What is Systemic Coaching?

Systemic coaching is a professional, recognized counseling approach based on systems theory. It is applied in individual settings, organizational consulting, and business consulting.
Systemic coaching differs from other coaching methods in its approach:

• From a systemic perspective, there is no simple cause-and-effect relationship. A trivial construction of cause and effect would not do justice to the complexity of a client’s situation.
• Terms such as change and solution must be defined in a preliminary contract clarification before coaching begins. The impact of changes is also a central focus of coaching. This ensures the quality of the consultation.
• Systemic coaching uses questioning techniques such as circular questioning and worsening questions. By applying systems theory in coaching, one can identify a person’s competencies and abilities in the context of their organization or company. In other words:

Systemic Coaching Focuses on Context

A systemic coach inquires about the context of all peculiarities that others might describe as problems:

• Different perspectives are not a problem but indicate various viewpoints
• Meaning is attributed; it does not arise from a phenomenon itself
• What one person sees as a solution can be a problem for another. Therefore, refraining from a solution is also a kind of achievement – albeit at a high price.
• Behavioral patterns are also results of the brain’s economic performance: A firm conviction and action plan “protect” against strenuous reflection and thinking.
• Scaling questions broaden clients’ horizons: What is my contribution to a solution? How do I contribute to stabilizing the problem?

Goals in Systemic Coaching:

• Development of action options and choices
• Provision of professional process support (change management)
• Destabilization of factors leading to a problem
• Strengthening the individual with regard to their relationships, obligations, and the expectations of their system
• Pattern interruption to establish new, positive habits

Advantages of Systemic Coaching

The advantages of systemic coaching techniques are primarily economic in terms of efficiency:

• Fewer coaching sessions required, as the main problem (fundamental phenomenon) is identified more quickly through techniques such as circular questioning.
• Hindering thought processes no longer run “undercover” but are recognized in everyday life and can be utilized.
• Clients can make decisions more easily. Systemic coaching strengthens self-organization ability.
• The interactions and interplay of all active persons in a system become apparent

Conclusion: Systemic coaching proves to be particularly useful in complex situations. When it comes to changing the behavior of an individual or a group, the systemic approach helps to gain deeper insights into the relationships and processes between people. This enables the activation of behavioral competencies that serve both the individual and their entire system.