Welcome to the October newsletter from Murphy Consulting, in which I explore coaching insights and common business challenges. This month I’m looking at neuroplasticity - aka the brain’s incredible power to change and develop new pathways.
Think Different.
That, of course, was the famous marketing slogan from Apple developed in the late 90s which may have subsequently influenced us into our first iPod purchase and all those technology habits we’ve developed today. But it’s also a core principle of coaching.
But it’s also a core principle of coaching.
One of the challenges for the coach with their client is to invite them to prompt a new awareness about their situation and to explore new ways of thinking. Think Different. And, of course, thinking differently leads to acting differently. Last year I benefited massively from coaching and mentoring sessions which helped me understand how my motivations had changed, leading me to quit my job and start a new career.
Carol Dweck developed the concept of the growth mindset, the idea that people can develop their talents and abilities through persistence and learning. At Optimus coaching academy, I’ve been learning about the science behind it – neuroplasticity, the means by which the brain can find new neural pathways to adopt fresh habits, feelings or skills.
The power of coaching is that, through powerful questions and challenging of assumptions, it can help unlock new perspectives and help sow the seeds of change in clients’ lives. I’ve seen coachees break free from their previous beliefs about relationships, their own abilities and some of their life choices. A different mindset can then lead to a new course of action, which can then become an established pattern.
Like any change of habit, any rewiring of the brain requires persistence and plenty of effort, so that the new neural pathway becomes the accepted norm. That’s why coaching isn’t just a one-off but a practice to be re-used over time, whether in employee one-to-ones, group facilitation or a coaching programme.
Recently I’ve been reading a book about mentoring young people – ’10 to 25’ by Dr David Yeager – so named because the age of 10 is when adolescents start craving socially rewarding experiences and this continues until the mid-twenties. As a father of a tween and teen, this is particularly relevant to me and useful in developing tools to avoid miscommunication and conflict, many of which relate to coaching.
The irony of that 90s marketing slogan Think Different is that it set us on a new behaviour pathway with home technology, ultimately leading to smartphones, which now presents massive challenges with the way we bring up our children. One of the biggest tests of our mentoring and parenting skills could be how to get the next generation to think differently again. Habits can be changed, but it will take time.
If you want to explore how I can help you with coaching, book in for a free consultation here.