6Mind the Gap Framework
Without a gap, there is no coaching.
—Fred Kofman
Have you used the Tube (subway) in London? If so, you have heard the recording over the loudspeaker in some tube stations “Mind the Gap.” This announcement is played when a train is in the station and there is a gap between the platform and the train. I love this image because it depicts the start of the coaching journey so well. You are on the platform (starting point) and you want to get on the train (destination). What lies between these two points is the gap—the liminal space. This is where we do our coaching work.
Understanding the Mind the Gap Framework
Hands down, this Mind the Gap framework (Figure 6.1) is at the heart of my coaching process. I might argue that you can't have a coaching engagement without this framework. It is what everything hangs on.
Figure 6.1 Mind the Gap Framework.
The essence of coaching for me starts by helping my client define their current state and the future state they want to achieve. Our coaching work takes place in the gap between those two states. Here's how you can apply this framework in your own life with or without a coach.
Define Your Current State
- How would you describe your situation today?
- How would you describe your challenge?
By situation, I mean your external context and your current thoughts and behaviors. People usually engage a coach because ...
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