But sometimes this process of identifying with others – and group-labeling ourselves accordingly – leads us to neglect or lose sight of what makes us us. Between our bodies, our minds, our experiences, our values, our hopes and our dreams, each one of us is truly one of a kind. The unique combination of everything that has made you you will never be found in any other human being – past, present, or future. As a fundamental principle of everyday experience, any time spent comparing yourself to other people is time you’re not spending discovering the truly individual qualities about yourself.
Unfortunately, a lot of coaching practice pays lip service to the notion of individuality without ever coaching individuals as individuals. Much of the off-the-shelf coaching frameworks employed by organizations use boilerplate metrics, generic categorizations of personality types and learning styles, and gimmicky surveys that simply put individuals into neat little boxes. Apart from the fact that so many of these models are based on poor science and unsubstantiated claims about a direct link to ROI, they also discount and dishonor the ideal of true individuality. This prevents people from discovering their true calling and fully engaging with their own development, which benefits neither the individual nor the organizations they work for.
To bring the best out in people, coaching must treat people like the individuals that they are – warts and all. This also means recognizing that the same person can be different on any given day. At Energeia, we personalize every coaching session to meet the distinctive needs of the individual in context. We take into account your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and professional needs and goals, and work with you to develop growth and adaptability strategies that are based on your vision and values. Our self-programming approach to coaching helps people to integrate their mental and physical health and wellbeing with their sense of purpose and meaning and their personal and professional aspirations. And we do this in a way where you – the resident expert on yourself – are in charge of setting the agenda and driving the direction of your life and career.