I love hill walking. It provides me with many benefits, including being outside in the beauty of nature, physical exertion and a sense of accomplishment on reaching the summit. On a recent hike I was struck by the constantly shifting perspectives that are gained from observing something from different vantage points.
My walk started in woodland, where my attention was initially focused on the muddy track. I became aware of the rustle of fallen leaves underfoot, the smell of leaf litter and the song of a bird in the canopy. As I cleared the treeline, a different world opened up, with broader vistas and open skies. Here, I noticed the shapes of clouds, the villages clustered in the valleys and the incredible deep green tapestry of the fields. The play of sunlight and shadow highlighted and shaded different features in the landscape. At the summit, I could better understand the relationships between the various landscapes that I had passed through that were not evident or easily understood when I was in their midst.
My clients frequently undergo a similar feeling of changing perspectives during our coaching conversations. By helping them to question their assumptions and to think expansively from different viewpoints, something that was confused or even hidden becomes clearer or moves into awareness. There can be a shift from being mired in one detail to considering multiple aspects and seeing the bigger picture. Clients develop an understanding of how the various parts fit together and initiate new thinking on an issue that was holding them back.
The transformative power of hill walking is mirrored in the coaching process.