Framework Mastery

IRIS 301: The Power of Drivers

Seeing what’s already at work in human motivation

IRIS 301 introduces the IRIS Drivers—core motivational forces that shape where people naturally invest energy, how they respond to pressure, and what helps them stay engaged over time.

Drivers are real and measurable—and also coachable and changeable. They can strengthen, soften, or rebalance as a person’s self-concept, skills, responsibilities, and environment evolve.

In this course, you’ll learn how to work with Driver insight with discernment: noticing what’s active before you interpret it, explain it, or try to “fix” it.

You’ll practice seeing:

  • What’s carrying energy with ease
  • What’s stretched or strained by context and load
  • What’s under-supplied and quietly draining motivation
  • Where tensions or trade-offs may be asking for attention


IRIS 301 isn’t about pushing people to be “more motivated.” It’s about understanding how motivation is already operating—and using that clarity to support thoughtful, self-directed development.

IRIS 301 stands on its own and provides the perceptual foundation for deeper IRIS work in coaching, workforce, and organizational settings.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
  • Identify IRIS Drivers as coachable motivational attributes that shape how people direct energy, respond to pressure, and sustain effort over time
  • Read patterns of Driver intensity—what’s strong, what’s quiet, what clusters together, and where tensions may be present
  • Recognize when motivation is supported, strained, or under demand by context and load—without rushing to judgment
  • Use Real vs. Ideal gaps to notice where dissatisfaction, desire, misfit, or internal strain may be asking for attention
  • Choose wise coaching starting points grounded in clarity, restraint, and respect for the whole person
  • Design small, testable experiments (shifts in context, expectations, pacing, boundaries, or practices) that support healthier motivational energy over time
  • Establish a strong foundation for later IRIS learning, including Imperatives, skills, and applied integration

Live Integration Sessions

Live Integration Sessions are offered weekly on Tuesdays, 10:00–11:30 a.m. MT.

These are integration sessions, not lectures. You’ll see careful interpretation modeled, practice noticing patterns with others, and leave with language you can use immediately in coaching conversations.

You only need to attend one live session to complete the live component. Choose the Tuesday that works best for your schedule.

Enrollment & Accreditation

Enrollment in IRIS 101 is flexible. You may pay by credit card and begin immediately, or request an invoice for manual enrollment once payment is received.

IRIS 101 is designed as professional development and is being developed in alignment with ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE) standards. Approval is in progress. CCE credit will be available upon completion of the course and attendance at one required, facilitated live integration session.

Bonus

Once you complete IRIS 101 training, you’re always welcome to revisit the course and audit a future live integration for free. Kind of like a lifetime pass to keep tuning your coaching eyes. 

You’ll be asked to sign in or create an account before payment.

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What's included?

A grounded introduction to seeing and supporting motivational energy clearly
IRIS 101 builds a disciplined way of noticing how motivation is already operating—before interpretation, explanation, or action—so insight can be used with clarity, discernment, and wisdom.

A flexible learning experience designed for real practitioners

Designed to be primarily self-paced, with guided practice, optional discussion, and a single live integration session.

Guided Learning Path

Move through short lessons, examples, and guided practices that build your ability to notice motivational patterns, including intensity, clusters, tensions, and differences between Real and Ideal.

Live Integrated Session

Participate in a facilitated live session focused on interpreting Drivers in context. This session models careful pacing, ethical use, and how to ask wiser coaching questions before drawing conclusions.

Practice & Reflection

Strengthen discernment through simple reflection prompts and guided observations designed to support awareness, not prescribe solutions.

Discuss with others (Optional)

Learn alongside other practitioners by sharing observations, comparing perspectives, and deepening understanding through thoughtful discussion. Participation is always optional.

Course Overview

IRIS 101 gave me a clear, step-by-step way to work with insight more thoughtfully. It strengthened my listening, pattern interpretation, and support for my clients’ growth. I consistently hear that the IRIS assessment helps clients better understand themselves.
— Professional Coach
Working in workforce development means holding a lot of complexity. IRIS 101 gave me a clearer way to interpret what participants are carrying, especially under pressure.
— Workforce Development Leader
IRIS 101 made complex information feel usable. I’m more confident in how I read patterns and start conversations.
— Executive Coach

Created by

Susan Simpson

Founder, CEO of MIRRIM, LLC
Susan is a leadership coach and organizational development practitioner with extensive experience helping leaders and teams make sense of purpose, performance, and people. She holds a degree in industrial engineering and is ICF-accredited coach trained, bringing a systems lens to human development. She spent more than a decade coaching and consulting within an Inc. 5000–recognized software company, delivering training across 67 client organizations.
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