The Development Compass

Do we know the answers to our client’s problems before they do? Yes! How can we make such a claim?

Most traditions in the world of personal or professional development hold the belief that the client holds the key to their own personal development, and often just has to remember this fact. This remembering then triggers change and the client grows stronger.

What if a new approach:

• Turns this idea on it’s head?
• Can know the client better than they know themselves?

What if the facilitator of this process can lead the client down an elegant process of change that does not rely on the client’s current level of self awareness?

This is both exciting and interesting.

We’ve seen many different approaches and are curious about where developments will lead. Further to our own experiences, we realise that suggesting a new approach that assumes to know more than the client has a great deal of potential and a heretical flavour. From our perspective, we are interested in learning and exploring new possibilities. We also appreciate the results that this approach achieves.

A central tenet of many fields of practice (psychotherapy, NLP, counselling, coaching etc.) is that the client knows the answers to their questions and the professional helper is there to tease the answers out into conscious awareness via the therapeutic bond, questions asked and distance travelled.

We are saying the exact opposite. Our process, The Foundation Course, lays out a framework to take the client from any starting point to the answers they’ve been seeking, irrespective of their awareness of what’s driving them.

More importantly, the facilitator of The Foundation Course knows the relevant questions to ask and the direction to travel in with the client from the very first minute of the very first session.

The Foundation Course and its results lead the client to what we can only describe as ‘the answer that has thus far eluded them’. Attaining this elusive prize via a consistent process, in a short period of time, at a profound level and learning a lifetime skill has generated profound results that have surpassed our own expectations.

Why do we think we can say this?

Having built The Foundation Course from scratch, the results and outcomes we’ve just described are driven by the knowledge that we:

• Have the answers to the client’s deepest questions
• Can work with the client to own them, no matter their point of self-awareness when the work began

Our work is built on a different theoretical base that is unique to The Development Compass and The Foundation Course. Its experiential base is drawn from 25 years of practice, fine tuned through disciplines as varied as Social Work, Mental Health, Counselling and Coaching.

In light of our experiences above, it is important to stress that The Foundation Course isn’t a silver bullet. We recognise the idea that no single approach is appropriate for everyone who encounters it.

We also know that The Foundation Course has wide appeal as it’s the vehicle that fits with you as you expand your personal effectiveness

We are a genuine, new and unique option. We’re happy to expand on everything we’ve talked about here.

What has held true for those that have chosen to deliver The Foundation Course? They find it much easier, more dynamic and less strenuous to deliver when compared to other approaches.

This principle holds true for clients themselves. Clients often tell us they are amazed they have navigated what they saw before as unacceptable aspects of themselves, with humour, lightness and acceptance.

We know that we are taking a different view of a sacred principle. We invite people to talk to us and help us build our evidence and experience of this. Equally, we are very open and receptive to those who believe we are missing something.

We welcome feedback. If you desire to create a learning conversation with us, please get in touch. If you are an existing practitioner and would like to talk to someone, please contact Christine at christine@thedevelopmentcompass.com. If you are an interested individual, please get in touch with Jean at jean@thedevelopmentcompass.com.

Courage is generally portrayed as being macho, steadfast and determined in the face of external adversities. However, a different type of courage, a courage that lets us question ourselves, be open and to face our true nature is perhaps ironically, a greater source of strength and energy.

Courage in the Media and Society

Courage in the media is often portrayed through external events and the actions that people take when disaster strikes. We have all seen or read about the courage of soldiers during war time and members of the public who come to the aid of others during flooding and other natural disasters.

All these acts of courage capture something of the human spirit at its best. Our ability to help others during times of crisis takes courage and strength. People who act on instinct often discover abilities they didn’t know they had and as a result, they find something new about themselves. Of course, it does no harm that the bravery of a police officer, soldier or member of the public helps sell more newspapers and attract more viewers!

Internal Courage

Whilst ‘external’ courage is usually celebrated publicly in the media, in print and at award ceremonies, there is another type of courage. Internal courage, or the courage to face ourselves is perhaps even harder and more challenging. Of course, it doesn’t help that internal courage receives far less column inches and airtime.

What do we mean when we talk about internal courage? Perhaps at its simplest, internal courage allows people to question and face themselves. It is the ability to talk directly to that little voice inside our heads. The voice that nags at us, the voice that suggests the easy option or the voice that reminds us what might go wrong if we do something we are unsure of. Put another way, internal courage lets us open up a conversation with ourselves and not be afraid of what that conversation sounds like, or where it might end up. (In our experience and that of our clients, once you have the courage to engage with this conversation, it is simple, straightforward and a whole lot of fun…)

What is the Point of Internal Courage?

Or put another way, why bother talking about internal courage in the first place? Surely it is something you are born with? While there is no doubting that we are all unique (and who knows exactly what we are all born with anyway?), here are some examples of internal courage.

• The person who successfully completes their diet
• The person who achieves a personal ambition
• The person who gives up smoking and kicks the habit
• The person who stops drinking and saves themselves from alcoholism
• The person who goes against cultural or family norms and expectations

We all know people who have achieved personal and significant goals. What they all have in common is the internal courage to change, face themselves and act on it. If you know someone who is talking to you about completing a goal or who wants to change something in their life but who just can’t started or who keeps getting stuck, it is likely that they need a booster of internal courage. Sure, there may be other reasons why certain things don’t get done, but often, the chance to boost your own internal courage works wonders in these situations.

The Courage to Change

Where does all of this leave us? Perhaps the single most important message is that in order to achieve what we want or what we choose, we will always need some internal courage to do this. Having the courage to change is often the missing piece in terms of realising our dreams and ambitions.

If you agree with our sentiments so far and you are thinking about working towards something specific in your life, perhaps you are asking yourself questions like;

• What is my own level of internal courage?
• Do I have enough internal courage to achieve my ambitions?
• How can I get more internal courage?
• I believe I have enough internal courage, but not the needed tools to take me where I desire to go

In terms of answering these questions, our own suggestion is to embark on a journey of self discovery and to look within yourself. We agree with the saying that those who don’t go within, go without! The journey you choose might take many different forms, it may take you to many different places within yourself but perhaps most importantly, you will find the answers that help you change and succeed.

To your change and transition

Another great video

This video helps me to get in touch with how much there is to appreciate and be grateful for, that can be so easily missed in a busy life. Most of all, it reminded me to be thankful for each breath that causes me to be here experiencing it all.

Much is currently being written about the importance of gratitude and appreciation. Much has always been written, as we see here, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others”. Cicereo

As we are the storywriter in our life, I guess it could be useful to remind ourselves about what is great to be appreciating in our lives now, and how awareness of this can change ourselves and our days easily.

The Power That We Have

Its nearly the end of the week. Anyway, the video below is a great pick me up and worth a watch if you need a zap or two!

:-)

A great set of quotes and stills set to some nice music Just what you need on a sunny day!

A great video for Friday and the following Monday (just a shame about the music!)

I know I prefer being in the mood the penguin can represent, and I love not having to drag myself in to work because I love what I do.

What would have to happen, for an energised Monday morning to happen to you?

For those who love Monday mornings already, fantastic.

For the ‘polar bear’ mornings, what needs to happen to change them?

Hows that for a useful thought, to change your Friday’s and Monday’s throughout 2007??:-)

I love this management style (if this fits your a sense of humour). Other’s might find it too close to home, especially if have worked with your own version of this person! Have you had a co-worker like this before?