Evolution is the lynchpin of success. To succeed in a world that thrives on evolution, it is important that we keep reinventing ourselves with the passage of time, to gain an edge over others. A finer understanding of the statement shall not only help us adapt and to the environmental and behavioral changes around us, but it also allows us to be a part of the larger ecosystem. One such major development that has taken place in the field of leadership development, is Design Thinking by leveraging Coaching.

Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems in an attempt to identify alternative strategies and solutions. It is also an approach to innovation and problem solving that begins with understanding users’ lived experiences, continues with creative ideation and experimentation and ends with implementing an improved solution that delivers a higher-quality experience or outcome.

When we start practicing design thinking methods and approaches, we can’t separate how we work from how design thinking works; it just becomes a part of our muscle memory. But what surprises us the most is how similar, and also complementary, design thinking and coaching really are.

Coaching is an approach to designing a life of fulfillment that begins with understanding who we are and what matters to us, continues with creative exploration of possible options, and ends with making resonant choices that are grounded in our new clarity of purpose and potential.

It’s like a match made in heaven! The similarities between design thinking and coaching run even deeper than that. At their core, design thinking and coaching are both all about people. As designers and coaches, there is always a “curiosity” of going deep in our learning and exploration of other people’s experiences, understanding what they value, and unpacking the pain points they face each day.