Those attempts at ‘packaging’ or categorizing spirituality convey the multidimensionality of this concept and show the many ways in which it can be approached. Some of those categorizations focus on the spatiality, meaning spirituality would exist in the self, in the other, in the world, in the creation beyond. Another approach takes a conceptual perspective, as in ‘transcendent,’ ‘Immanent,’ ‘Belonging.’ A third approach is seeing spirituality as dynamic, as liaison, as ‘oriented toward.’
Each model aims to present the complexity, elusiveness, the multidimensionality from a different perspective. And each model brings something specific to its field. Thus, a medical perspective may raise the notion of ‘hope’ or giving meaning to pain and suffering; a pastoral approach may mention rituals and practices, and a sociological approach may include a warning toward the ambivalence of the concepts. My question is “what is the relationship between coaching and spirituality, and is there anything particular about this relationship?” I propose a first step in this direction—and relate it specifically to the field of professional coaching.
4. DIVING DEEPER: COACHING APPLICATION
I will gather the different categories into 5 principles. Using the language of participants in various research projects (including my own), I will define the scope of each dimension of spirituality and explore some options regarding how it could apply to coaching.
4.1 Meaning and purpose
Words from this spiritual dimension include a search for meaning in life, purpose, meaning through transcendence and immanence, relevance to existence…
This dimension is a central aspect of spirituality. Often, “spirituality as meaning and purpose is seen to manifest itself in a quest toward self-actualization and the search for human integrity” (McCarroll, O’Connor, and Meakes 2005, p. 45). It is the journey; it touches the sacred of life, the extra-theistic “bigger than self” question.
For coaching, as a goal- and result-oriented process, ‘purpose’ is a key word. Ultimately, this dimension touches upon the ‘why’ question: what is your purpose, and why? It is what keeps people motivated, it is what keeps people wanting to grow.
4.2 The Transcendent Other
Words from this spiritual dimension include transcendence, Divinity, God/Goddess/gods, an encounter with transcendence, belief in God, the divine.
This God-oriented spirituality, or theist package is somewhat of an exception among all aspects of modern spirituality in that it crosses over into the field of religion and encompasses it. It represents in essence what used to be the main, even the sole, focus of spirituality but has recently become a somewhat marginalized aspect. Even though, for the majority of people adhering to this aspect of spirituality, “a relationship with God/god(s)/Transcendent Other is not only the primary manifestation of spirituality but is also the origin of spirituality” (McCarroll, O’Connor, and Meakes 2005, p. 45).
This dimension is not foreign to coaching either. Many Christian churches, especially evangelical and nondenominational ones, engage in full blown coaching practices whether from the pulpit or through weekly programs. Lakewood Church in Houston, one of the biggest US megachurches, offers a recurring business coaching program to their members as part of its prosperity gospel message. In his article in this issue of The Future of Coaching, William Bergquist (2023) identifies the visions and values of effective leadership that are offered by Jeannine Sandstrom and Lee Smith (2017). Their vision of effective (legacy-based) leadership is based on five best practices. They also offer a Faith-oriented version of their Legacy Leadership model (Sandstrom and Smith, 2005). This is the version on which Bergquist based his presentation. Sandstrom and Smith’s version of coaching is God/Christ-centered. This coaching model provides basic life values and purpose. Sandstrom and Smith help clients who share these values to activate them in their life and work—as a way to find their purpose (Sandstrom and Smith, nd)
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