In our Introduction to Coaching class at Summit Coach Training, we invite participants to write their “elevator speech” on who they are or want to be as a coach. If you don’t know the term, an elevator speech is a clear, brief message or “commercial” about you. It is something that you could share on a short elevator ride with another occupant. My elevator speech as a coach is, “I help individuals discover their growing edge and to live into it.”
What’s a “growing edge”? Your growing edge is the boundary between your present status, role, or self-concept and the demarcation point to possibilities beyond that present reality. It is a choice to move beyond the status quo to something new. I believe that one’s willingness to address their growing edge comes out of one or more the following characteristics and questions.
Curiosity— “How can I learn more about this topic.” Something has attracted my attention, and I want to know more about if for some reason.
Opportunity— “A new door has been opened for me. Should I walk through it?” Perhaps something unexpected has come your way. Do you want to invest the time and energy to seriously pursue it?
Awareness— “I have discovered that there is a chance to improve my life. What does this involve?” Perhaps you have discovered a health, emotional, or relational challenge in your own life. Do you address it or ignore it? If you choose to act, what is the course of action required?
Challenge— “Someone has suggested that I can stretch myself in some way. Should I do this?” Often a challenge comes from a friend, co-worker, or supervisor. This person has identified a strength in you that seems dormant or underdeveloped. How do you address this opportunity?
You will note that I have used positive rather than negative terms here. The opposite terms would be:
- Rather than curiosity, complacency
- Rather than opportunity, threat.
- Rather than awareness, apathy.
- Rather than challenge, problem.
The words I have chosen to describe these characteristics reflect what researcher Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset,” the belief that a person's capacities and talents can be improved over time. The other option according to Dweck is a “fixed mindset,” the belief that one’s capacity to learn and improve is limited and often useless. In coaching, we embrace a growth mindset, therefore my use of the term “growing edge.” Everyone has one but must decide to recognize and invest in it.
That’s where coaching comes in. A person with a growth mindset is a prime candidate for a coaching relationship. When a coach is aligned with a client who has a growth mindset, the client has a partner in unpacking his or her curiosity, opportunities, awareness, and challenges to identify and embrace a way forward.
"Growth is the only evidence of life" is a quote attributed to John Henry Cardinal Newman, 19th century English Catholic priest. This statement emphasizes that growth, whether spiritual, physical, or intellectual, is a fundamental sign of being alive and not merely existing. Do you want to grow or just exist? The choice is yours.
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