Shifting the Lens: How Perspective Sparks Transformation
- Cindy Hosea
- Mar 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Perspective: The Lens That Shapes Everything
Every client arrives with a perspective—a tightly held belief about how things work, who they are, and what’s possible. And often, that perspective is so familiar, so rehearsed, that it no longer feels like a point of view—it feels like truth.
But a perspective is not reality. It’s a filter.
When we take a perspective, we adopt assumptions, make predictions, and construct meaning. We look through it, and what doesn’t match that lens becomes invisible or invalid. For instance, a client who sees themselves as “always behind” will subconsciously scan for evidence to reinforce that story, dismissing any moments of success or progress.
These habitual thought loops become mental boxes—rigid ways of thinking that feel permanent and unquestionable. And from a box, it’s hard to move. Clients feel stuck. Hopeless. Out of options.
One of the most profound gifts a coach offers is perspective. Not a solution. Not advice. But a new vantage point—one that invites the client to see beyond the current storyline and into possibility. This is the essence of ICF Core Competency 7, evoking awareness.
📸 Want to learn how to shift the lens with your clients? Keep reading to explore Co-Active coaching skills like reframing, making distinctions, and meta-view.