In this article, I’ll share the journey of my
client, John*, as he works to enhance his
work performance by managing his state.
John is a clinical psychologist seeking
support from a coach as he prepares for an
important meeting at work that will involve
a highly confrontational conversation.
Under pressure, John tends to stutter,
clam up, sweat profusely and sometimes
become physically ill. His goal is to manage
his state more effectively. He’ll achieve this
goal through a process of making physical,
mental and biochemical changes that
cascade back down to higher performance.
In other words, he’ll work toward achieving
what psychologist Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi
termed the flow state.
Shutterstock.com/YanLev
Accessing the Internal State
Robert Holmes
Th.D., PCC
Robert is an expert in the
science of human behavior
and performance. He is a
founding partner at Frazer
Holmes Coaching and an
internationally published
author of six books on
subjects including leadership,
coaching, business and
theology.
24 Coaching World
Coaching High
Performance
through State
Change
When we discuss high performance
in organizations we are usually
referring to more effective, more
efficient work that generates higher
productivity. For an individual
this can include lower stress,
higher creativity or better time
management. Interpersonally, high
performance might entail improved
communication, better teamwork or
more harmonious relationships.
My first step is to support John in
understanding how his state is created.
States are the result of physical inputs
(diet, exercise, oxygenation, posture,
dress), mental processes (perceptions,
filters, stereotypes, memories, beliefs,
inner dialogue) and biochemistry
(hormones, neuropeptides, drugs). John’s
state and his experience of confrontation
are not serving him well. If he can change
his state he can change his outcomes.
He can achieve a temporary state change
by changing physical inputs, mental
processes or biochemistry.
EXPERIENCE IT:
Pause and think about something
that makes you feel sad. Hang your
head as you do so. Next, lift up your
head. Smile broadly and laugh out
loud. You’ll likely find that it’s harder
to retain the feeling of sadness when
your head is high and you’re wearing
a huge grin.
As John works on becoming increasingly
aware of his state, we role-play
confrontational conversations. I support
him in identifying strategies for changing
his mood quickly and easily—by recalling
fond memories, for example, or by gently
applying pressure at the spot where his
wrist forms a crease with his hand (an