How High-Flying Professionals Get Their Wings With Transformative Life Coaching
- Olly Alexander
- Sep 13, 2022
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 25
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to my blog series which dives deeply into Transformative life Coaching.
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Please see the bottom of this blog for my education and training. I have trained in Transformation Life Coaching in London, United Kingdom. I believe so much in the deep power that coaching has to transform you and your organisation that I have had, and continue to have, a number of Transformative Life Coaches myself. I have experienced deep shifts in my way of BEing and therefore DO-ing. I am a full time Transformative Life Coach.
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Transformative Life Coaching (TLC) is all about creating an expanded way of BEing, which will create potentially epic outcomes for you and your business.
Transformation and transformative coaching have become popular terms in business, leadership, and coaching circles. Unfortunately, when words are used so freely, people often lose touch with their true meaning and use them to describe something they are not. All transformation changes, but not all change is transformation.
TLC is increasingly a blend of executive coaching, leadership coaching, positive psychology, existential philosophy, and other influences. In simple terms, TLC is focused on enabling self-actualisation: It involves reprogramming your internal operating system to much higher levels of capability. New opportunities are born and you become a creator, able to see challenges from an entirely new perspective. As Robert Louis Stevenson said “To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.”
Who is the ideal client for TLC?
You have an inner calling or true path to become much greater in your capability than you currently are: You feel that you have a purpose that is as yet unfulfilled to its maximum potential
You are open to growth and change: You are open to looking within
You feel that you have gone as far as you can go, but know that there is much more inside you, waiting to be accessed and tapped into
Your external achievements no longer satisfy you of themselves
You are open to having a guide on your journey
Your natural state is humble yet expansive
You feel stuck or lost, that your career is not currently challenging you or providing meaning
Levels of coaching and stages of power
Levels of coaching and levels of change:
Level 1 coaching: Simple executive coaching deals with goals to current challenges, but when the same problem occurs again you will need a coach again (Level 1 change);
Level 2 Coaching: Developmental coaching results in learning so that you can deal with future issues (Level 2 change);
Level 3 Coaching: Transformative Life Coaching (TLC) works on the whole iceberg, creating a paradigm (perspective) shift, changing the way you see your self, others, your business and the world (Level 3 change).
TLC works at the highest logical levels of change to do with purpose and meaning, and also with identity and self concepts. It is the initiation of this nuclear reaction inside you that drives forward your capabilities.
Real power: Stages of personal power in organisations
In her book of this title, Janet Hagberg used a process-oriented model to analyse higher levels of personal power. You will be able to identify yourself in the stages - its lessons apply equally to all of us. The more you go within and allow insight and wisdom to influence your behaviours and actions, the more 'real power' you have. The first three stages reflect an external or outward power orientation (drawing your personal power from that which is internal to you). The latter three stages are internally oriented (drawing your power from that which is internal to you). Therefore personal power increases at each stage. Each person tends to have a 'home' stage that they reach without TLC. This is often Stage 3 (see below), which is ego-driven, fear-based, and therefore limited. You do not proceed to new stages simply as a function of age, experience, or courses undertaken. The release of one's ego is a central task inherent to this model. As ego equates to fear, it can never be real power. As you move through the stages with TLC, you take on the strengths of each stage. The six stages of personal power are as follows:
Stage 1: Powerlessness: This is characterised by low self-esteem and feelings of helplessness. At this stage we can retreat into blame, critical judgement, complaint and manipulation to gain a sense of control. This behaviour is emblematic of being disempowered.
Stage 2: Power by association: We can begin to influence things towards our desired outcome, although we are driven by being like someone else, not our true selves. We hope that some of that power will rub off by association. We gain confidence and take bigger risks.
Stage 3: Power by achievement: Power is experienced through connection with what we have achieved in life. It is in the realms of the workaholic, or those who work to achieve external validation of their worth. It is not true power. It is ego-based. The ego struts its stuff. But it is destined to fail as by definition if we validate ourselves externally, we will never have enough. We strive and compete. The vast majority of professionals have settled fro this stage: The frustrated boss who constantly feels the need to assert themselves through questionable leadership skills. Our intrinsic self-worth and sense of self are a reflection of our external achievements. As a result, people get stuck at this stage, continually striving to attain more and more, life reduced to an endless climb for status, primarily because they are completely unaware of the power potentials that lie beyond Stage 3. People get stuck at this stage because they don't know they are stuck - they believe they will still 'make it' or that they already have, but feel purposeless and unworthy. One day, something shifts within, a "crisis of integrity" - which marks the movement into Stage 4 power, from externally oriented (the illusion of power) to internally oriented power (real power). The trigger can be internal or external, such as a traumatic event. Either way the crisis of integrity prompts the person to question how important the trappings of Stage 3 really are. Confusion sets in, which may feel dysfunctional, but it is the perfect functionality of transformation at work: the inner earthquake has begun, something deep is stirring, and something monumental is about to be born.
Stage 4: Power by reflection: This is a stage of intense introspection and potential transformation. Here people ask big questions, such as "What is my purpose?" or "What is truly important here?" These questions forge the path of internal reflection, where we are compelled to discover meaning and purpose. The journey through Stage 4 and beyond, if guided and allowed to flower into its fullness, will bring us face-to-face with our darkest shadows and our brightest light, and transform the very nature of our ego-based concept. Once you move into Stage 4 and sense the vast promise of identity it holds in store, there is no going back. This is a place of transformation where the limiting ego is transcended. You will face your fears, move beyond your intellect, learn to let go of control, to allow for true expansion. You move forwards in your personal power and influence through your ability to reflect on yourself honesty, and integrity, as you explore what it is like to act out of your higher ideals and values. You will begin to truly understand your purpose in this world. There is no greater inner fire to fuel change and power.
Stage 5: Power by purpose: This stage is resplendent. You will appear different to others, as your guide for your behaviour is your inner intuitive voice. You are congruent as you no longer live two separate lives as in Stage 4. You have a purpose that is beyond yourself. You know what your calling is: it is where your deep inner joy and satisfaction meet the world's deep hunger for what you have to offer. You will possess inner vision, driven by clarity and confidence in your life purpose. Because your sense of power comes from deep within, you are humble yet courageous, knowing that your inner power is so much greater than the power of anything external to yourself. By drawing from an infinite well within, you give power away freely and unselfishly. You are calm, and radiate authenticity. You are creative, passionate, compassionate, kind, and eager to participate in the transformation of others and organisations. However, you still have a limited understanding of how life operates at the deepest level.
Stage 6: Power by wisdom: You are characterised by calm and quiet strength. You exhibit an evolved state of mind, with the wisdom to match. You are humble, elevating the consciousness and awareness of all, simply through your presence. You are an enormous asset to your self any to any organisation. You are endlessly curious, imaginative, creative, and active. You become an inspiration to all.
How does TLC differ from executive coaching?
TLC dives deeper and wider than other forms of coaching, and draws on the best of every type, to focus on who clients truly are and who they want to become. It is about being, rather than simply doing. The great TLC question is, therefore “Who does one need to BE in order for one’s goals, ambitions, or dreams to become a reality?” You will bring your goals, objectives, and high dreams to the table in TLC conversations; however, both you and I are aware that those function as the context for the deeper dive within, below the surface of the iceberg, to the inner submerged world of core values, limiting beliefs, self-awareness, and purpose. This will shine the light of clarity on what is holding you back, and also how to supercharge your goals.
TLC shines light on and deals with your fears, so that you become intuitive, fearless, and inspired: It wakes you up to the reality that your ego is driven by fear, which cannot underpin true success. TLC also deals with your scarcity mindset, transmuting it into abundance.
With high-flying professionals, what is holding you back or what is causing you to be stuck and not escalating upwards to be effective? In most cases, it is not a functional gap, as you have the experience and knowledge to do the role very well. But there is something else that is limiting you - the way you interpret the situation, the way you integrate the situation, and how you are being reactive. Traditional coaching is simply not deep or wide enough to address this. There is no course that you can attend or exam that you can take outside of TLC that can address this. You don't need a teacher, you need a guide who can help you to look within. Carl Gustav Jung said "Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." Why dream, when you can literally awaken your reality? Over time, real transformation occurs, and the necessary thoughts, attitudes, and actions which function to bring envisioned goals into existence will arise organically, as an expression of the fulfilment of your expanded capability.
The transformative life coach’s role is to maintain focus on the growth potentials of the deeper realm, and encourage exploration of being as a precursor to taking action. Being is paramount to doing, and doing flows from being. Many executives think that you want to come to coaching seeking strategies and solutions to a problem, but what you need is to learn how to fundamentally shift your entire sense of self into a more expanded conscious state. This will shift your thinking into "I am worthy of true success. I am capable of anything." This sustainable shift at the level of being requires a transformative shift, bringing zest, calm, verve, and creativity into your career, finally and realising your true potential. New opportunities are born. With TLC there is a long-term change of your mindset that will have repercussions throughout your working life.
World class coaches understand that their role is to guide you to real, lasting change. This can only be achieved through TLC: It has the power to generate phenomenal positive changes in a very short period of time, over days, weeks or months. It is important that your TLC coach has undergone profound change themselves, through lived life experience and TLC! This allows me to work with any client, anywhere in the world. So remember, not all coaching is transformative. It has to be TLC to be this powerful!
Why TLC is about giving you and your career a turbo boost
Contrary to outdated perceptions, coaching in business is not about fixing people or remedial work: TLC assumes that you are whole and unbroken. TLC expands your level of consciousness about your self to achieve without limit, so that your performance will sky-rocket.
As Neville Goddard said: “Man’s chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness.” You can not outdo who you are being. If you want a level 10 outcome you need to be a level 10 consciousness. So our job is to raise your consciousness to the level you want to achieve, but can't even imagine it yet.
TLC will give you clarity not only about your goals, but also who you are and how this affects your ability to meet and even exceed your goals. TLC will awaken you to your purpose, energising your abilities from within. Your new self-awareness will give you true insight about your motivations and that of your competitors. TLC will set challenging goals, even goals that you can't even yet imagine, and find ways of meeting them that you can't yet access. TLC will explore ways forward for achieving success, challenging your limiting thought patterns. TLC will enable you to look at situations differently to gain new insights. TLC will change your direction away from habitual behaviour and old patterns that don't work. TLC will dive deeply into the core of what is stopping you from moving you and your business ahead in life.
Everyone can benefit from increasing their level of consciousness. Human consciousness is the most powerful force in the universe. So the aim of our work together is to raise your consciousness to the level that you want to achieve - then the epic things that you want to achieve will just happen. Things will flow for you, rather than you having to hustle all the time. Don’t play small - it’s not you. Have a goal so big that you don’t know how you will achieve it. If you can do it it’s a task. When it’s big enough it’s a goal. As the chef Marco Pierre White said "I think self-discovery is the greatest achievement in life, because once you discover yourself and accept what you are, then you can fulfil your true potential and be happy."
Conclusion
TLC achieves self-initiated transformation. TLC unblocks and unlocks the potential within you to transform yourself and therefore also your organisation, supporting and underpinning the powerful creation of outcomes, and may therefore be used for your highest executive goals, making you purposeful and powerful beyond imagination.
Namaste.
Olly
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My gift is to be your guide on your very own 'Hero's Journey'...
Hello,
I am delighted and enchanted to meet you. I coach men with 'Deep Coaching', 'Supercoaching', and Transformative Life Coaching (TLC). Thank you for reading this far. I very much look forward to connecting with the highest version of you, to seeing your highest possibility, and to our conversations. Please do contact me via my email for a free connection call and a free experience of coaching on Zoom or in person.
“Transformative life coaching uniquely creates and holds the space for you to see your self afresh, with clarity, and step into new ways of BEing, which will transform how you perceive and intuitively create your world. My work is to guide you to raise your own conscious awareness to the level that you want to achieve.”
I have a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge; a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Cambridge; a PhD Doctorate in Scientific Research from University College London (UCL); a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) from The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London and have been a doctor and reconstructive trauma and cancer surgeon in London for 20 years. I have a number of other higher qualifications in science and surgery. I have published over 50 peer reviewed PubMed cited scientific journal articles, have been an associate editor and frequent scientific faculty member, and am the author of several scientific books. I have been awarded my Diploma in Transformative Life Coaching in London, which has International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accreditation, as well as the UK Association for Coaching (AC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have been on my own transformative journey full time for over five years and I am ready to be your guide to you finding out who you really are and how the world works.
I hear you. I see the highest in you, and I will continue to do so until you see it for your Self. I have ultimate compassion for you I will never judge you. We will fulfil your dreams and discover your purpose and what gives your life meaning. We are dealing with infinite possibility here. Together, we will lead you to remembering the light that resides in you. I have written 400 articles for you and an eBook to guide you on your transformative journey, which are all available for free on my website - click on the link below:
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