SOAR stands for Strengths Opportunity Aspiration and Results. Using SOAR as a coaching tool.

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Theory: SOAR as a Coaching Process
Coaching Conversations
An effective approach to improving performance is to improve the thinking
that impacts behavior. Improving thinking can be done as an individual but is better
accomplished by connecting with others (thinking partners). Having conversations
is how individuals connect as thinking partners. Coaching provides the
conversational process that improves thinking to alter behavior. Behavior and
action is what creates improved performance and a desired future.
Coaching, as a series of conversations, is a structure for individuals to
discover what they want to create and how to create it. A coach’s role is to support
an individual in creating new thinking, awareness, and action to more effectively
respond to his or her world. The coach is primarily a committed listener and
thinking partner.
A coach listens for what are the specific behaviors, actions, or projects the
individual is willing to accomplish. By being there for an individual to publically
state what they are willing to do, the chances of accomplishment and accountability

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are greatly enhanced. A coach helps individuals arrive at their own answers and
commitments.
The coach focuses on both the non‐observable (thinking and emotions) and
observable (behaviors and results/performance) aspects of an individual (see figure
Figure: Model of Thinking to Results (adapted from Quiet Leadership)
Most of a coach’s work is done below the surface ‐ in the area of the non‐
observable. The non‐observable aspects, thinking and emotions, are accessed
through conversations. As stated previously, thinking is improved through
conversations that promote awareness and reflection. A coach operates most
powerfully as a non‐judgmental, safe thinking partner. In this way, the individual is
willing to go deeper into his or her own thinking.
Behaviors
Thinking
Emotions
Results
The Outcomes
What we Do
What We Feel
What We Think
Non-observableObservable
Behaviors
Thinking
Emotions
Results
The Outcomes
What we Do
What We Feel
What We Think
Non-observableObservable

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"There is nothing either good or bad,
but thinking makes it so."
--William Shakespeare
Building upon thinking, emotions are at the next level of non‐observable.
Emotions are unobservable but since there are strong undercurrents to behavior,
some believe they can observe emotions. Emotions can be managed to create
positive behaviors.
A coach supports by making it clear that an individual responds to an
interpretation of an event instead of the event itself. This allows the individual to
choose how they respond to an event by choosing a more powerful interpretation of
the event. Emotions associated to a more powerful interpretation are then more
constructive. This makes the individual response‐able (responsible) for his or her
future.

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SOAR Coaching Approach
SOAR™ has been used effectively at the group and
organizational level to create strategic visions and
alignment. SOAR™ (Strengths, Opportunities,
Aspirations, and Results) as strength‐focused
approach can be applied to create individual
transformation.
SOAR is especially effective in a coaching relationship. This is done by utilizing a
SOAR coaching approach, listening but not telling, and being attuned for potential,
patterns, and assumptions. The conversations to bring awareness, action, and reflection
can utilize similar conversations that are used at the organization or group level.
SOAR Coaching Conversations
What follows is a list of powerful questions:
Strengths: What can you build upon?
• What are you most proud of as an individual contributing to your organization? How
does that reflect your greatest strength?
• What makes you unique? How can you be the best for your most desired future?
• What is your proudest achievement in the last year (or week)? What does that tell
you about your ability to use your strengths to achieve outcomes?

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Opportunities: How is the world occurring for you?
• How do you make sense of opportunities that surround you? How do you re-frame
challenges?
• What are the top three possibilities on which you want to focus your efforts?
• How can you differentiate yourself?
• What are possible new areas to learn or develop?
What new skills do we need to move forward?
Aspirations: What do you care deeply about creating?
• Reflecting on your Strengths and Opportunities, who
would you like to become and where do you want to
go in the future?
• What is your most compelling aspiration?
• What actions and plans would support your
aspiration?
Results: How do you know you are succeeding?
• Considering your Strengths, Opportunities, and
Aspirations, what meaningful goal would move you to what you want to become?
• What project are you willing to take on to move forward?
• What resources do you need to move forward?
• (Each week): What did you learn from the awareness and action you took this past
week?
• How will you celebrate achieving your goal?
These SOAR questions are the basis for conversations between the individual and
coach. The coach manages the conversations to ensure the individual remains positive
and strength-focused. Focusing on strength means that the SOAR conversations center on
what the individual is doing right and what are his or her competencies. SOAR begins
with the coach helping the individual to appreciate his or her strengths of the past and

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determining what is needed to build on those strengths to leverage opportunities and
aspirations for his or her desired future. From the SOAR conversation process, the focus
for creating a future possibility is determined. The individual is supported in making
sense of his or her world and what is being demanded. From this, the individual can
choose priorities and the most compelling possibilities.
Future planning is an opportunity to help an individual SOAR. It can elevate the
individual’s energy and innovation capacity by focusing on opportunities and aspirations.
By generating energy, new thinking, new behaviors and results can be achieved more
quickly.