My Knowing, My Beliefs, My Methodology

Written by Suzanne Conroy, M.Ed., PCC

What grounds how you think, show up, and work?

There is powerful learning in making explicit what we know, what we believe, and how those things influence the way we lead and work.

I can help you do this.

My knowing, beliefs, and methodology are foundational to who I am and ground how I think, show up, and work.

My knowing reflects what I understand to be true through experience, study, reflection, and practice.

My beliefs reflect what I fundamentally believe about people, human capacity, and relationships.

My methodology reflects how those ways of knowing and believing influence how I approach my work.

My Knowing  

• I can learn from everyone, and everyone can consequently learn from me – therefore, everyone is a teacher and everyone a student.  
• We learn from each other and create meaning through each interaction 
• My experiences with others create knowledge, and the awareness of myself and my thinking creates new ways of thinking and knowing. 
• Our life experience creates individualistic knowledge – no two people think all things the same; therefore, we might share different truths
• Everyone is unique and important and deserves attention, understanding, strength, and wellness. 
• We are all equal soul to soul
• Everything is interconnected  – with self, other (people, things, the earth). The notion of intersubjectivity- where self implies other 
• Talk, be real, share your inner world and listen to others share theirs–and notice my/our transformation. 
• Everything and everyone has telos (purpose – purposeful end – Aristotle – highest telos – happiness) 
• Emotions are part ofone’ss knowledge.   – all knowledge creates meaning
• We all question our self-image – this makes us human – we all have inner critics 
• Making change starts with self
• As I enact all the roles in my life, I am learning right along with my clients/kids/family/friends, and we both bring skills and knowledge to the table. 
• We are always becoming – evolving and learning. 

My Beliefs

• Everyone is a leader, and everyone leads other (people, situations, ecology); see leadership framework 
• I believe that all people have good in them. 
• Everyone has the answers within themselves
• Everyone wants to share those hard-to-say things so they can work it out. 
• Wecan’tt do life alone – partnership is crucial. 
• Everyone is whole.  
• We can all change the world
• We all have awareness and capacity to tap into that awareness – both our own and that of others. Interaction with each other creates a new awareness of ourselves and others for learning and growth. 
• Everyone is special and important and deserves respect, care, skill development, and attention. 
• We need to protect each other – I protect you, and you protect me
• Everything is figuroutable (MarieForleo’ss concept)
• All experiences are learning – and all (learning) experiences evoke an emotional lens 
• Everyone is an expert in their own life (my work as a coach is to tap into your expertise)

My Methodology

• Always look to oneself first to understand. 
• Ask questions to self and others and listen, really listen for the answers.  
• We are always in a perspective, and there is always another way to look at everything. 
• Let emotions inform
• Take ownership of your own (my own) thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and actions.  
• Be kind to ourselves and to others – kindness transforms both our inner world and our outer world.
• Critical theory is essential in both qualitative and quantitative research.  
• A reminder that I (all researchers) am at the centre of my research.
• Develop structure to ensure everyone is on the same page
• Ask questions to elicit change of thinking and perspectives
• Engage in reflexive thinking to challenge assumptions, bias, judgments
• Disrupt cyclical thoughts with a reflective /reflexive question 
• Continue to build an even better practice by looking back and asking 2 main questions – what will I do again — whatwon’tt I do –and integrate that new knowing and test the new theory (not building from shame but from learning even more) 
• Co-construct knowledge  by creating a safe, open environment for ideas, voices, perspectives, and learning, where individuals feel heard and valued, and all come together for a collective voice