The Practice of Maieutics in Consulting
When working with organizations, my maieutic approach focuses on helping teams and leaders uncover the underlying patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that shape their success. By facilitating open dialogue and reflection, I help organizations identify what is working, what needs to change, and how to make those shifts in a way that feels authentic and aligned with their vision.
The process involves:
Examining organizational assumptions and questioning deeply held beliefs
Encouraging reflection on past successes and failures to uncover key insights
Guiding teams to develop actionable, sustainable strategies for growth and innovation
This approach empowers leaders and teams to become more self-aware and proactive, helping them make decisions that are rooted in a clear understanding of their own strengths, challenges, and vision.
Why This Method Works
At the heart of the maieutic method is the belief that knowledge and wisdom reside within each individual or organization. My role as a coach or consultant is not to "teach" or provide answers, but to create a space where this inherent knowledge can surface, be examined, and be used as a foundation for meaningful change. This method doesn’t just aim to solve problems — it nurtures growth, self-awareness, and lasting transformation.
Whether in coaching or consulting, the maieutic method is about empowerment — giving you or your organization the tools to think critically, act with clarity, and move forward with confidence. It’s a collaborative journey of discovery that leads to sustainable, impactful outcomes.
The Maieutic Method
In my coaching and consulting practice, I draw on the ancient and powerful principles of the maieutic method, inspired by Socrates’ approach to wisdom. While the term "maieutic" is often associated with intellectual midwifery — helping individuals give birth to knowledge within themselves — my interpretation expands this idea to encompass both personal transformation and organizational change.
What is the Maieutic Method?
The word "maieutic" comes from the Greek maieutikè tekne (μαιευτική τέχνη), meaning "the art of midwifery" — an apt metaphor for my approach to both individual coaching and organizational consulting. Just as a midwife helps to bring a new life into the world, I guide individuals and organizations in uncovering and nurturing the potential that already exists within them.
However, the maieutic method goes beyond simply asking questions. It is about creating a safe, open space where individuals can reflect deeply, confront their own assumptions, and ultimately bring forward insights and solutions that were previously hidden — much like the birth of a new truth or behavior.
The Practice of Maieutics in Coaching
In one-on-one coaching, I use the maieutic method to guide clients through a process of self-discovery and behavioral transformation. This is not a method where I provide you with answers or solutions. Instead, I facilitate a conversation that helps you connect the dots, confront unexamined beliefs, and bring forth new ideas or behaviors that align with your goals.
In this process, we may explore questions like:
What beliefs are you holding that might be limiting your potential?
How can you realign your actions with your highest aspirations?
What truths do you already possess but need help rediscovering?
Through this dialogue, I aim to create a space for you to "give birth" to your own realizations and to generate positive change from within.