as a marketer. I had several years of previous experience in a multinational company, and I knew I was good at it. It allowed me to regain my self-confidence and professional dexterity. It boosted my ego.
Soon, however, I again started to feel confined to a box. During that period, Houda sat on the fence, observing me, giving me the space I needed to realize that I had outgrown my marketing career. I was dissatisfied, yet I struggled to let go of the past to embrace what I felt was my calling.
With her subtle intuition, Houda zoomed in on the word ‘expert’ I repeatedly used in one particular session with a simple question: “What does ‘expert’ mean for you?” Being an expert provided me with a sense of security and status. But it also confined me to being the ‘depository’ of a contained creative process, and it hindered my relationships with others. This was an invaluable insight. It opened my eyes to the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of allowing energy to flow between people. It also empowered me to detach myself from people’s opinions about me and from the outcomes of my endeavors. This attack from my Pac-Man monster was as insidious as it was subtle. Vigilance is undoubtedly always needed!