exploring metaphor use and its insight into sense making with
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Outline of the presentation Literature Research paradigm Methodology Findings Implications for research Implications for coaching Conclusion ReferencesTRANSCRIPT
Exploring metaphor use and its insight into sense making
with
executive coaching clients Nigel Emson 14 January 2016 Outline of
the presentation
Literature Research paradigm Methodology Findings Implications for
research Implications for coaching Conclusion References Why /
research problem The difficulty coaches face in relating to and
understanding how clients perceive and interpret situations is that
the process for clients making sense of situations is unconscious.
This presents a challenge, as there isnt a direct or obvious route
to access a clients unconscious.Understanding clients use of
metaphor offers a potential route to access this unconscious
process and insight into clients sense making. This research
therefore seeks to explore the use of metaphor by executive
coaching clients and the potential insight this can offer into
individual sense making.It is postulated that, because the process
of metaphor use accesses the unconscious it has a better chance of
producing a deeper, richer connection between the coach and the
client. Literature What is metaphor?
Understanding one thing in terms of another (Lakoff & Johnson
1980) Whole conceptual system in terms of how we think and act may
be fundamentally metaphoric in nature (Lakoff & Johnson 1980)
Contemporary Metaphor Theory everyday thought uses metaphor
Metaphor in coaching existing literature Robinsons (2010) literary
techniques deHaans (2010) critical moments Literature Why metaphor
resonates. Kozak (1992) describes working with metaphor as the
process of making conscious the fundamental and embodied nature of
imagination. Mind and metaphors are embodied (Siegelman 1990)
Gesture in words(Kopp 1995) Organisational learning : Describing
and proscribing In the middle of the journey of our life I came to
myself within a darkwood where the straight way was lost Limited
connection between the realms of metaphor use and the absence of a
practical model for coaches to explore metaphor with clients.
Research Paradigm Philosophically, critical realism attempts to
transcend Descartes ineluctable either/or dichotomy between
realism/positivism and relativism/idealism (Duberley & Johnson
2000). Critical realism assumes social reality operatesat three
levels: (Fleetwood 2013) the empirical level of perceptual
experience the actual level of the events and processes deep level
relating to the structures and mechanisms generating events and
effecting experience The first two levels naturally correspond well
with metaphor and the third deep level often operating out of
awareness also accords well with the exploration of insight into
meaning making. Methodology I used thematic analysis to combine the
idiographic use of metaphor and to reflect the nomothetic
perspectives across the population Recognising that research doesnt
exist in an epistemological vacuum, I used a hybrid approach
(Fereday & Muir Cochrane 2006), of inductive and deductive
thematic analysis, combining a priori template driven codes (King
2012) with data driven codes (Braun & Clarke 2006) There were
eight participants, one female, seven male, in an age range of 60,
who hold or have held leadership positions in organisations. Semi
structured interviews of approximately 60 minutes describing
participants career and its critical moments. Reflexivity:a coach
interested in metaphor who is also an executive leader! Findings
& Analysis Interview Number 1:
Ive never seen the world like that [metaphor] or when it comes to
talking toand managing my own team, spoken to them in the world
like that.Similarly,if Im doing any coaching with somebody, I dont
tend to do it like that. Sense Making Themes Metaphor Codes
Conceptual Framework Reflection & Reflexivity Interpersonal
Communication Understanding & Influencing Data Analysis
Framework: Interpersonal Communication
Revealing aspects of character andvalues from explicit metaphors:
Insight & clues into character Values inform sense making
Revealing aspects of character andvalues from implicit metaphors:
Contemporary Metaphors Defences & Embodiment found it External
Unconscious John Journeys Jason Fun Alan Options Tony Emotion Chris
Galvanise Andy Fine margins, calibration, boundaries So, Id
probably describe my career as an adventure I get a picture of
Livingstone carving his way through Africa and sometimes it is a
more fun way to think about things in the picture as more
cartoonyits like Dora the Explorer and therefore feels less serious
Maybe there is a mask thing, because I used to be very comfortable
with fancy dress. 9 Reflection & Reflexivity
CrystallisingLearning & Understandingother perspectives the
metaphor I used did help me make sense of a situation, it helped me
to influence the behaviours I used or the tactics I had.thats why
probably I will make an effort to and have tried consciously at
some stages, and probably do subconsciously in others, to
understand what is motivating the other person. Two ways
individuals use metaphor (Marshak et al 2000) Consciously to
express experience ii.Unconsciously to interpret experience Manage
& Rationalise Expectations: Personal Image: if Livingston hit
Victoria Falls, he is suddenly going to go, (####!), I cant go that
way So, like a platypus. There are lots of different parts and none
of them seem to fit together, but yet when you put them together,
it seems to work, lots of different parts that are all different
expressions of the same me. Influencing Communicating Intent:
Influencing Expectations:
I consider careers to be a biorhythm, a bit like riding on a roller
coaster.. sometimes you will feel that you are right at the top of
the curve. then youll go on the downwards slope and then youll
think Im not getting rewarded and recognised .. the interesting
thing is, over the course of a long career, what youll find is that
the ups will even themselves out with the downs. The speaker at
this event could have alternatively said, We need to remember what
we are good at, empower our people and have pace.Though I strongly
doubt that the impact and lasting effect of doing so would have
been comparable to the use of these images. Understanding
Coaches:
How do you feel about this? Skilfully not asking the
obviousquestion Imagery & hooks can explain theintangible in a
familiar way An infestation of Muppets Assisting understanding of
change Changing culture Understanding Complexity Conceptual
Framework Using metaphor to conceptualise thoughts
Crystallising thoughts Similes and examples I dont recall the world
in prosaic passages of prose, I recall my world in pictures, in
images, in intuitive and emotive patterns.So, to convey what those
emotive patterns were like to another soul, I use imagery to enrich
the description. Using metaphor to understandthe felt experience of
emotions Embodied with energy Emotional connection It was a bucket
of ice-coldwater, on a hot day orsomething to make you go,Ooh!It
was good.In fact,Ive got goose bumps now. Using metaphor to
representinternal values Values, boundaries and Guiding principles
I think an individuals moral compass is so, so important in
business -in terms of values and also work ethic. Proposed
synthesis of metaphor use for sense making
Conceptual Framework Using metaphor in individual sense making of
experiences Using metaphor to understand ones felt experience of
emotions Interpersonal Communication Using metaphor as part of
natural speech to help others to understand Using metaphor as a
natural part of speech to connect & express emotion (a gesture
in words) Reflection & Reflexivity Deliberate exploration of
metaphor to make sense of own experience searching for a personal
metaphor Deliberate use of metaphor including images to transform
oneself Understanding and Influence Deliberate selection and use of
metaphor to aid others understanding Deliberate selection and use
of metaphor to influence others thinking and behaviour EXTERNAL
INTERNAL UNCONCIOUS CONCIOUS Metaphor and sense making : A
framework
Metaphor use in thefour conceptual;areas of sensemaking Piecing it
together External Unconscious Internal Reflection External
Influencing Internal Unconscious John Journeys, detailed nuances,
positioning Exploring options and choices humour, guiding,
reframing Emotional connect, understanding other perspectives Jason
Fun journeys, difference Paradoxes, exploring emotions Risks,
change dynamics, share experience Structuring thoughts, how life
ought to be, encouraging development by risk How participantsmight
be usingmetaphor in theirconceptualframework of sensemaking
Principal way of using metaphor for sense making suggested in the
interviews Other ways also of sense making suggested in the
interviews John To conceptualise situations and to understand
people To explore options, tactics and to learn from the situation
and the metaphor. Jason To share experience and to connect with
others Exploring emotions as an emotional thinker puddle
example.Ordering of thoughts.Rationalisation of potential
frustration about whats not in his control. Participants different
foci of metaphor use
Making an emotional connection with hearts and minds Critical
reflection and management of emotions Abstract conceptual way to
explore possibilities Informing practical actions and behaviours
Focus on behaviours Focus on outcomes of behaviour Possible future
selves Guiding sense of identity Implications for research
What influences metaphor use? Does metaphor use change over time?
Is it affected by generation, environment etc? Further
interpretation of sense making Interpretation of my Officer on deck
metaphor Metaphor is both the enabler of imagination in the basic
conception of new ideas and thought but also the constrainer of
imagination within the boundaries of previous experience. (Sfard
1998) Implications for coaching
Packaging of insight, emotion andattempts to share meaning How do
you feel about this? Increasing coachees self awareness Exploring
future selves Metaphor use and congruence Developing executive
clients Understanding and Influencing Unintentional and hidden
meanings Our coaching model and approach How many hammers might we
have inour toolboxes? Conclusion OR Royal road to a knowledge of
the unconscious activities of the mind (Freud) Glimpse into the
hallway of the unconscious through the letterbox Metaphor appears
to temporarily facilitate a deep emotional connection with others
sense making, to share, learn about and immerse us in their
experience. A Final Thought References Bhaskar, R. (1978). On the
possibility of social scientific knowledge and the limits of
naturalism.Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 8(1), pp
1-28. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis
in psychology. Qualitative research inpsychology, 3(2), pp Britten,
D. (2014).What metaphors do coaching clients use to symbolise their
experiences ofcoaching?Unpublished dissertation. de Haan, E.,
Bertie, C., Day, A., & Sills, C. (2010). Clients' Critical
Moments of Coaching: Toward aClient Model of Executive Coaching.
Academy of Management Learning & Education, 9(4), pp Duberley,
J., & Johnson, P. (2000). Understanding management research: An
introduction toepistemology. London. Sage. Fereday, J., &
Muir-Cochrane, E. (2008). Demonstrating rigor using thematic
analysis: A hybridapproach of inductive and deductive coding and
theme development. International journal ofqualitative methods,
5(1), pp Fleetwod, S. (2013).Bhaskar and critical realism in Adler,
P., Du Gay, P., Morgan, P., & Reed, M.(2013)The Oxford Handbook
of Sociology, Social Theory and Organization Studies:
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Interpretation of dreams. New York.Basic Books. References King, N.
(2012) Doing template analysis, In Symon G., & Cassell C.
(Eds.) Qualitative OrganizationalResearch: Core Methods and Current
Challenges. London: Sage. Kopp, R. R. (1995). Metaphor therapy. New
York: Brunner/Mazel. Kozak, A. (1992). The epistemic consequences
of pervasive and embodied metaphor: Applications topsychotherapy.
Theoretical & Philosophical Psychology, 12(2), pp Lakoff, G.
(1993). The contemporary theory of metaphor. In Ortony, A (1993)
(Eds) Metaphor andthought, 2, pp Cambridge. Cambridge University
Press. Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1980) Metaphors We Live By.
Chicago and London: The Marshak, R. J., Keenoy, T., Oswick, C.,
& Grant, D. (2000). From outer words to inner worlds.
TheJournal of Applied Behavioral Science, 36(2), pp Robinson, E.
(2010). The use of literary techniques in coaching. Journal of
ManagementDevelopment, 29(10), pp Sfard, A. (1998). On two
metaphors for learning and the dangers of choosing just one.
Educationalresearcher, 27(2), pp 4-13. Siegelman, E. Y. (1990).
Metaphor and meaning in psychotherapy. New York. N.Y. Guilford
Press. All slides Nigel Emson
Thank you All slides Nigel Emson