The Science of Coaching - Why does it work?
Our brains are in a constant state of development. Synapses are continually being made and reformed, strengthening connections and pathways in the brain. The more you use certain brain networks e.g. when learning a new skill, the stronger these connections become. And if you don’t use it, you loose it, and skills fall away. Coaching works on the basis that you can direct this process and strengthen connections in your brain to develop skills e.g. becoming more strategic in your thinking. This ‘neuroplasticity’ of the brain stays with us at all ages – so it’s never too late to learn a new skill!
As a scientist and a coach, I have been curious as to how neuroscience and psychology can provide an insight in to why coaching is such an effective tool – something that I discuss with my clients as I work with them. Many approaches are useful in coaching, and I have tried to answer ‘why does coaching work?’ by providing a short case study highlighting a few of these approaches.
CASE Study – Coaching to increase strategic thinking.
Phase 1. Getting the Brain Warmed Up and Ready
Every coaching session begins with establishing rapport – the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin is released as we meet up and exchange greetings, improving and sharpening the cognitive functions. Also, being in the quiet atmosphere of the coaching room away from distractions, turns off the fire-fighting parts of the brain and switches on the pre frontal cortex (PFC) and the areas of the brain used for divergent thinking, creating new ideas and options.
We will then review what progress has been made towards goals, which triggers moving to a more positive frame of mind. When describing these successes, the brain actually experiences an increase in dopamine levels (activating the reward circuits) and so increases motivation, curiosity and openness. This review process also increases serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter which makes us feel positive, and increases focus and attention as well as speeding up thinking.
At the end of this phase, the brain is ready for strategic thinking!
Phase 2. Getting the ideas flowing.
Creative thinking. There are various techniques that can be used here, and I often use a positive thinking approach by asking questions such as ‘If you knew you couldn’t fail, or had an unlimited budget/resources what would you do?’ This positive thinking approach has been shown in functional MRI studies to increase activity in the parts of the brain associated with global thinking – the ability to see the big picture.
Decision making. Our brains are designed to make complex decisions by a process which involves creating scenarios: The brain accesses its knowledge from previous experience to construct a potential future, then cross checks it against the desired outcome. This is one of the processes that needs to be practiced and strengthened for improving strategic thinking. To stimulate this process and reinforce building these neural processes, I will use various nudges to increase the richness of scenarios. For example, changing the perceptual position to see things from different angles and bringing into play other parts of the brain by challenging the brain to dig into a wider variety of stored experiences. Our decision-making process is also very prone to ‘unconscious bias’ , where we might prioritise one option over another for reasons that we are unaware of: for example, our amygdala (threat response) may be triggered when considering an option and this will make it seem much less attractive than it is in reality. As a coach I can challenge this perception by bringing it into discussion, highlighting the bias and increasing the level of clarity in the decision-making process.
The coaching sessions will focus on practicing this strategic thinking skill and, through practice, reinforcing and strengthen the circuitry in the brain and ‘sculpting’ it to perform this task.
Phase 3. The Outcome. Clarity, Confidence, Motivation and Momentum
At the end of the coaching session, the combination of being able to see a way forward – achieving clarity – boosts dopamine levels and increases motivation. As such, it is a very positive experience and increases confidence and momentum towards goals. In the longer term, as we go through monthly sessions, I will be working with you on how to create triggers and techniques to get your brain going through these processes more regularly and to get into the habit and skill of strategic thinking.
Our brains are in a constant state of development. Synapses are continually being made and reformed, strengthening connections and pathways in the brain. The more you use certain brain networks e.g. when learning a new skill, the stronger these connections become. And if you don’t use it, you loose it, and skills fall away. Coaching works on the basis that you can direct this process and strengthen connections in your brain to develop skills e.g. becoming more strategic in your thinking. This ‘neuroplasticity’ of the brain stays with us at all ages – so it’s never too late to learn a new skill!
As a scientist and a coach, I have been curious as to how neuroscience and psychology can provide an insight in to why coaching is such an effective tool – something that I discuss with my clients as I work with them. Many approaches are useful in coaching, and I have tried to answer ‘why does coaching work?’ by providing a short case study highlighting a few of these approaches.
CASE Study – Coaching to increase strategic thinking.
Phase 1. Getting the Brain Warmed Up and Ready
Every coaching session begins with establishing rapport – the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin is released as we meet up and exchange greetings, improving and sharpening the cognitive functions. Also, being in the quiet atmosphere of the coaching room away from distractions, turns off the fire-fighting parts of the brain and switches on the pre frontal cortex (PFC) and the areas of the brain used for divergent thinking, creating new ideas and options.
We will then review what progress has been made towards goals, which triggers moving to a more positive frame of mind. When describing these successes, the brain actually experiences an increase in dopamine levels (activating the reward circuits) and so increases motivation, curiosity and openness. This review process also increases serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter which makes us feel positive, and increases focus and attention as well as speeding up thinking.
At the end of this phase, the brain is ready for strategic thinking!
Phase 2. Getting the ideas flowing.
Creative thinking. There are various techniques that can be used here, and I often use a positive thinking approach by asking questions such as ‘If you knew you couldn’t fail, or had an unlimited budget/resources what would you do?’ This positive thinking approach has been shown in functional MRI studies to increase activity in the parts of the brain associated with global thinking – the ability to see the big picture.
Decision making. Our brains are designed to make complex decisions by a process which involves creating scenarios: The brain accesses its knowledge from previous experience to construct a potential future, then cross checks it against the desired outcome. This is one of the processes that needs to be practiced and strengthened for improving strategic thinking. To stimulate this process and reinforce building these neural processes, I will use various nudges to increase the richness of scenarios. For example, changing the perceptual position to see things from different angles and bringing into play other parts of the brain by challenging the brain to dig into a wider variety of stored experiences. Our decision-making process is also very prone to ‘unconscious bias’ , where we might prioritise one option over another for reasons that we are unaware of: for example, our amygdala (threat response) may be triggered when considering an option and this will make it seem much less attractive than it is in reality. As a coach I can challenge this perception by bringing it into discussion, highlighting the bias and increasing the level of clarity in the decision-making process.
The coaching sessions will focus on practicing this strategic thinking skill and, through practice, reinforcing and strengthen the circuitry in the brain and ‘sculpting’ it to perform this task.
Phase 3. The Outcome. Clarity, Confidence, Motivation and Momentum
At the end of the coaching session, the combination of being able to see a way forward – achieving clarity – boosts dopamine levels and increases motivation. As such, it is a very positive experience and increases confidence and momentum towards goals. In the longer term, as we go through monthly sessions, I will be working with you on how to create triggers and techniques to get your brain going through these processes more regularly and to get into the habit and skill of strategic thinking.
