How to Coach Yourself and Others Popular Models for Coaching | Page 149

In fact, the coachee’s stories reflect the underlying structures of
the schemes that he uses to interpret the world. A coachee who
is telling us how he solved an earlier problem, offers us useful
information about how he tackles problems in general.
Sometimes, stories are conflicting with each other. Russell
points out that by reflecting on the conflicting aspects, it is often
possible to get to a superior level.
For instance: When a coachee is suffering from stress at work,
but then tells a story about moments on which he enjoyed
working.
White and Epston, founders of the social-constructive narrative
therapy, emphasize the importance of the central position of the
relationship between people and their culture. A person is a
product of the history of his culture, his position in society and
the linguistic tools of which he disposes. Therefore, stories are
bridges between the individual experience and the cultural
system. In fact, culture is based on stories, legends and myths,
which transcend the personal life of the individuals.
Conflicts between stories may result in the coachee being
dominated and limited by a story. The coach will then try to
identify moments on which the coachee has freed himself from
the power of the dominant story and will help him to re-write
his-story.
An important technique is helping coachee to see the problem
as a story outside himself and thus create room for alternative
stories.

Three steps procedure for externalising problems:
Identify and name the problem as specifically as possible with
the use of images and of coachee’s words.

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