Name: Martell Harris

Coaching Assessment Toolbox:

A first and crucial period to any individual’s development occurs from learning self

awareness. Individual improvement and organizational growth will struggle to commence until

each is made aware of a concern or setback. Assessment tools are important for evaluating

strengths and weaknesses. Assessment results offer perceptiveness into an individual’s potential

and recognizes certain areas for improvement.

Appropriately used assessments have an important value in a person’s development.

Assessments usually reduces the time necessary to determine an individual's developmental

holes. This is a significant tool for organizations to use in assigning employees to fitting

positions with appropriate teams and is a way to assist executives and managers in predicting an

individual’s success.

Many assessments, which the individual or individual’s partaking can use, is usually selected

on a source of the appropriate situation and kind of feedback necessary. Below are some

assessments that are considered in my Coaching Assessment Toolbox:

 1. Myers-Briggs

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a well recognized personality inventory. This
assessment tool reduces down the test participant's personality based on four dimensions:

1. Preferred world: Extraversion or Introversion

2. Information: Sensing or Intuition
3. Decisions: Thinking or Feeling
4. Structure: Judging or Perceiving

Individuals can range anyplace along the spectrum between the two extremities, and will
always be more dominate to one than the other. This results in 16 possible personality types, all
with their own unique characteristics. This MBTI tool has been put to good use in the corporate
industry as well as in schools and universities. The idea is that when you know more about an
individual’s distinct preferences, individual’s can learn how to put them to best use. Results are
useful resource when building an outline of future goals for clients.

2. Wheel of Life

It’s a straight forward and relaxed tool for application that can assist clients in finding out
which areas of their life are most sustaining and where they would like to focus attention on
refining their life value. There are only two steps to this exercise:

Step 1 - Review the 8 categories on the wheel and think about what would represent a rewarding
life in each area:

 Health
 Friends & Family
 Significant Other
 Personal Growth
 Fun & Leisure
 Home Environment
 Career
 Money

Step 2 - Draw a line across each section that best characterizes the current level of contentment,
with the center of the wheel equal to 0 and the edge of the wheel equal to 10, the maximum level
of fulfillment. The end result looks a bit like a spider web, and can give your client a general idea
of their overall life satisfaction in relation to their desired life satisfaction. Below is a wheel
prototype.

3. Spheres of Influence

Many ways that people incline to get off trajectory or hit a brick wall while pushing towards
their goals conveys to “spheres of influence.” The notion behind the spheres of influence tool is
that there are three distinct areas people can sort the developments and circumstances of life into:

1. Things we can control

2. Things we can influence
3. Things we can’t influence, either right now or at all times
 Even though there are times that there is nothing under our control, there is always at least
one thing we have direct control over which is one’s self. Under immense pressure or tough
conditions, people have some level of control over their attitude and their behavior.

The second area is things we can influence. People do not have through control over these
factors, but they can put their energy into moving them in the right direction. For example,
although we have little control over other’s attitudes or behavior, we can give recommendations,
support, or offer suggestion to assist them to make better choices.

The final area is things that we have no control or influence over. Since the bulk of what
occurs in our life is not under our direct control, this area has the largest portion to consider. An
effective coach will assist their clients to identify and acknowledge that there is a lot in the world
that cannot be controlled. Additionally, assist the client to find chances to influence change
through taking control or manipulating that which is within their power.

4. Journaling

Possession of a journal can be valuable for numerous reasons, even as a coaching or client
exercise. Consistent journaling simplifies thinking and can generate beneficial brainstorming
about how to improve toward goals. Coaches can confirm that their client’s journaling is
effective by offering support. To assist client in effective journaling, coaches can use the
JOURNAL acronym below:

 J – Judgment-free
Encourage clients to write whatever is in their heart. This journal is personal, private, and a
safe space to express their thoughts and feelings.

 O – Observation
Journaling is an excellent opportunity for clients to step into an observer role . Instruct clients
to write down things that happen to them and spend some time thinking about how they
interpret them.

 U – Understanding
Piggybacking off of observation, what we observe can help us reach understanding about
ourselves. How we perceive what happens to us is more important than what actually happens
to us, and observing how we think can help us understand our own thought patterns, which
can lead to effective management of our thoughts and behaviors.

 R – Revelation
This process can often lead to revelations about our desires, our dreams, our goals and
aspirations. Journaling can help us get in touch with our core selves.

 N – Needs Assessment
Keeping a daily journal makes it easier to notice problems and potential solutions, as the
simple act of writing something down can make it seem simpler and clearer. Keeping
 everything bottled up can be extremely harmful, and just putting pen to paper can sometimes
be all that is needed to release some pressure.

 A – Awareness
Writing down your experiences helps your client to take a wider perspective on his or her life,
as well as reminding them of problem areas and things they have to be grateful for. Raising
awareness of these areas is the first step towards making the necessary changes and
appreciating what they have.

 L – Life
Quality Journaling is known to be an effective way to distress and decrease anxiety. Just a
few minutes a day can have a major impact on health and happiness.

5. Action Brainstorming Worksheet

The Action Brainstorming Worksheet can assist clients to think their way out of tough and
disadvantageous situations. This worksheet is normally one page long, with a table that is split
into five columns. The guidelines are to think of actions or behaviors that individuals commonly
participate in or would like to participate in, and arrange into the suitable column.

1. In the first column, the client is to write down the actions or behaviors they would like to stop
doing. These are behaviors that are not helpful for meeting any of their goals, or actively
harmful.
2. The second column should be filled with activities the client would like to do less of, such as
activities that are sometimes helpful but time consuming, or ways to distress that have been
taken to an extreme.
3. The middle column represents the actions or behaviors a client would like to keep doing. This
is where clients will write down the things they do that they are satisfied with in their current
frequency, like regular exercise, paying their bills on time, or weekly dinner with a loved one.
4. The fourth column is the “do more” column, where clients are to write down the things they
would like to do more frequently. For example, maybe they want to engage in a fun and
fulfilling hobby more often, or devote a little more time to a project that has real potential to
succeed.
5. The final column is the “start” column, which is where clients should list the actions and
behaviors they would like to begin doing. This could be anything that helps them meet their
goals, such as weekly yoga class someone who is stressed, monthly networking for someone
who is looking for a better opportunity, or an annual vacation for someone who is letting their
life get overrun by work.

6. Understanding Goals
The Understanding Our Goals worksheet is about assisting clients on figuring out if their
goals are significance enough for their time and energy, or assist in arranging their goals in
relations of helpfulness. This worksheet requests clients to recognize their top three current
goals, and discover why each goal is significant to them and what they anticipate to profit.
Following answering these questions, the final question for each goal is “What will this goal help
you feel?” Once the client has grasped the principal of the goal, answering this question should
be simple.

Example: Goal of gaining 10-15 pounds of muscle.

An answer to the first question may be “improve appearance and feel better.”

The answer to the second could be something like “Accomplishing this goal will let me to take
satisfaction in my physique.”

The third question may prompt a response like “Having satisfaction in my physique will assist
me to feel better about myself overall.”

The fourth question may then be answered with “Feeling better about myself overall will assist
me to focus on my other goals and improve my quality of life.”
Finally, the answer to the ultimate question, “What will this goal help you feel?” might be
something like “Confident, proud of myself, and motivated to pursue all of my other goals.”

7. Force Field Analysis

Force Field Analysis is an easy technique for developing a comprehension of the forces that
can drive and resist a proposed change. A force field diagram is used to evaluate contrasting
forces and can line the ducks in a role for constructing change. This analysis involves a two
column form, with driving forces listed in the first column, and restraining forces in the second.

The balance sheet configuration of the force field diagram makes it appropriate for use to
situations other than comparing driving and restraining forces as well. For example, coaches and
clients could use it to list for possible engagements and results, compare best conditions and
realism, in negotiation, evaluate what is wanted from the other individual compared to what
would be encounter in face if they contracted.

1. Two columns, with one dilemma section in the middle or running across both.
2. Write the planned change in the dilemma section.
3. Label the left column "driving forces", and the right one "restraining forces".
4. List the forces in the two columns.
5. Encourage creative but realistic thinking.
6. Forces seek equilibrium. To encourage change, create asymmetry between forces.
7. Which of the restraining forces can be removed or weakened?

You can also use a force field diagram to:

1. List pro's and con's.

 2. List actions and reactions.
3. List strengths and weaknesses.
4. Compare ideal situations and reality.
5. In negotiation, compare the perceptions of opposing parties.
6. List "what we know" in the left column, and "what we don't know" in the right.

8. S.W.O.T

SWOT Analysis is useful technique for understanding strengths, weaknesses, and identifying
both the opportunities open to individuals and the possible threats. From a business perspective,
SWOT assists CEO’s in developing a sustainable position in the current market. From a personal
context, SWOT assist in career development in a way that takes best advantages of one’s talents,
abilities and opportunities.

Example: A start up chief executive officer (CEO) might draw up the following S.W.O.T
Analysis.

As a result of this analysis, the CEO may decide that it is in their organizations be interest to
focus in speedy response, respectable services to local business and local government. Marketing
should be in particular local newspapers and journals to get the utmost conceivable marketing
presence for a set advertising budget, and the consultancy should keep up to date with change in
technology when possible.

9. GROW Model

The GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, and Will) model is a set of coaching questions to help
your client achieve their goals, by asking a set of questions to move their thinking into a positive
direction. This is one of the most famous goal setting techniques.

Clarify to the Client:

 First, clients need to decide on a goal and outcome. What is your goal? Make the goal
precise, measurable and realistic. The client must trust in their goal, be reliable, and not to have a
goal that clashes with another goal or the client will struggle to maintain motivation.

Sample:

Goal Questions: What do you want to achieve? What is the short term goal? What is the long
term goal? If everything went well as possible, what would be the best outcome? What does
success look like to you?

 Keep this as simple as possible! The goal questions will support client to understand the
goal and when it will be achieved.

Reality Questions: What is happening now? Who, what, where, how and when? How busy are
you? What is holding you back? Who is involved?

 To achieve the goal, the client needs to understand the reality of their current situation,
skills, time constraints, attitudes, process and how far or near they are to achieving their
goal.

Option Questions: What are the two main options? What other options do you have? What if all
constraints were removed? If you had more time, what would you do? If money was not an issue,
what resources would you have?

 First look at the overall big picture and the break this down in to smaller details.
Remember that your different experiences and knowledge, this experience and
knowledge will open new possibilities and options.

Will Questions: What will you do now? What options will you decide? What could stop you
moving forward? When will you know you are ready?

 Once the client understands and believes in the goal and can see that this goal is
achievable and realistic, they will be ready to start moving towards that goal. The Will
questions are designed to get their thinking about starting their task.

10. Commitment Card

This assessment tool creates accountability for the client or the individual that is using the
commitment card, forcing themselves to preform at a high standard based on the people they
highly value. This also allows the people valued most in one’s life to have input and give
feedback on their progression.

Clarify to Clients:
 For some odd reason, people can feel more obligated to others then to themselves, as it is
much simpler to disappoint one’s self then it is to let others down.

Sample:

1. Have client to write out their goal on five separate cards “I will give up eating fast food
by 06/01/2018”. It is significant to write down the date.

2. Ask your client to think of five people they trust and respect, people they don’t want to
disappoint.

3. Tell your client to give the commitment cards, one to each of these five people. Your
client has to tell these five people their goal, and that they want them to ask your client
how they are getting on.

4. On the goal date, each of the five people need to contact the individual (client) to see how
they have progressed.

It is important to remember that all the assessment tools and techniques above are written in

general terms. As a coach, use what the client communicates in the session and develop these

techniques to suit personal coaching style and the client’s individual resources and personal

capabilities. Coaches have to continue to progress, gaining knowledge in many new techniques

and coaching styles as possible. Explore new ways of assisting clients, use innovative and

creative ways to help clients achieve their goals. Lastly, in the coaching setting, the coach is the

professional and should be confident as clients move forward at a faster rate when they believe

and trust in the coach and their expertise.