Sai sat down with her father, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
“Appa, I remember you telling us that our ancient texts and Indic concepts are rich with symbology. They are designed to reveal layers of meanings as we explore them.”
Her words carried a sense of curiosity and reverence.
With these thoughts as her foundation, Sai began to reflect on the 8 Coaching Competencies, a modern framework defining professional coaching. What followed was an inspiring conversation weaving together the timeless wisdom of Indic traditions and contemporary coaching principles.
Ethics as Dharma
“When I think about the 8 Coaching Competencies,” Sai continued,
“I see how beautifully interconnected they are. Appa, you shared last week that ethics can be seen as a subset of dharma. To truly succeed as a coach, we must understand and internalize the first competency—Ethics—as much as possible.”
Her voice grew firm as she explained,
“This also means that as coaches, if we follow our dharma, we naturally avoid taking on roles that are not ours. We wouldn’t wear the hat of a mentor, counselor, advisor, therapist, or even a teacher. Many clients come to us for role clarity, and to help them effectively, we must first be clear about our own role as a coach.”
Sai’s conviction was clear.
“Coaching is rooted in dharma. As coaches, we must embody dharma in all our actions and interactions.”
Coaching as Action-Oriented Wisdom
Yashaswi, her father, was struck by her insight and recalled a playful comment from Swarnakshi: “You’re so proud of Sai today, it’s like that moment in Lion King when Simba is shown to the world!”
Breaking his trance, Sai interjected with humor,
“Pa, close your mouth, look at me, and keep your ears open!”
Her lightheartedness brought a smile, but her message remained profound.
“Coaching,” she said, “is like the conversation in the Bhagavad Gita.
Arjuna was propelled into action by the dialogue with Krishna. Similarly, when a coach does their job right, the client is likely to take meaningful action based on the insights they gain during the conversation.”Ethics as Dharma
“When I think about the 8 Coaching Competencies,” Sai continued,
“I see how beautifully interconnected they are. Appa, you shared last week that ethics can be seen as a subset of dharma.
To truly succeed as a coach, we must understand and internalize the first competency—Ethics—as much as possible.”
Her voice grew firm as she explained,
“This also means that as coaches, if we follow our dharma, we naturally avoid taking on roles that are not ours. We wouldn’t wear the hat of a mentor, counselor, advisor, therapist, or even a teacher. Many clients come to us for role clarity, and to help them effectively, we must first be clear about our own role as a coach.”
Sai’s conviction was clear.
“Coaching is rooted in dharma. As coaches, we must embody dharma in all our actions and interactions.”
Indic Wisdom: Universal and Timeless
Yashaswi responded thoughtfully, “That’s precisely why any concept focused on bringing out the best in a system—in this case, a human being—can be considered universal.”
Sai nodded in agreement. “Exactly, Appa. This is why Indic wisdom is timeless. It has something for everyone who seeks to improve their quality of life, deepen their understanding, and live with purpose.”
The conversation between Sai and Yashaswi underscores how ancient wisdom can seamlessly integrate with modern frameworks like the 8 Coaching Competencies.
At its heart, coaching is more than a profession; it’s a calling rooted in dharma, ethics, and the timeless quest for self-improvement.
As Sai aptly summarized, “If we embody dharma, we not only honor our role as coaches but also empower our clients to unlock their potential and take meaningful action.”
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