Using Visualization and Story-Telling in Coaching - Introducing the PEAK Model

The PEAK model has been developed based on my recognition that so much learning and personal growth in the Middle East has been traditionally through story-telling.

PEAK is a conceptual model with a practical application. I developed it to define pictorially a way to achieve peak performance by ‘doing’ in solution-focused coaching. Through exploring ‘understanding self’ the individual can focus on the personal or emotional barriers that may impact on outcomes and goals. 

PEAK uses a simple diagrammatic approach to help a client to engage and visualize. I have used in with Emirati ladies where I draw and extremely simple mountain – the journey ahead. I have also tried it with a male Emirati who was a football fanatic and I described the journey as his tactics to score a goal. In the case of the mountain once the summit is reached there is always another behind. For the footballer, there is always the next goal. I have also aligned the model to GROW.

Please note that the diagram is scruffy as it is real example used with a client to demonstrate application of the model. It does not need sophisticated drawing skills!

In the sense of ‘understanding self’, PEAK stands for Predisposition (open-mindedness), Emotions, Actualization and Knowledge of Self. This can be aligned to the ‘doing’ part of PEAK or can be used as a stand-alone framework for discussion. In the example of the mountain, PEAK helps to analyze the individual’s predisposition to work towards a ‘peak’ or goal; what emotions stand in the way; how they can achieve actualization (the motive to realize one’s full potential) and questions if all this is feasible, if the individual does not know themselves. 

Understanding self has a significant impact on ‘doing’ and the capability of an individual to overcome constraints and barriers. 

In the sense of ‘doing’, PEAK stands for Performance (coaching) or Potential (mentoring), Excellence, Achievement and Know-how. The diagram of a mountain can be used to show an individual how their work performance or their career path is like climbing a mountain, with Options and routes back if Will cannot be embraced. It identifies obstacles to be overcome through determination, finding a different way if that makes more sense and so on – on other words recognizing Reality. There will always be things to overcome, but they can be transcended, as someone works towards Goals. This shows how PEAK is also aligned to the ever-popular coaching model of GROW (Goals, Reality, Options, Will).

The PEAK Model also recognizes that achieving the first peak (or goal) is not the end; there are many more to peaks to scale and goals to follow.

The PEAK model is shown diagrammatically below.

When it comes to the internal and emotional self, the Predisposition of an individual refers to their acquired and inherent behaviors from childhood into adulthood and inevitably impacts on their Performance.

Equally, Emotions act as barrier to performance and achieving Excellence. Someone who is constantly striving to be the very best may be emotionally wrought and never achieves that level of excellence.

Actualization – or the motivation to achieve one’s full potential – is clearly related to Achievement. Motivation is often one of the issues encountered in coaching and underpins behaviors such as inability to focus and emotions relating to self-esteem and self-value. Both significantly impact on achievement.

Knowledge of self is self-reflection on thoughts, emotions, motivations and so on. It drives the individual to behave in certain ways and is crucial to the development of self-actualization. It is the hidden part of the parcel of Knowledge ‘owned’ by an individual, which is the acquisition and processing of information and learning.

If you are interested in this model and would like to know about its application, please do not hesitate to contact me through LinkedIn.

© Sue Parker