Moving forward and making progress with the FCCP

It's been a while since I shared the Frameworks for Change Coaching Process (FCCP) * on my blog, and thought I'd rectify that today.

The FCCP is a tool I often use in my coaching sessions, and when facilitating sessions with teams.

It's hard to put into writing the profound impact using the FCCP can have. Simply put - its a tool that facilitates conversations about resolving situations. It just does it in a way that maximises the insight, and minimises the resistance to hearing what is being said.

It capitalises on the fact that our minds are meaning making machines. For example if I asked "how does x relate to the situation" you will find a way of relating x to the situation. Since you need to access the creative part of your brain to do this, it opens up the opportunity to resolve the current situation at the same time.

Rather than just read the following example and think, "Oh that was nice but won't work for me or my team", why not have a go yourself - either by reading the following and applying it to a real life situation, or arranging a free half hour session to experience it for yourself (available to the first 5 requests received to alison@alisonsmith.eu).

If you're still reading I'm assuming you'd like to apply the FCCP to a current situation that you'd like to move forward on. To do that consider your response to the following questions:

• How are you valuing and expressing the quality of empathy in the present situation? What positive impact would that have? 

• How are you being set back my manipulation in the present situation? What steps do you need to take to release it?  

• What does moving into the next level look and feel like, and how can you ensure that you've let go of any lingering feelings that are holding you back?

• What would a mentor or role model of peace do in this situation?

There's no rush - spend some time considering how the cards apply.

NB: One thing to notice, is any strong reaction or feeling of resistance - for example "NO" or "that won't work", and so on. It's a clue that a button has been pushed somewhere - and a button that needs exploring, not ignoring.

How do I know?

Try noticing the level of emotion if I ask you "How would eating icecream be useful in the current situation" - that's how you should feel if a question isn't relevant. If you're getting a different reaction it's telling you something - so do please explore it to find out what.

Here's my thoughts on the cards which, due to the unique nature of everyone's situation, may or may not add something to your own exploration of the questions:

• Expressing Empathy - empathy can be with yourself, and not just with another person. Often when we're getting frustrated about progress we can get very impatient with ourselves, which in turn increases stress levels. What would showing empathy towards yourself at this time look like? 
• Setback by manipulation - It's so easy to jump to thinking about the manipulation that others may be undertaking. I wonder, however, how we might be trying to manipulate the situation too? That is, pushing a particular outcome rather than allowing one to materialise. If so, it's a bit like we're trying to push the river rather than go with the flow. I'm not suggesting it's about being taken here and there at every turn of the river, but instead observing the general direction it's going, and taking action to determine where in the flow you place yourself at the same time as going with the flow of  river.
• Move up to the next level -  release any lingering feelings that are holding you back. A great reminder that sometimes it's our beliefs and feelings about a situation that are holding us back, not the actual situation. If you knew that what you want to do is possible, and you do have the skills and resources needed, and would be supported by those around you, what would you do? 
• Mentor of peace. Sometimes when I share these cards on the blog I wish I could put them back in, its as if it feels too hard to explain what might be meant! This is one of those situations. On face value peace feels like the opposite feeling one might need when wanting to move forward. However as I consider a role model I have for peace I realise it's about inner peace and having certainty about the direction we're taking. That is, once the decision has been made, make peace with yourself, those around you (supporters or otherwise), and the decision, and fully get behind the action plan that's needed to make it a reality.

As you now reflect on the original situation what insights have come to mind, what action will you take, and when. Does anyone else need to know about this commitment to take action?

I'd love to know how you got on - so do please share your experience in comments below. 

Other insightful and just as unique coaching tools I use include collage cards, and using nature as a metaphor for our lives - both tools only used with permission of the client, and as appropriate in 1:1 coaching or group facilitation.

If you're interested in finding out more about how you could benefit from a coaching session, or series of them, or how these unique tools might inspire your team do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.eu  +44(0)7770 538159.

Alison Smith
The Purchasing Coach  
Inspiring change inside and out

It's nearly 4 years since I facilitated a session using this process with the Professional Speaking Association here in Scotland. It was on keeping on track in a downturn. The insights may still resonate - especially if you're wanting to embrace a new way of working. I loved that authenticity was the final card discussed.

* The process, the insight, setback and mentor cards used here are from Frameworks for Change © Innerlinks - www.innerlinks.com.