An integral part of coaching entails having clients utilize their Character Strengths to guide the process. Character strengths encompass the capacity for helping ourselves and others in bringing about positive effects in shaping the life we want. Coaching facilitates awareness of character strengths in our clients which may lead them to experience a more authentic life. A tool that many coaches may access to assist individuals in recognizing and making use of their character strengths is Mindfulness.
Mindfulness has been defined by many experts as the self-regulation of attention with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance. Mindfulness has been used for centuries by individuals seeking to find a deeper meaning in life, which in turn leads to a more engaged way of living. It facilitates a deeper self-awareness while also bringing the relationship with the environment into focus. Mindfulness may be applied to creating a deeper awareness of character strengths in ourselves and our clients. Being mindful of character strengths presents individuals with more possibilities in living one's best life, establishing and achieving goals, and coping with challenges.
The interaction of mindfulness with the identification of character strengths produces powerful coaching outcomes. It facilitates self-knowledge, deepens the coaching relationship, and leads to positive change. Ultimately, the mindful approach to character strengths in coaching boosts self-awareness, self-care, and well-being. In coaching, integrating the practices of mindfulness with the person's core strengths creates a focus on what a person has to offer to themselves and others.
During the cutting edge conversation we will consider the following concepts:
- How autopilot mind is pervasive and normal, even among coaches, but can be improved
- How and why to integrate mindfulness and character strengths
- Developing “strength sight” in coaching
- Coaching towards strength awareness, exploration, and application
- Mindfulness as a “well-doing” tool and as a way of “being” as a coach
- Goal-setting in coaching with strengths while being mindful.
Facilitator: Maria Rodriguez-Fischer, CPC, PCC, LCSW
Maria Rodriguez-Fischer is a Certified Professional Coach at New Pathways Counseling and Coaching, PLLC. Her focus is on partnering with clients in establishing objectives and goals in their personal and professional lives. She develops, together with clients, action plans to manage time more effectively while providing support in identifying personality traits and characteristics to enable individuals to have more insight into the effects of personality and people dynamics at work and home. Her focus is on working with clients to accelerate growth and expand and maximize opportunities in areas such as personal, relationships, career, lifestyle, finances and other areas.
In addition to providing life and professional coaching, Maria also provides coaching to Parents. The process of Parent Coaching allows a parent to develop clarity regarding the importance of defining the goals that are more significant, appropriate, effective and helpful for themselves and their families. During the parent coaching process the parent works on creating a vision for themselves as parents and also on developing their own preferred outcomes.
In addition, Maria offers workshops and presentations to groups on topics such as; Working with Different Personalities, Productive Relationships, Motivating self and Others, Building an Effective Work Culture, Improving Communication at work and in the family, Stress Management and family/work balance.
