What is Transformation?

The second run of Pathways to Transformational Coaching is now complete and the feedback has been very productive. So what is transformation? As in the apocryphal story of a person who said, on first seeing a steam train, I see it works in practice - but does it work in theory?

Three Transformation Metaphors

Transformation is embodied in the world around us as well as in cultural history both Western and Asian.

The caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Here we have an example of a creature that looks very different before and after transformation. Yet the change is part of a natural cycle. Transformation appears as a natural yet mysterious process that we can't second-guess. And supposing that the caterpillar could express its perceptions and feelings about the process, it might well reveal a great deal of confusion and fear about what was happening!

The folk tale of the ugly duckling who is a reject in the company of ducks but who eventually finds his true place as a beautiful swan was part of my own upbringing. There is a comparable Chinese tale of a dragon brought up with chickens who is eventually restored to his rightful environment when an older dragon flying by, happens to notice him breathing fire around the chicken coop, swoops down, and rescues him. The message is echoed in the popular saying of someone being a square peg in a round hole. The swan - and the dragon - are eventually perceived to be what they truly are by their fellows, acknowledged and admired for their unique attributes. And so the initial incongruity with their first environment becomes irrelevant. They recognise themselves for what they truly are and no longer judge themselves and others by inappropriate criteria.

Yet another perspective on transformation comes from the Chinese folk tale of the man who goes in search of his missing ox. After many adventures, he finds the ox in his own back yard. The central learning in this tale and the previous two is our need to acknowledge who we truly are. Before enlightenment, chopping wood and drawing water: after enlightenment, chopping wood and drawing water. In transformation, everything is changed yet remains essentially unchanged. And this process is within our own control. The man has to go in search of the ox before he can find it. We have to go in search of ourselves in order to discover our selves, as the poet, TS Eliot put it, at 'the still point of the turning world'.

How Does Transformation Happen?

In my own experience, transformation has occurred as continuous evolution, sometimes slower, sometimes faster. The key has been my willingness to align myself with my fundamental beliefs and values and being prepared to 'walk the talk' when the moment arrived. For example, when I finally decided to move on from being a university professor to being a self-employed professional coach trainer, this was the culmination of several years of inner search. I became aware that despite my rational mind telling me about the many advantages of the job, I still felt like the proverbial square peg in the round hole. There seemed no outlet for me to express what I felt I had it within me to become. When the moment of decision arrived and I 'took the plunge', there was a tremendous sense of relief. I believe this sense of relief came because in letting go rather than 'soldiering on', I let go of a great deal of inner conflict. The inner argument was over. The self that wanted to pursue a vision of what life could be like had won out over the self that was comfortable with the known and could produce plenty of valid reasons for staying within the known comfort zone, even when that comfort zone included a lot of discomfort!

So ... What is Transformational Coaching?

Transformational coaching recognises that the experience of transformation is an integral part of our human development as we take increasing responsibility for pursuing our own positively directional goals in alignment with our deepest yearnings. A transformational coach is pro-active in creating a still space for his/her clients in which they have the opportunity to explore new ways of achieving their goals, drawing on their own inner wisdom and creativity.

In my experience I have found that teaching Transformational Coaching has accelerated transformation in my own life and that those who have participated in my programs have not only gained valuable skills to apply to coaching others - they also learn how to be a transformational coach to themselves.

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