Strengths & Inner Coach

Original Core Motivation framework and ‘Steps Into Leadership’ language developed by John Andrew Williams, MCC at Coach Training EDU. Inner Coach guidance examples adapted by Coachability.

Core Motivation Reflection: Strengths & Inner Coach

Focus on your main Core Motivation Type. Look at your Core Strengths and Steps Into Leadership When… Then create a guidance message, question, reminder, motto, quote or challenge from your Inner Coach.

Type

Core Strengths

Steps Into Leadership When...

Guidance From My Inner Coach A message, question, reminder, motto, quote or challenge.

The Perfectionist

Principled, responsible, discerning, improvement-minded, dependable and committed to high standards.

They allow themselves to have fun when they accept themselves and the situation as perfect just as it is.

The Helper

Empathetic, generous, relational, encouraging, collaborative and perceptive about the needs of others.

They do not depend on the recognition of others and focus on action that is beneficial for themselves as well as others.

The Doer

Results-oriented, adaptable, energetic, efficient, motivating and composed under pressure.

They allow themselves to focus on fulfillment when they set aside the desire to look good for the sake of accomplishing a meaningful goal.

The Artist

Creative, authentic, emotionally perceptive, imaginative, expressive and able to connect people with meaning.

They embrace the ordinary and work to make it exceptional. They focus on principles without getting sidetracked by emotions.

The Thinker

Analytical, thoughtful, independent, observant, innovative, patient and systems-minded.

They take action and connect with people. Thoughtful and astute Thinkers can think deeply about problems and create lasting solutions.

The Friend

Loyal, responsible, questioning, prepared, trustworthy, perceptive about risk and committed to others.

The Friends are magnetic when they focus on positive goals, view problems as challenges and opportunities and act on positive assumptions.

The Optimist

Visionary, energetic, curious, adaptable, idea-rich, engaging and focused on possibility.

They use their natural ability to stir things up for a purpose. They are willing to face negative situations and emotions and stay focused on creating positive outcomes.

The Defender

Decisive, courageous, direct, protective, fair, resourceful and willing to act.

The Defenders usually have a big impact. As natural leaders, they truly shine when they take other people's needs and feelings into account.

The Peacemaker

Calm, inclusive, accepting, steady, diplomatic, caring and able to see multiple perspectives.

They have a clearly defined goal and are willing to step outside their comfort zone.

Create Your Inner Coach Character

Use your Core Strengths, Steps Into Leadership and Inner Coach guidance to create a character that embodies your wisdom, strengthens how you lead and helps you respond to your Inner Critic when it appears.

Your Inner Coach is the focus. Bring in your Inner Critic so your character can recognize its familiar message and respond with greater wisdom.

Your Inner Coach is a creative representation of the questions, reminders and wisdom already available to you.

Your Inner Critic reflection will appear here

Once you have completed Desires, Fears & Your Inner Critic in this browser, what you wrote there is carried across automatically and used to complete the prompt below.

Choose Your Approach

Choose the approach that works for you: create an image with an approved AI tool, develop a detailed character description with another AI tool, or create without AI.

Please feel free to use whatever form of creative expression resonates with you. There is no right or wrong way to approach this. The visuals below are simply examples for inspiration, not guidelines to follow. If you feel drawn to creating something entirely different, please do so. Express yourself in whatever way feels most authentic to you.

Create an Image With AI

Use ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot or another organization-approved AI tool that can generate images. Choose your tool below — each one has its own version of the prompt, written for how that tool works.

Please feel free to edit the prompt for your Inner Coach character so it is different from the crowd. It should carry the essence of what you believe reflects your character.

Photo privacy: A photograph is optional — the prompt works from your words alone. Only upload photographs that you have permission to use and that your organization permits you to share with an AI tool.

ChatGPTRecommended Gemini Microsoft Copilot

Every tool gives a different result. The same prompt produces a different character, a different style, and a different level of accuracy in reproducing your words inside the image. If the first result does not feel right, run it again or try another tool.

The prompt for ChatGPTfor Geminifor Microsoft Copilot

Create one memorable visual character that represents my Inner Coach and helps me activate my leadership.

My name:
My Core Motivation Type:
Guidance From My Inner Coach:
My Inner Critic Persona is:
My Inner Critic says:

Turn this information into one distinctive and memorable Inner Coach. The character may be a version of me, an original character, an animal or creature, a symbolic object, or a spiritual or archetypal guide. Use my Core Motivation Type as context, not as a stereotype. If I have not chosen a form, make a thoughtful creative choice for me.

Make the Inner Coach the hero and focal point. Use my Core Strengths, Steps Into Leadership and Inner Coach guidance to create two or three meaningful tools, objects, symbols or powers. Use my guidance as the character’s signature line and keep my wording exactly as written unless I ask you to improve it. Include the Inner Critic’s statement and the Inner Coach’s signature line in the image. Reproduce both exactly as written. Make the Inner Coach’s signature line prominent and keep the Inner Critic’s statement smaller and secondary. The Inner Coach’s message is the hero of the image and must read first. The Inner Critic’s statement must never be larger, bolder, more central or more eye-catching than the Inner Coach’s signature line — it is present only as the thing being overcome, so keep it small, muted and off to one side. Use the Inner Critic information to recognize the familiar pattern and show what the Inner Coach says or does in response. Include the Inner Critic as a clearly labeled but secondary character, token or symbol; it must not compete with the Inner Coach. Make the result imaginative, personally meaningful, memorable and fun rather than a literal corporate coach.

Let my Inner Critic persona set the visual world. Read the persona I named above as a specific character with its own genre, era, palette and atmosphere, and build the entire image inside that world — my Inner Coach is the hero who belongs to that world and stands against it. If my persona is a polished fashion editor, the world is glossy, cold and immaculate. If it is a cartoon animal, the world is bright, rounded and hand-drawn. If it is a spy, the world is cinematic and shadowed. If it is a mythic or folkloric figure, the world is textured and old. Do not fall back on a neutral, tasteful or generic look: my persona decides the style, the colors and the setting. The Inner Critic itself still appears small, muted and secondary — it shapes the world it does not occupy it. Render it as a detailed narrative illustration: a single storybook plate with depth, texture and a sense of a moment happening.

Work from my entries above rather than from general ideas about my Core Motivation Type. Turn the exact words of my Inner Coach guidance into the character's tools, symbols and powers — if my guidance names a cup, a light, a door or a road, that object belongs in the image. Let my Inner Critic statement decide what the critic is doing in the frame. Let my Inner Critic persona decide the world. Where an entry is short, interpret it closely and literally instead of replacing it with a generic coaching idea. The image should be recognizable to me because it is built from my own words.

Give the Inner Coach a distinctive, memorable name that reflects their personality, leadership role, symbolism, or powers. The name should feel like the name of a character I could actually refer to in my own inner dialogue—not a generic coaching title. Briefly explain why the name fits me and what it represents. Title the finished result as my Inner Coach using my name.

If you can generate images, create the image. If not, give me a vivid, detailed character description that I can draw, build or use in an approved image tool. Do not place the character in action-figure packaging unless I request it.

After creating the image, provide the character’s name, the Inner Critic’s exact statement, a one-sentence description of what the Inner Coach says or does in response, and the Inner Coach’s exact signature line directly beneath the image. Do not omit these elements, even if some of the words also appear in the image.

A photograph is optional and is not required. Do not ask me for one. If I attach a photograph, use it as a facial reference without changing my ethnicity or essential facial features.

Create one memorable visual character that represents my Inner Coach and helps me activate my leadership.

My name:
My Core Motivation Type:
Guidance From My Inner Coach:
My Inner Critic Persona is:
My Inner Critic says:

Turn this information into one distinctive and memorable Inner Coach. The character may be a version of me, an original character, animal, creature, symbolic object, or archetypal guide. If no form is specified, make a thoughtful creative choice.

Make the Inner Coach the clear hero and give the character a memorable name. Create 2 or 3 meaningful tools, symbols, or powers inspired by my strengths, leadership steps, and guidance. Show the Inner Critic as a small, clearly secondary character or symbol representing the pattern being overcome.

Let my Inner Critic persona set the visual world. Read the persona I named above as a specific character with its own genre, era, palette and atmosphere, and build the entire image inside that world — my Inner Coach is the hero who belongs to that world and stands against it. If my persona is a polished fashion editor, the world is glossy, cold and immaculate. If it is a cartoon animal, the world is bright, rounded and hand-drawn. If it is a spy, the world is cinematic and shadowed. If it is a mythic or folkloric figure, the world is textured and old. Do not fall back on a neutral, tasteful or generic look: my persona decides the style, the colors and the setting. The Inner Critic itself still appears small, muted and secondary — it shapes the world it does not occupy it. Render it as a bold graphic poster: flat shapes, a strong readable silhouette, high-contrast color blocking and almost no background detail.

Work from my entries above rather than from general ideas about my Core Motivation Type. Turn the exact words of my Inner Coach guidance into the character's tools, symbols and powers — if my guidance names a cup, a light, a door or a road, that object belongs in the image. Let my Inner Critic statement decide what the critic is doing in the frame. Let my Inner Critic persona decide the world. Where an entry is short, interpret it closely and literally instead of replacing it with a generic coaching idea. The image should be recognizable to me because it is built from my own words.

Include my Inner Coach guidance and Inner Critic statement in the image exactly as written. Do not rewrite, correct, shorten, or paraphrase them. Make the Inner Coach guidance prominent and the Inner Critic statement smaller, muted, and secondary.

Make the result imaginative, personal, memorable, and fun rather than corporate. If a photograph is attached, use it as a facial reference while preserving my ethnicity and essential facial features. A photograph is optional, so do not ask for one.

Generate the image.

Create one memorable visual character that represents my Inner Coach and helps me activate my leadership.

My name:
My Core Motivation Type:
Guidance From My Inner Coach:
My Inner Critic Persona is:
My Inner Critic says:

Use this information to design one distinctive and memorable Inner Coach. The character may be a version of me, an original character, animal, creature, symbolic object, or archetypal guide. If no form is specified, choose the one that best fits the information above.

Make the Inner Coach the clear hero of the image and give the character a memorable name. Add 2 or 3 meaningful tools, symbols, or powers inspired by my strengths, leadership steps, and guidance. Show the Inner Critic only as a small, clearly secondary character or symbol representing the pattern I am overcoming. It must not compete with the Inner Coach.

Let my Inner Critic persona set the visual world. Read the persona I named above as a specific character with its own genre, era, palette and atmosphere, and build the entire image inside that world — my Inner Coach is the hero who belongs to that world and stands against it. If my persona is a polished fashion editor, the world is glossy, cold and immaculate. If it is a cartoon animal, the world is bright, rounded and hand-drawn. If it is a spy, the world is cinematic and shadowed. If it is a mythic or folkloric figure, the world is textured and old. Do not fall back on a neutral, tasteful or generic look: my persona decides the style, the colors and the setting. The Inner Critic itself still appears small, muted and secondary — it shapes the world it does not occupy it. Render it as a clean, iconic character card: crisp linework, a simple uncluttered background, and the hero centered and unmistakable.

Work from my entries above rather than from general ideas about my Core Motivation Type. Turn the exact words of my Inner Coach guidance into the character's tools, symbols and powers — if my guidance names a cup, a light, a door or a road, that object belongs in the image. Let my Inner Critic statement decide what the critic is doing in the frame. Let my Inner Critic persona decide the world. Where an entry is short, interpret it closely and literally instead of replacing it with a generic coaching idea. The image should be recognizable to me because it is built from my own words.

Include two pieces of text in the image, spelled exactly as written above. Do not rewrite, correct, shorten, or paraphrase them. Place my Inner Coach guidance as the large, prominent message and my Inner Critic statement as small, muted, secondary text.

Keep the style imaginative, personal, symbolic, memorable, and fun rather than corporate. A photograph is optional, so do not ask me for one. If I attach a photograph, use it as a facial reference while preserving my ethnicity and essential facial features.

Generate the image. Then, underneath it, write out the character name, my Inner Coach guidance exactly as written, and my Inner Critic statement exactly as written, so nothing is lost if the text in the image is imperfect.

You can edit this prompt directly before copying it. Once you type in it, it stops filling itself in — press Reset to bring back the version built from your own answers.

Example Created With ChatGPT

This image created with ChatGPT using a personal photograph. The Inner Coach, leadership message, mission and coaching tools remain the focus. Regina is included as the Inner Critic so the image demonstrates both her familiar message and the Inner Coach’s response. The action-figure packaging was a personal creative choice, not a required format.

Develop Your Character With Another AI Tool

If your approved AI tool does not create illustrations, use the same prompt to develop your Inner Coach’s name, appearance, voice, tools and symbols. The final line asks the tool for a vivid character description that you can sketch, build in PowerPoint or Canva, or use in an approved image tool.

Create Without AI

Choose or create something that represents the voice and presence of your Inner Coach. It can be an animal, symbol, object, familiar fictional character, personally meaningful spiritual or cultural figure, someone who has positively influenced you, a loved one, or a version of yourself at your best. You do not need to make a new image; choosing something meaningful is enough.

Make It Your Own Way

Sketch it. Doodle the character, even if it is only a simple outline.
Collage it. Use magazines, printed images, words and colors to make a mood board.
Photograph it. Use a meaningful object, figurine, card or photograph you already own.
Choose it. Select a fictional, mythic, cultural or spiritual figure, loved one or positive influence whose qualities resonate with you.
Become it. Use a photograph of yourself at your grounded, courageous or wise best.
Build it. Make a simple card in PowerPoint, Canva or Google Slides using approved icons, shapes and photos, without generative AI.
Borrow a familiar voice. Your Inner Coach could draw on Dorothy’s hopeful courage, Mulan’s resourcefulness, Rafiki’s perspective, M’s calm authority, the words of someone you love, or a guide meaningful within your own tradition. Choose the qualities and guidance that matter to you.

Raj’s Inner Coach: The Helper Edition — an illustrated Inner Coach character with coaching tools and a labeled Inner Critic

Examples for Inspiration

These are possibilities, not type assignments. Choose one, combine several or create something entirely different.

The OwlWisdom and perspective

“See clearly. Then take the next step.”

The LionCourage with compassion

“Lead bravely, and bring others with you.”

The CompassPurpose and direction

“Let what matters guide the way.”

The ElephantGrounded strength and care

“Remember your strength—and your own needs.”

The LighthouseSteady presence and clarity

“Stand steady. Let your light guide the way.”

Your OwnA loved one, mentor or your wisest self

“Choose the voice you most need to hear.”

Whichever route you choose, include: a name, your Inner Coach guidance or signature line, two or three meaningful tools or symbols, what your Inner Critic says and how your Inner Coach responds.

Anything you type is kept in this browser on this device only — it is never sent to Coachability. Print or save as PDF to keep your own copy.

When you are ready

That is the core sequence complete

You have your type, your Inner Critic and your Inner Coach. Take a copy before you go — everything you typed lives in this browser only, so a PDF is the way to keep it.

Go further whenever you want

Disclaimer. The core motivation personality tool is based on the Enneagram, a mixture of an ancient personality system and modern psychology. This particular model was developed by Coach Training EDU and is utilized by coaches in training as a coaching exploration tool. The core motivation personality tool is not being used by Coachability as a psychological health diagnosis, screening of any type, mental health recommendation, or a sole determining factor of an individual's identity or being. The core motivation tool is for self-awareness, highlighting opportunities for self-reflection, and educational purposes only.

LeadIN™ · Leadership from Inside Out™ · Coachability

NEXT STEP

Your Inner Coach is ready. Now give it a name.

You have shaped the guidance your Inner Coach offers. The next step is to make it something you can actually call on — a name, a voice, a picture, and three moments in your day where it shows up.

Activate Your Inner Coach