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: ContemporaryCurrents.Oxford.OUP Press. Freud, S. (2010).The 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