Coaching revision Flashcards
What is Bias Theory
Bias theory refers to the idea that individuals, groups, or systems may exhibit systematic patterns of judgment or behaviour that consistently favour certain outcomes, perspectives, or groups over others, often leading to unfair or unequal treatment.
Bias can manifest in various forms—cognitive, social, institutional, or even systemic—and influences how people make decisions, interpret information, and interact with others.
Mechanisms Behind Bias
Socialisation:
From an early age, individuals are socialized into cultural norms and values that may include biased perspectives. These learned behaviours and attitudes are often unconscious and perpetuated throughout life.
Cognitive Shortcuts: Our brains are wired to make quick decisions based on limited information, leading to biases. For example, categorizing people into groups based on appearance or stereotypes helps simplify social interactions but can lead to errors.
Group Dynamics: Bias can emerge from the dynamics within social groups, as people may favour those within their “in-group” and discriminate against outsiders or “out-groups.”
Consequences of Bias
Discrimination: Bias often leads to unequal treatment of individuals
Inaccurate Decision-Making: Biases can affect how people assess situations and make decisions
Social Inequality: Over time, the cumulative effect of biased decisions or behaviours can reinforce social disparities
Addressing and Reducing Bias
Awareness: Recognizing that biases exist is the first step in addressing them.
Self-reflection can help individuals and organizations become more aware of their biases.
Inclusive Practices: Implementing policies and practices that actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion can help counteract bias.
Bias Mitigation Techniques: Cognitive strategies, such as considering alternative perspectives or using structured decision-making processes, can help reduce the impact of bias on judgments and decisions.
Bias theory is often used in psychology, sociology, and other social sciences to understand and explain human behaviour.
Integrity and Ontology
Ontology is about the study and classification of entities and their relationships (in philosophy or information science).
Integrity involves adhering to moral principles and maintaining accuracy, consistency, or reliability (in ethics or data).
Beauty Bias
Beauty bias refers to the tendency to favor people who are considered physically attractive over those who are not, often leading to unfair advantages for those deemed more beautiful.
In simple terms, it’s the idea that people who are perceived as more attractive are treated better or seen more favourably, even if they don’t necessarily have more merit or qualifications.
Horn Effect
The horn effect is a type of cognitive bias where a negative impression of someone in one area influences the overall perception of them.
Simply put, if you think someone is bad at one thing, you might unfairly assume they are bad at other things as well.
For example, if someone is rude in a meeting, you might start thinking they are unprofessional in all aspects of their work, even if that’s not true. It’s the opposite of the halo effect, where positive traits lead to overall positive perceptions.
Selection bias
Selection bias occurs when the people or items chosen for a study or analysis are not representative of the larger group you’re trying to understand, leading to skewed or inaccurate results.
Simply put, it’s a bias that happens because of how the participants or data are selected. For example, if you only survey people who already like a product, your results will be biased because they don’t reflect the opinions of people who dislike it.
Gender Bias
Gender bias is the unfair preference or discrimination based on someone’s gender.
Simply put, it’s when people are treated differently or judged unfairly because they are male, female, or non-binary.
Halo Effect
The halo effect is when we make a positive judgment about someone in one area and then assume they are good in other areas as well.
Simply put, if you think someone is kind or attractive, you might also believe they are smart, capable, or talented, even without evidence to support it. It’s like seeing one “good” trait and letting it colour your overall impression of that person.
Expedience Bias
Expedience bias occurs when people make decisions based on convenience or what is easiest, rather than what is right or most accurate.
Simply put, it’s when someone chooses a quick or simple solution, even if it’s not the best or most thorough one. This bias often leads to shortcuts in decision-making, which may overlook important details or lead to less effective outcomes.
Substitution Bias
Substitution bias happens when people substitute one thing for another, but the substitute is not a perfect match, leading to inaccurate conclusions.
Simply put, it’s when we replace something with an easier or more available option that seems similar but is actually different.
This bias can distort measurements or decisions, like using the price of a popular product to represent the price of all similar products, even though other products might be priced differently.
Affinity Bias
Affinity bias is when we naturally feel more comfortable or connected to people who are similar to ourselves, whether it’s because of shared interests, background, appearance, or beliefs.
This bias leads us to favour these people over others, often without realizing it.
This bias can limit opportunities for diversity and make decision-making less fair.
Personality Type Theory
Personality type theory is a framework that categorises people into different types based on their traits, behaviours, and preferences.
The goal is to understand and describe individual differences in personality in a way that helps explain how people think, feel, and act in various situations. Some of the most popular personality type theories include:
- Carl Jung’s Personality Types. Jung’s theory divides people into two main attitudes—extraversion (focused on the external world) and introversion (focused on the internal world).
He also described four functions of perception and judgment:
thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting.
These combinations form a basis for many modern personality theories.
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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Based on Jung’s ideas, the MBTI is one of the most well-known personality type models. It categorizes people into 16 types using four pairs of opposites:
- Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
- Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
- Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
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Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
These preferences combine to form personality types like “INTJ” or “ESFP.”
- Enneagram: This model describes nine distinct personality types, each representing a basic motivation or fear. For example, Type 1 is called “The Reformer,” motivated by the desire to be perfect, while Type 2 is “The Helper,” motivated by a need to be loved and appreciated. The Enneagram also includes concepts of personal growth and stress points, showing how people can evolve or react under pressure.
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DISC Personality Model: This theory divides personality into four main types based on behavior:
- Dominance (D): Results-driven, assertive, and competitive.
- Influence (I): Outgoing, enthusiastic, and persuasive.
- Steadiness (S): Calm, supportive, and patient.
- Conscientiousness (C): Analytical, detail-oriented, and cautious.
These theories provide different lenses through which to understand human behaviour and can be useful for self-reflection, improving communication, and understanding others. However, it’s important to remember that people are complex and may not fit perfectly into one category.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology that explains human motivation in the form of a pyramid. It suggests that people are motivated by different levels of needs, and we must satisfy the basic ones before moving on to higher ones. The pyramid has five levels, from bottom to top:
- Physiological Needs: These are basic survival needs like food, water, shelter, and sleep. Until these are met, a person can’t focus on anything else.
- Safety Needs: Once basic survival needs are met, people seek safety and security. This includes physical safety, financial stability, health, and protection from danger.
- Love and Belonging Needs: After safety, people need relationships, love, and a sense of belonging. This includes friendships, family connections, and romantic relationships.
- Esteem Needs: This level involves the desire for self-esteem, respect from others, recognition, and achievement. People want to feel valued and confident in their abilities.
- Self-Actualization: This is the top level and represents reaching your full potential. It’s about personal growth, creativity, fulfilling your purpose, and becoming the best version of yourself.
In summary, Maslow’s theory says that people first need to meet their basic needs before they can focus on higher-level goals like personal growth and self-fulfillment.
Hertzberg
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, also known as the Motivation-Hygiene Theory, explains what motivates people at work. It divides factors into two categories: motivators and hygiene factors.
- Motivators (Intrinsic Factors):
These factors lead to job satisfaction and motivate people to work harder. They are related to the nature of the work itself and how fulfilling it feels. When present, these factors can make people feel more engaged and committed.
Motivators include:
- Achievement: Success and accomplishment in work.
- Recognition: Being acknowledged for good work.
- Work itself: Having meaningful and interesting tasks.
- Responsibility: Being trusted to take on important tasks.
- Advancement: Opportunities for growth or promotion.
- Personal growth: Learning new skills and developing professionally.
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Hygiene Factors (Extrinsic Factors):
These factors do not motivate people, but their absence can lead to dissatisfaction. Hygiene factors are related to the work environment and conditions. They include:
- Salary: Adequate pay for work.
- Work conditions: A comfortable and safe workplace.
- Company policies: Clear and fair rules and guidelines.
- Job security: Stability in employment.
- Relationships with colleagues and supervisors: Good interpersonal dynamics.
Key Idea:
- Motivators increase job satisfaction and drive people to do their best work.
- Hygiene factors prevent dissatisfaction but do not necessarily lead to motivation or excitement about the job.
In short, Herzberg’s theory suggests that for employees to be motivated and happy, employers must ensure hygiene factors are addressed (so there’s no dissatisfaction) and motivators are in place to inspire higher performance and job satisfaction.
definition of integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest, having strong moral principles, and consistently doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It involves being truthful, ethical, and reliable in both actions and words. A person with integrity upholds their values and principles, maintaining consistency in their behavior across different situations.
Schein - Theory of organisational culture
Edgar Schein’s Theory of Organizational Culture explains how the culture of an organization develops and influences the behavior of its members. He suggests that culture is like an iceberg: most of it is hidden beneath the surface and consists of deeply held beliefs, values, and assumptions.
Schein’s model breaks organizational culture into three levels:
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Artifacts (Visible Level):
- These are the visible aspects of an organization’s culture, such as its physical environment, dress code, logos, office layout, and behaviors. They are easy to observe but may not fully explain the culture.
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Espoused Values (Declared Level):
- These are the stated values and beliefs of the organization, such as mission statements, goals, or codes of conduct. They represent what the organization says it values but might not always align with actual behavior.
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Basic Underlying Assumptions (Deepest Level):
- These are the core, unconscious beliefs and assumptions that guide behavior in the organization. They are deeply embedded and often taken for granted. They shape how people in the organization perceive, think, and feel about things like authority, teamwork, and innovation.
Summary:
Schein’s theory emphasizes that organizational culture is shaped by both visible elements (artifacts) and deeper, hidden elements (values and assumptions). To truly understand an organization’s culture, you need to explore beyond what’s visible and understand the deep-rooted beliefs and assumptions that drive behavior.
Imagine a pyramid with three layers:
- Top Layer (Artifacts): This is the outermost part of the pyramid, representing the visible elements of culture, such as office design, clothing, and visible behaviors. It’s what you can easily see or observe in the organization.
- Middle Layer (Espoused Values): This layer represents the stated values and beliefs of the organization, such as mission statements and policies. These are less visible but guide decisions and actions within the company.
- Core Layer (Basic Underlying Assumptions): At the center of the pyramid are the deeply ingrained beliefs and assumptions that guide behavior unconsciously. These are the foundation of the culture and are not easily observed.
Each layer builds upon the one above it, and together they explain how organizational culture functions and evolves.
Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory
Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory suggests that there is no single “best” style of leadership.
Instead, effective leadership depends on the situation and the readiness level of the followers. The theory emphasizes adapting leadership styles based on the maturity (or readiness) of the team members in a given situation.
Key Concepts of Situational Leadership Theory:
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Leadership Styles:
Hersey and Blanchard identified four leadership styles that leaders can use, depending on the situation:
- Telling (S1): The leader provides clear instructions and closely supervises tasks. This style is best for followers with low readiness (inexperienced or lack confidence).
- Selling (S2): The leader still provides direction but also explains and persuades. This is appropriate when followers have some knowledge but still need motivation and guidance.
- Participating (S3): The leader works with the team, encouraging participation and sharing decision-making. This style is effective for followers with moderate to high readiness, who have the skills but need support in decision-making.
- Delegating (S4): The leader gives responsibility to the team, providing minimal guidance. This style is suited for highly skilled, confident followers who are capable of working independently.
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Follower Readiness (Maturity):
The theory defines readiness as the ability and willingness of followers to perform a specific task.
Hersey and Blanchard outlined four levels of readiness:
- R1 (Low readiness): Followers are unable and unwilling or insecure. They need clear, directive leadership (Telling).
- R2 (Moderate readiness): Followers are willing but lack the ability. They need a more supportive and persuasive approach (Selling).
- R3 (High readiness): Followers are able but lack motivation or confidence. They need encouragement and involvement (Participating).
- R4 (Very high readiness): Followers are both willing and able. They can be given full responsibility with minimal guidance (Delegating).
The Matching Process:
The key idea of Hersey and Blanchard’s theory is that a leader should match their leadership style to the readiness level of their followers. By doing so, leaders can maximize effectiveness and ensure that team members are both supported and empowered at the right times.
In Summary:
- Effective leadership depends on adapting to the needs of followers.
- The four leadership styles—Telling, Selling, Participating, and Delegating—should be used based on the follower’s readiness level.
Association for Coaching (AC)
The Association for Coaching (AC) Good Practice Guidelines are a set of principles that ensure coaching is professional, ethical, and effective. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Confidentiality: Coaches must keep everything shared by the coachee private, except in cases of safety concerns or legal requirements.
- Clear Agreement: Coaches and coachees should agree on goals, roles, and expectations before starting.
- Competence: Coaches must have the right skills, training, and experience and continue to improve professionally.
- Respect: Coaches should respect the coachee’s values, choices, and dignity.
- Boundaries: Coaches should keep the relationship professional and avoid personal involvement.
- Integrity: Coaches must be honest, transparent, and act ethically.
- Accountability: Both coach and coachee are responsible for progress and actions in the coaching process.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Coaches should be aware of and respectful toward the coachee’s cultural background and diversity.
- Ethical Decision-Making: Coaches must make decisions that are in the best interest of the coachee and address any ethical dilemmas carefully.
These guidelines help ensure that coaching is safe, respectful, and effective for everyone involved.
Global Code of Ethics for Coaches
The EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) Global Code of Ethics for Coaches provides essential ethical guidelines for coaches to ensure professionalism, integrity, and respect. Here are the key points simply explained:
- Professionalism: Coaches should maintain high standards of professionalism in their work, including competence, integrity, and honesty.
- Confidentiality: Coaches must protect the confidentiality of all information shared by clients, unless there is a risk of harm or legal obligation to disclose.
- Informed Consent: Coaches should ensure clients fully understand the coaching process, goals, and potential outcomes before starting.
- Respect for Clients: Coaches must respect clients’ rights, values, and autonomy, supporting their decision-making process without imposing personal views.
- Boundaries and Conflicts of Interest: Coaches must establish clear boundaries in the coaching relationship and avoid conflicts of interest, ensuring that personal interests do not interfere with the client’s needs.
- Competence and Continuous Development: Coaches should work within their areas of expertise and engage in ongoing professional development to stay skilled and effective.
- Accountability: Coaches are responsible for their actions and decisions during the coaching process and should take accountability for their practice.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Coaches must be aware of and respect cultural, social, and personal differences, ensuring inclusivity and promoting diversity.
These key principles help coaches create a safe, ethical, and supportive environment for clients, promoting effective coaching and positive outcomes.
Managing conflict of interests
A situation where a coach’s personal, professional, or financial interests could compromise their objectivity or influence the coaching process.
How to Manage Conflict of Interest:
Identify Potential Conflicts: Recognize when personal interests or relationships might interfere with the coaching process.
Transparency: Disclose any potential conflicts to the client at the start of the coaching relationship.
Set Clear Boundaries: Maintain a professional boundary between personal and coaching roles to avoid bias or favoritism.
Seek Supervision: If unsure, seek guidance or supervision from a more experienced coach or mentor to navigate conflicts.
Prioritize Client’s Interests: Always place the client’s needs and best interests first, ensuring unbiased, supportive coaching.
Key Takeaway:
A coach must always act in the client’s best interest, maintain transparency, and set boundaries to avoid conflicts of interest.
unconditional positive regard
Unconditional Positive Regard
What is Unconditional Positive Regard in Coaching?
- A coaching approach where the coach offers non-judgmental, empathetic, and accepting support to the client, regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or actions.
Key Aspects of Unconditional Positive Regard:
- Acceptance: The coach accepts the client for who they are, without judgment or criticism.
- Empathy: The coach listens and tries to understand the client’s perspective and feelings.
- Non-judgmental Support: The coach provides encouragement and support, focusing on the client’s potential and growth, not on past mistakes.
- Respect for Autonomy: The coach respects the client’s right to make their own choices and decisions.
Key Takeaway:
Unconditional positive regard helps create a trusting, safe environment where clients feel valued and supported, leading to greater self-awareness and growth.
directive and non directive
Directive Approach:
Coach-Driven: The coach provides guidance, advice, and suggestions to the client.
Goal: To give specific directions or solutions for the client’s challenges.
Best for: Clients who need clear instructions or problem-solving support.
Example: Coach suggesting actionable steps for the client to follow.
Non-Directive Approach:
Client-Driven: The coach listens and asks open-ended questions, allowing the client to explore their own ideas and solutions.
Goal: To help the client find their own answers and build self-awareness.
Best for: Clients who prefer to discover solutions on their own or explore personal growth.
Example: Coach asking, “What do you think is the best way forward?”
Key Takeaway:
Directive coaching offers advice and solutions, while Non-Directive coaching empowers the client to find their own path. Both approaches can be effective, depending on the client’s needs and situation.
Aspect | Directive Approach | Non-Directive Approach |
Klines 10 components
Kline’s 10-Step Coaching Model is a structured approach for coaching, focusing on building trust and empowering the client. Here are the key steps:
Establishing the Relationship:
Build rapport and trust with the client.
Clarifying the Goal: Identify and define the client’s coaching goal.
Exploring the Current Situation: Understand the client’s present reality and challenges.
Exploring the Future: Encourage the client to envision their desired outcome or future state.
Exploring Options: Help the client brainstorm possible solutions and alternatives.
Choosing the Best Option: Guide the client to select the most appropriate action plan.
Making a Commitment: The client commits to specific actions.
Action Planning: Break down the action steps into manageable tasks.
Support and Accountability: Provide ongoing support and check-ins for progress.
Review and Reflection: Review progress and reflect on what’s been learned and accomplished.
Key Takeaway:
Kline’s 10-Step Model provides a comprehensive and client-centered approach to coaching, focusing on clear goals, exploration, and action planning.
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Transactional Analysis (TA)
Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychological theory used in coaching to understand communication patterns and improve personal interactions. It focuses on three “ego states” that influence behavior:
Parent Ego State: Behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that are learned from parental figures or authority. It can be nurturing (supportive) or critical (judgmental).
Adult Ego State: Rational, objective, and based on the present. It focuses on facts and reality, helping individuals make decisions based on logic.
Child Ego State: Behaviors, thoughts, and feelings from childhood experiences. It can be free (spontaneous and creative) or adapted (based on rules or fear of judgment).
Key Takeaway:
TA helps in understanding communication dynamics by identifying which ego state is influencing interactions. By recognizing these states, individuals can improve self-awareness and communication.
Power dynamics in a coaching context
Power Dynamics in Coaching refer to the balance of influence and authority between the coach and the client. These dynamics can affect the coaching relationship and process.
Key Aspects:
Coach’s Power: The coach holds the expertise, guidance, and authority in the coaching process, but this power should be used responsibly to empower the client, not control them.
Client’s Power: The client holds the ultimate responsibility for their growth, decisions, and actions. Empowering the client is key to a successful coaching relationship.
Balance of Power: A healthy coaching relationship maintains an equal power dynamic, where both the coach and client respect each other’s perspectives, and the client’s autonomy is prioritized.
Awareness: Coaches must be aware of how power influences the process and avoid over-directing or imposing their views on the client.
Key Takeaway:
In coaching, power dynamics should be balanced, with the coach guiding and supporting the client’s growth while respecting their autonomy and decision-making process.
Questioning techniques in coaching
uestioning Techniques in Coaching are used by coaches to facilitate reflection, promote deeper thinking, and encourage self-awareness in clients.
Key Techniques:
Open-Ended Questions: Encourage exploration and avoid yes/no answers.
Example: “What would you like to achieve in this session?”
Probing Questions: Dig deeper into thoughts or feelings to uncover more insights.
Example: “What is the underlying reason for that belief?”
Clarifying Questions: Help to ensure understanding and avoid assumptions.
Example: “Can you clarify what you mean by that?”
Reflective Questions: Encourage self-reflection and insight.
Example: “How does that align with your core values?”
Scaling Questions: Ask the client to rate their feelings or progress on a scale.
Example: “On a scale from 1 to 10, how confident are you in achieving your goal?”
Solution-Focused Questions: Help the client focus on solutions and positive outcomes.
Example: “What is one small step you can take today to move forward?”
Key Takeaway:
Effective questioning techniques help the coach guide the client to greater self-awareness, insight, and action, fostering growth and clarity in the coaching process.
Stakeholder management theory
Stakeholder Management Theory focuses on identifying, understanding, and managing the interests and expectations of various stakeholders involved in a project or organization.
Key Aspects:
Stakeholder Identification: Recognizing all groups or individuals who are affected by or can affect the organization or project.
Example: Employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and the community.
Stakeholder Analysis: Understanding the needs, expectations, and influence of each stakeholder group.
High power, high interest stakeholders should be managed closely.
Low power, low interest stakeholders require minimal attention.
Engagement Strategies: Developing strategies to communicate, engage, and manage relationships with stakeholders based on their level of interest and power.
Balancing Conflicting Interests: Ensuring that competing stakeholder interests are addressed, and decisions are made in the best interest of the organization and stakeholders.
Key Takeaway:
Stakeholder Management Theory helps organizations understand and prioritize stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and relationship management to achieve successful outcomes.
Power interest grid
The Power-Interest Grid is a tool used in stakeholder management to categorize stakeholders based on their level of power and interest in a project or organization.
Key Categories:
High Power, High Interest:
Management Strategy: Engage closely and manage actively.
Example: Key decision-makers or major investors.
High Power, Low Interest:
Management Strategy: Keep satisfied, provide important updates but avoid unnecessary details.
Example: Senior executives not involved in day-to-day operations.
Low Power, High Interest:
Management Strategy: Keep informed and consult regularly.
Example: Team members, local communities, or customers.
Low Power, Low Interest:
Management Strategy: Monitor and provide minimal communication.
Example: Distant stakeholders or peripheral groups.
Key Takeaway:
The Power-Interest Grid helps prioritize stakeholders based on their influence and engagement level, allowing tailored communication strategies to manage relationships effectively.