What the Practitioner Needs to Know
What the Practitioner Needs to Know
Introduction
Introduction
In your role as a practitioner, you are probably aware of the importance of the relevant competencies required for you to perform at your optimal level in the coaching context. However, have you considered the impact of not having the essential competencies necessary to operate efficiently as a holistic practitioner in your organisation? The Holistic Practitioner competencies go beyond traditional attributes, skills and knowledge. Holistic practitioner competencies encompass intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, ecological awareness, and spiritual constructs. These competencies have a measurable positive impact on the success of yourself, your team and the organisation as a whole. Read on to learn more about what these competencies are and how they can benefit your organisation.
Finding solutions in today's business environment is inadequate to approach complex problems, issues, and concerns from a single perspective, as the world is interconnected, and the problems we face are often transdisciplinary and multifaceted. For this reason, BluAgile® Holistic Practitioners are becoming the sought-after resource for any forward-thinking business. But what skills and attributes comprise the successful holistic practitioner? In this blog post, we will explore the integral competencies required by holistic practitioners and how these may be acquired by you and your team.
Holistic Approach
Holistic Approach
Firstly, let us define the holistic approach. A holistic approach is an integrated perspective that considers the entire system and all its parts, rather than focusing on individual components in isolation. Holistic practitioners embrace systems thinking as a means to understand client challenges and can use this knowledge to solve complex problems. Practitioners, therefore, understand the interconnectedness of things and that there may be unintended consequences if actions are poorly identified or managed. The competencies of holistic practitioners discussed further down, assist them and their organisations to perform at their optimal levels. Typical competencies found in holistic practitioners are how they demonstrate their intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, ecological awareness and spiritual abilities.
Intellectual Competencies
Intellectual Competencies
When approaching a complex problem from a holistic perspective, holistic practitioners must first identify and understand all the components involved. Holistic practitioners have deep consideration and empathy for the organisational culture, technology, processes, and people. From there, they can connect the dots between the elements and create a solution that considers the entire system. This holistic approach will provide a better understanding of the problem and ensure that all aspects of the organisation are accounted for in any potential solution.
The practitioner competencies are focused on the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and learn continuously. Practitioners who possess strong intellectual competencies can innovate and adapt to adequately respond to rapid change more quickly. They are also able to assimilate and integrate new information and ideas with existing knowledge, making them valuable assets to any organisation. Why should one develop intellectual competencies and how should one do it? As a practitioner, you have the opportunity to instil the possibility for the development of intellectual competency. For example, one can encourage the development of intellectual competencies by providing opportunities for training and development, supporting continual learning, and promoting intellectual curiosity.
Emotional Competencies
Emotional Competencies
Successful holistic practitioners will need to have excellent communication skills, empathy, and a non-judgmental attitude. They must be able to listen actively and be comfortable discussing sensitive subjects. It would be best if you could see the big picture while also understanding the nuances and details of specific situations. Additionally, they must possess the ability to adapt to different situations and be flexible with their approach.
The practitioner's emotional competencies refer to the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the feelings of others. In working anticipatively, one can be in tune with one’s emotional paradigm while also being receptive to those of other Practitioners. Practitioners who possess strong emotional competencies are better equipped to communicate effectively, build relationships, and manage conflict within the workplace. They remain calm and composed under pressure and can easily handle challenging situations without becoming emotionally embroiled or overinvested in crippling non-essential aspects. Who should develop emotional competencies and how do they do it? Practitioners can foster the development of emotional competencies by providing training and opportunity for development, promoting open communication, and leading by example.
Social Competencies
Social Competencies
Social competencies refer to the ability to interact effectively with other Practitioners and co-workers. Practitioners who possess strong social competencies can build relationships, collaborate more effectively, and lead their teams to success. Generally, they can communicate effectively, listen actively, attentively and empathically, and reciprocate in constructive and meaningful ways towards participation. The entire team should develop social competencies, but how? As a practitioner, you can encourage the development of social competencies by promoting teamwork, collaboration, and inclusivity. It is vitally important to recognise and reward collaboration and teamwork and to give credit where credit is due.
Physical Competencies
Physical Competencies
Physical competencies refer to the ability to maintain physical health and well-being. Practitioners who possess strong physical competencies can work more effectively, maintain their energy level, and promote their longevity. Encouraging physical activities and a healthy work-life balance is important for maintaining a healthy workplace. What can one do to develop physical competencies? As a practitioner, you can encourage the development of physical competencies by providing opportunities for healthy snacks, making sure employees have regular breaks to stretch or take a walk, and promoting work-life balance.
Artistic, Creative, Ecological Awareness, and Spiritual Competencies
Artistic, Creative, Ecological Awareness, and Spiritual Competencies
Artistic, creative, ecological awareness and spiritual competencies refer to thinking beyond traditional boundaries and approaching problems and solutions in unique ways. Practitioners who possess these competencies can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to the workplace. Why is it important to develop these competencies and how to develop them? As a practitioner, you can encourage creativity and innovation, embrace diverse perspectives, and provide professional development and growth opportunities. Recognising and rewarding creativity and innovation towards problem-solving is critical.
Learning and Growing
Learning and Growing
Just like any other practitioner, holistic practitioners must constantly be learning and growing. They must be continuously examining and reflecting on their practice methods and assess how they can improve. Holistic practitioners must keep up to date with the latest research in their field and continuously build on their knowledge and expertise. They can also attend courses or workshops and continue professional development to deepen their understanding and improve their competencies.
Practice Range
Practice Range
Holistic practitioners can practice in various settings, including consulting firms, healthcare, education, government, and non-profit organisations. They can also use their expertise to bring together different groups within an organisation or across businesses to develop strategic partnerships focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The competencies of practitioners go beyond traditional knowledge and skillsets and encompass a wide range of integral sensibilities that are more than simple reflex behaviours. These competencies, including intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, ecological awareness, and spiritual competencies are indispensable for a successful, agile, participative work environment. As a practitioner, it's important to recognise the importance of these competencies and foster their development within your team. By providing opportunities for training and development, promoting open communication, and leading by example, one can create a workplace that values the integral competencies of practitioners and achieves success as a whole.
In the next 4 weeks, we will blog more about the Holistic Practitioner and look at the four integral foundational perspectives.