Cornerstone 4: Tools and Models

Support for the journey of transformation

As the founders of North Point Academy, Matt Trenchard and Sarah Anthony, developed their coaching development methodology in the UAE in 2015, and, during that process, this suite of tools and models were born out of their passion for coaching.  

While founded in the coaching space, these have since been used in broader contexts and help their users, in whatever context, to:

  • Align their actions with their worldview
  • Unlock their own keys to transformation, and 
  • Work to remove blockages to progressing forward.

Core Models

North Point Meta-model (NPM)

An interactive cycle which enables both an individual or group to explore the processes going on both in their “internal world” that no-one sees and how that influences the “external world” of their work, interactions and presentation in the public space. 

Presented in different formats and different styles to suit context

  • Stepped
  • Cyclic
  • Interactive

The cycle represents the interplay between the “internal” and “external” worlds of an individual. The “internal world” is made up of the thoughts and feelings of an individual.  These are only perceived by the individual.  An individual only allows others to “see” this internal world by communicating information about it to them. The “external world” is made up of the actions and impact of those actions. This can be seen and known by anyone – these in turn spark an individual’s thoughts and feelings, based on the meaning of actions attached to their beliefs and values.

NPM at a Deeper Level

These beliefs and values are incorporated into an extended version of the core NPM that considers the “under the surface” drivers of meaning, importance and belief within an individual; it shows a visual representation of the hidden impact of belief and values on the thoughts and feelings within someone’s internal world

Conversational Tools

Within the philosophy and practice of coaching embodies a form of non-directive learning. When this is adopted those at the centre of the conversation own their own content and the coach or facilitator is responsible solely to oversee or guide of the process. The conversational models we use as coaches facilitate powerful dialogue and deep insight both in an interpersonal and team environment…..

Conversational Model / Process Tools

This model/tools focuses in and around the flow of creative, respect-filled dialogue providing scope for opening and narrowing the conversation, checking progress, maintaining rapport and keeping the right pace for the participants

Questioning

As the label suggests, this tool is using the simple but tried and true domain of inquiry which asks, probes, explores and reveals both the internal and external world with questions.  It is the primary tool to aid gaining fresh understanding and insight.

Requesting

In order to keep the tone of the conversation calm and respectful, so the participants should feel a sense of comfort and of maintaining in control of the dialogue flow and direction. This is enabled through the act simply asking someone for something, and proceeding only with their permission.

Clarification

As content is presented, at times, there is a lack of clarity. This tool enables a deeper level of shared understanding of what is being spoken of, acquired, explored and confirmed. The result is the discovery of the essence of what is being communicated.

Summarising

This tool serves as a checkpoint within a dialogue. It allows brief reflection on what stage a dialogue may be at and whether one is happy with the phase’s content and where it is ending.  It helps all participants agree on where they are together in the conversation.

Feedback model

The effective delivery of feedback is a powerful gift that few can effectively give. Giving feedback is so often done poorly and damages those it is meant to empower. This model informs participants both on how to give input that respects each party, while empowering and encouraging the recipient.  It also provides simple protocol and procedure for empowering delivery of constructive information about whatever maybe relevant in a given situation and encouraging the receiver to commit immediate action

Transformational Tools

This is where the magic happens, each of these tools shines light on a different aspect that which influences, drives and/or prevents change.

Levels of Attention

This model facilitates reflection on the state of a discourse, both internally and externally, and helps to shine light on the appropriate kind of focus required to move ahead. It reflects a non-linear process in a clear format that enables focus on multiple levels of the five levels of attention: vision, strategy, tactics, problems and drama, simultaneously.

Circles of Control, Influence and Interest

This model is designed to provide perspective as it integrates and is used in association with the NPM model.  It examines the relationship before thoughts, feelings, action and impact and the domains of control, influence and Interest. For so many, it activates insight and clarity bringing light into difficult or consuming situations.

Values Elicitation

Whether or not we are aware of it, all people hold values which are based on what is important to them. While there is potential to hold all values, it is one’s top priority values that determine how they would spend their time, behave and makes decisions. This elicitation process harvests what is important through brainstorming and forming aspects, articulating/agreeing on definition of each aspect and providing prioritisation of each aspect relative to the other.

Impact Ladder

This is a coaching tool that helps one go deeper into themselves by providing a forum to examine what beliefs and values are driving their thoughts, feelings, actions and impact in a specific situation where they are unable to move forward. Live simulation that allows one to experience the effect of given a change of belief and how it can transform that specific situation. 

Sources of Beliefs

A tool that enables us to shine light on the areas of our life where there might be some beliefs that are holding us back.  By noticing where we want more or less of something, we can identify beliefs in those areas.

Framing Tools

In a meeting or conversation, these tools provide “bookends”, that give space for an appropriate entry and exit from a conversation or meeting and allow the participants to:

  1. Agree on and share a common specific focus and 
  2. be and remain fully present both to each other and that nominated focus
  3. open and close the session 

Commencement

This is the “left-hand side” bookend, that helps participants draw into a conversation or meeting by spontaneous self-assessment, disclosing something of their internal world and taking some immediate action with what arises in their commencement. It provides an opportunity to deal with the things that have come up before commencing that may keep them from being fully present.

Intention setting

Setting an intention is agreeing in advance on what “good” looks like. Participants to put themselves into the future and agree together the specific focus and outcomes of the meeting or conversation.  This then gives focus to the session, and gives us a benchmark to assess the output of the session against.

Completion

The “Right-Hand side” of the bookend that rounds off the interaction with a rapid debrief and disclosure. This allows participants to acknowledge each other and their respective contributions.

Strategic Planning Tools

The Journey

“The Journey” is comprehensive, multi-tooled coaching model developed by the founders of North Point Academy. 

“The Journey” is a seven-step process, which acts as a guide in structuring a single conversation or an entire engagement which works both on a tactical and strategic level.  It therefore has broad application from strategy development, creative thinking and coaching both for an individual or a group. 

It facilitates the migration of an issue, situation, opportunity or obstacle from the present to the future; providing along the way, reflective space and resulting insight about 1) events in the past up to the present 2) what good looks like 3) how to move ahead 4) choosing an option 5) setting action plans 6) dealing with impediments and staying motivated to 7) celebrating closure.

Goal Mapping

A creative, visual and spatial process that facilitates clarifying the importance and inter-relationships of different “goal area(s)”. Once completed, it is usually used in combination with “the Journey” to enable specific SMART goals to be set in the goal areas.