7 Notes of Saptaswara Coaching: A Path to Better Feedback?

Author: Yamini Kandpal

"What are we really doing when we do this?" Steve Correa, Executive Coach and author of The Indian Boss at Work, Thinking Global and Acting Indian, recently posed this question at Coacharya’s recent webinar on the Saptaswara Coaching Framework. The question highlighted a critical challenge in feedback: the unacknowledged fear and anxiety that often underlie these crucial conversations.?

Correa shared an anecdote about an assessor, anxious about delivering difficult news, whose subsequent conversation with the participant, while seemingly productive, subtly avoided the underlying emotions. Both parties "danced around" the core issue. This avoidance raises a key question: Are we truly connecting, acknowledging emotional realities, or simply going through the motions??

This blog post explores insights from the webinar, examining how the Saptaswara framework can help navigate these dynamics, address unacknowledged anxieties, and facilitate more meaningful feedback.

The Power of Presence: Vitaraga Vishyam

Building on the conversation, Raghu Ananthanarayanan, Behavioral Scientist and Yoga Teacher, introduced the concept of Vitaraga Vishyam from the Yoga Sutras, highlighting its relevance to effective coaching and feedback.?

Vitaraga Vishyam refers to a state of being where one is free from their own internal biases and reactions, allowing them to fully receive the other person's experience. Ananthanarayanan explained that when someone shares their experience, like the assessor's anxiety about delivering feedback, the listener's own fears and anxieties can be triggered, hindering genuine connection. If the listener is preoccupied with their own reactions, the interaction becomes a dance around unspoken fears.?

Conversely, working through one's own fears and anxieties allows for true presence and resonance with the other person's reality. Only then, Ananthanarayanan argued, can we truly walk alongside someone, understand their perspective, and facilitate meaningful change or deeper understanding. This capacity to not be afraid of another's fears, but to resonate with them, is central to Vitaraga Vishyam and essential for impactful coaching.

Ananthanarayanan further explored the concept, noting that all human interaction, indeed all interaction, is essentially an exchange of prana, or life force. Each individual possesses and emanates their own energy.

The quality of this exchange, he explained, depends on how open individuals are to this flow of life energy. In any interaction, energy is offered and received. However, if that energy is "tainted" with fear, for example, it will likely evoke fear in the other person. This underscores the importance of self-awareness and managing one's own emotional state to create a space for genuine connection and positive exchange.

Tuning Your Instrument: The Seven Swaras of Coaching

The Saptaswara Coaching Framework, drawing inspiration from the seven notes of Indian classical music (swaras), offers a powerful model for navigating the complexities of human interaction, particularly in coaching. Just as a musician tunes their instrument to create harmonious melodies, a coach must cultivate these seven swaras within themselves to facilitate genuine connection and growth in others. These swaras, or elements, are not isolated notes but interconnected aspects of being, each informing and influencing the others:??

• Maitri (Friendliness): This foundational swara emphasizes building trust and extending compassion, first to oneself and then to the other. It's about creating a safe and supportive space for vulnerability and open communication.
• Karma (Action/Intent): Karma focuses on the energy and intention behind our actions. It prompts introspection: "What am I really doing? Who am I being? Where is my energy coming from?" This self-awareness is crucial for ensuring our actions as coaches are aligned with our values and purpose.?
• Dharma (Purpose/Duty): Dharma asks: "Am I enlivening myself, the other, and the context simultaneously?" This holistic perspective considers the impact of our interactions on all involved, ensuring that the coaching process is mutually beneficial and contributes to a positive environment.
• Nyana (Wisdom/Transformation): Nyana goes beyond mere knowledge; it encompasses the process of transformation through what we learn. It's not static information but a dynamic force that shapes our being and informs our coaching approach.
• Ramyam (Delight/Playfulness): Often overlooked, Ramyam brings delight, playfulness, and creativity into the coaching process. Ramyam means an inner spiritual awakening. It arises from an inner enthusiasm for life and allows for more engaging and inspiring interactions.
• Yogam (Integration): Yogam signifies the integration of all our faculties and capabilities. It's about bringing our whole selves to the coaching interaction, aligning our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
• Abhyasa/Sadhana (Consistent Practice): This final swara emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and engagement. Coaching is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and refinement. It's through active engagement and continuous learning that true mastery is achieved.??

Just as a musician must tune their instrument to resonate with different melodies, a coach must cultivate these seven swaras to resonate with the unique "music" of each client. Without this internal tuning, a coach may only resonate with certain "notes" or perspectives, potentially blocking or judging others that don't align with their own.?

The Saptaswara framework provides a powerful tool for coaches to develop this inner harmony, enabling them to meet their clients with openness, empathy, and genuine understanding.

Harmonizing Your Coaching Practice

So, there you have it! The Saptaswara framework offers a beautiful and insightful way to think about coaching. Beyond just skills and techniques, it's about tuning yourself, your inner instrument, to create harmonious connections. Coaching conversations are about being present, intentional, and open to the music of others. It's a journey of continuous learning and self-discovery.?

Coacharya's coach training programs can help you explore these concepts further and integrate them into your coaching practice. Learn more about our programs and how they can empower your coaching journey on our website. Or, get in touch with us at [email protected] to connect with a team member for a free consultation.?

This blog post is based on the latest Coacharya webinar, ‘Saptaswara Coaching Framework’ and aims to provide a general overview of the key takeaways. For more in-depth information, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Webinar: Opening The Inner Eye - Spiritual Intelligence