by Cedric Lefebvre (Belgium)
“There is an innocence in admiration: it occurs in one who has not yet realised that they might one day be admired.” Friedrich Nietzsche
When it’s not about pride
Often attributed to the hubris of the ancient Greeks or to the sin of pride as Christianity calls it, the self-promotion of our own assets is discouraged in many Western and Eastern societies, while humility is highly praised. Rightly or wrongly, the result is that from earliest childhood, ignorance – or even non-recognition or denial – of one’s own qualities is reinforced, with the corollary of a lack of self-confidence and a difficulty blossoming. We are so used to looking up that we forget to look at ourselves – selfies aside – and as a result, we miss out on realising just how beautiful and perfectly imperfect we are.
So, in a world where competitiveness is a reality and is constantly increasing, identifying one’s strengths, talents or positive differentiators stimulates self-confidence. It also helps to find or regain a rightful place in the social setting, a space where one can evolve and feel sufficiently at ease to have an equal exchange with peers.
A coaching tool
Put another way, the question is about how to build a sustainable balance between excessive pride which does not support fruitful exchanges and self-depreciation which is an obstacle to growth. More specifically, for us coaches, how can we support clients whose personal history or education has significantly hampered their self-esteem? There are a number of techniques that can be used to boost self-esteem, either during a coaching session to induce insights or as tools between several sessions for progressive learning. The “Role Model” is one of them, suitable to all ages, genders, social levels and cultures.
Source: iCN Issue 23 (Coaching Tools, Tips & Techniques); pages 65-67
by About Cedric Lefebvre (PCC)
Executive, Business and Career Coach, President of ICF Belgium. Cedric holds a master’s degree in psychology and developed his expertise through 25 years of experience as a senior executive, team leader and independent consultant within leading international organisations.
He guides executives and entrepreneurs to a clearer comprehension of their drivers and beliefs. This empowers them to fulfil themselves and their objectives in the areas of career design, performance optimisation, time and stress management, work-life harmonisation or purpose identification and integration into their professional identity.
In parallel, he is President of International Coach Federation (ICF) Belgium building, promoting and preserving the integrity of the coaching profession. Cedric is based in Brussels and coaches internationally.
