The Value of Functional Fluency in Coaching

What effective coaches do:

• Inspire and support people to succeed in their endeavours
• Take into account our clients’ needs and relate them to their aspirations
• Stay realistic and help clients to do likewise
• Raise self-awareness and boost confidence
• Help clients focus on a practical pathway for achieving their goals

An article featured in ‘The Psychologist’ (BPS Magazine – August 2014), asked the question “Does executive coaching work?”  It concluded that the key active ingredients to success are:

• Building rapport – which is task focussed with clear, achievable outcomes
• Action oriented – which strengthens the relationship
• Ignite and maintain a clients’ motivation over time.

 Using Functional Fluency can help:

• As a model for mapping patterns of communication
• As a framework for learning how to build positive and effective relationships
• With a focus on what already works well and how to develop it – as in Appreciative Inquiry and Solution Focus approaches.

The Functional Fluency model derives from Transactional Analysis theory.  It maps out a range of fundamental social behaviours, and provides a framework for learning how to use energy more effectively by responding more and reacting less.

The Temple Index of Functional Fluency (TIFF©) personal development tool offers practical self-awareness of how to increase functional fluency.  It brings self-confidence, an ability to stay grounded under pressure, and skill in tuning in to others with empathy and creativity.  

Each unique TIFF Profile is co-created during a feedback session with a licensed TIFF Provider, to fully explore the questionnaire results and prepare an action plan, to acknowledge and further develop strengths and to change those behaviours that are counter-productive.

“I learnt from my TIFF profile that I have many positive strengths, which substantially increased my self-confidence.  My negative behaviours came as no surprise to me, and I have already planned how to work on these using the Functional Fluency framework.” (Coaching client)

 Jane Hicks