Whole brain coaching solutions

The author of this article, Vincent Bouw (vincent@papilionovare.com),  is a Certified Practitioner in Whole  Brain Thinking and the HBDI instrument.

Much research has been done on the brain and although we are discovering new things every day, there is still a lot of mystery around how the human brain actually works.  Whole brain thinking started with the discovery of the left and the right hemisphere. Based on research by Roger Sperry, for which he was awarded the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, we now use this metaphor and know that the left and the right brain house different functions and have a different focus.

These different focus areas in the brain are very well described in the Whole Brain Model© (Figure 1) by Ned Herrmann. Herrmann dedicated most of his life to developing knowledge and tools around whole brain thinking and brain dominance. As a result he created a metaphor for the brain called the Whole Brain Model® and the HBDI® instrument to profile your thinking preferences (Figure 2). Both the model and instrument are validated through several studies. For more information, visit www.hbdi.com or www.herrmann.com.au.

So why use a Whole Brain approach to coaching?

Most companies approach performance management through measurement and performance appraisals. Performance measurement and appraisals is about process, goals, numbers, ranking, analyzing performance etc. These are all left brain functions (Herrmann Whole Brain Model®).

According to Hay Group (2006) the most successful companies have a balanced approach to performance management, meaning they also focus on performance development and coaching. Looking at the key elements, skills and competencies, related to performance development, it is easy to see that these are predominantly located in the right brain e.g. inter-personal, emotional/empathetic, holistic, etc. (Herrmann Whole Brain Model®).

Therefore a whole brain approach is an ideal way to create that balance in performance management between performance measurement and development.

The ACT Coaching Model^TM (developed by Papilio Novare) focuses on creating action, since only action creates reality and success. Unlike many other models, the ACT Coaching Model^TM first explores current and desired reality before setting goals. Many people don’t really know where exactly they want to go or what their aspiration is. By exploring a “magical reality” they get an opportunity to dream freely and envision a future without limiting themselves. Once the aspiration is clear we can start bringing it back to their reality by setting specific goals.

The next steps in the model is to create awareness, these are key steps, for only through increasing awareness can learning and development take place.

Once we have insight in to our current reality, our goals and desired future, we can start planning our journey to success and develop our action plan.

The 7 elements of the ACT Coaching Model^TM link in with Herrmann’s Whole Brain Model® and the coachee’s HBDI® profile can be used to support the coaching.

Although there is no fixed starting point in the ACT Coaching Model^TM the 7 elements of the model form a step-by-step cycle that can be repeated until the desired results have been accomplished.

Contact Papilio Novare for more information on Whole Brain Thinking, the HBDI instrument and the ACT Coaching Model^TM at info@papilionovare.com

Advertisement