The first class in this course was held on Wednesday, April 25, 2007. We jumped right into this class with the facilitator opening up the class for people to share about clients that they have been challenged with. The first person shared about a client that was “staying in their head” and needed to move to their ‘body’, basically to feel more. As a coach we need to try to extract feeling words when they will tend to resort back to what they know. This can work the opposite way as well. A client could be always about their emotions and they may need to think more and try to separate from what they are feeling all the time. I think as a coach we need to be aware when either scenario is happening and try to draw the client into the other way of processing or the other perspective.
The discussion switched to foreigners (be it to Americans or other cultures) being challenging clients. I don’t like to think of it this way. We as coaches may be challenged by a client of a different culture but I don’t think that makes the client a ‘challenging client’. I feel the definition of a challenging client is more about there inability to move forward, or their negativity, hang-ups or lack of coach-ability.
The second class in this course is going to be led by another facilitator – I am looking forward to another perspective.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Streams of Revenue
This class was held on Tuesday, April 24, 2007. Karen shared about a shift in the format for Business Building. From the way I understand it, the last three modules that I have left may be completed under the new format and they will be held as “group coaching”. I guess we will see how this sort itself out, hopefully it won’t complicate my graduation requirements.
The class focus today was about making money. Karen brought up the “affiliate” program in coaching, capitalizing on a referral type situation. Many other ideas came up such as; audio books, e-books, e-courses. We actually spent a lot of time talking about e-books and e-courses, it just isn’t for me.
This class didn’t particularly speak to me where I am at. I think it would be great to make money while not doing anything, don’t get me wrong. I also know from experience that these types of things take a lot of upfront work that I don’t have the energy, time or ambition do. I always keep the idea of writing a book with my husband as a possibility but right now we have too many ‘irons in the fire’.
The class focus today was about making money. Karen brought up the “affiliate” program in coaching, capitalizing on a referral type situation. Many other ideas came up such as; audio books, e-books, e-courses. We actually spent a lot of time talking about e-books and e-courses, it just isn’t for me.
This class didn’t particularly speak to me where I am at. I think it would be great to make money while not doing anything, don’t get me wrong. I also know from experience that these types of things take a lot of upfront work that I don’t have the energy, time or ambition do. I always keep the idea of writing a book with my husband as a possibility but right now we have too many ‘irons in the fire’.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Peer Coaching #3
The third class in this course was held on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. The class was primarily a time of sharing our experiences as a peer coach or peer client. Angela had people who were coaching share where they were finding their clients. The answers varied from the Discussion Board to in class and through the ICA community ‘chat’. Although it was rumored to be difficult to get peer clients many people, as I have, found that it has actually been quite easy. I am about 3 weeks away from finishing up with my first 2 peer clients. I will probably start to look for my last peer client soon. I am not feeling too pressured about it because I still have so many other requirements to complete that I think I have some time.
Angela recommended that we have a record of our coaching so that we can get accredited by the ICF. I have a spreadsheet that records who I’ve coached and for how long and if they paid.
There was an intense discussion about clients crying and what to do with that. Is it ok for our clients to cry? Should we acknowledge it or just keep going? Should we feel bad? I am very comfortable with my clients crying…it happens all the time. I think it is important to acknowledge the pain, fear, relief, or whatever it is that brought the tears. I think ignoring it is too removed, at least for me. I want to be in the moment with my clients, just as if they were celebrating a win I want to emotional embrace them when they are crying as well. For me, this is a non-issue.
Angela recommended that we have a record of our coaching so that we can get accredited by the ICF. I have a spreadsheet that records who I’ve coached and for how long and if they paid.
There was an intense discussion about clients crying and what to do with that. Is it ok for our clients to cry? Should we acknowledge it or just keep going? Should we feel bad? I am very comfortable with my clients crying…it happens all the time. I think it is important to acknowledge the pain, fear, relief, or whatever it is that brought the tears. I think ignoring it is too removed, at least for me. I want to be in the moment with my clients, just as if they were celebrating a win I want to emotional embrace them when they are crying as well. For me, this is a non-issue.
Coaching Model #3
The last class of this course was held on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. I came into the class feeling very good about my coaching model and willing to share it if nobody else seemed anxious to do that. I had my husband, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, look at it and he felt it was good so even if I don’t share it I will submit for Graduation in the next week or so.
The discussion turned back to the difference between the coaching process and the coaching model. I started to feel nervous about sharing my model for fear that I was really doing the process. I decided not to psych myself out and just jumped in and was the first one to share. I was pleased to get very positive feedback. One student called it “beautiful” and another said that she liked it because “it was clear and concise and that I used words that people can relate to”. I’m glad that I stepped up and shared because it is good to get feedback from other coaches, as well as acknowledgement that it works.
The facilitator suggested trying it out in a trial session to see how it worked and I hope to do that. I would also like to talk to my two peer clients to see if they feel like it fits into the style in which I coach. I plan to add it to my brochure so that people will have a better idea of what to expect from a coaching session.
The discussion turned back to the difference between the coaching process and the coaching model. I started to feel nervous about sharing my model for fear that I was really doing the process. I decided not to psych myself out and just jumped in and was the first one to share. I was pleased to get very positive feedback. One student called it “beautiful” and another said that she liked it because “it was clear and concise and that I used words that people can relate to”. I’m glad that I stepped up and shared because it is good to get feedback from other coaches, as well as acknowledgement that it works.
The facilitator suggested trying it out in a trial session to see how it worked and I hope to do that. I would also like to talk to my two peer clients to see if they feel like it fits into the style in which I coach. I plan to add it to my brochure so that people will have a better idea of what to expect from a coaching session.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Trust vs. Doubt #2
I took the second class in this power tool on Tuesday, April 17, 2007. I am unable to recall why I didn’t take the second part of this course the week following the first one. There was a class that I was unable to get on to, it may have been this one…anyway.
I enjoyed the approach the facilitator took with the class. We talked about trusting ourselves and how to empower our clients to trust themselves. The facilitator was coaching one of the students a bit about a situation that he was dealing with and she felt like she was unable to move the clients from a stuck place and she “fell into the trap” of trying to give the client the solution. It was interesting to see this happen and to think about my own coaching and how easy it is to just tell the client x, y or z instead of trusting that they will get to the conclusion eventually. I think we can become impatient when a client doesn’t move at our pace, we can end up trying to move them along and it really does them a disservice.
The other aspect that was touched on briefly was helping our clients to shift perspective from having a problem to something else. It was brought up that helping them look at the problem as a challenge or adventure could motivate them to keep moving forward. The facilitator brought up the fact that we may have clients that just like to have a ‘problem’. Some people may just get bored if life just goes along and so they find something to complain about or even create a problem. I have not encountered this yet but I think that with the type of women I will be coaching that I may run into a few perpetual victims. This class made me put that possibility into my mental file cabinet so that hopefully it will come to mind should that type of person come along.
I enjoyed the approach the facilitator took with the class. We talked about trusting ourselves and how to empower our clients to trust themselves. The facilitator was coaching one of the students a bit about a situation that he was dealing with and she felt like she was unable to move the clients from a stuck place and she “fell into the trap” of trying to give the client the solution. It was interesting to see this happen and to think about my own coaching and how easy it is to just tell the client x, y or z instead of trusting that they will get to the conclusion eventually. I think we can become impatient when a client doesn’t move at our pace, we can end up trying to move them along and it really does them a disservice.
The other aspect that was touched on briefly was helping our clients to shift perspective from having a problem to something else. It was brought up that helping them look at the problem as a challenge or adventure could motivate them to keep moving forward. The facilitator brought up the fact that we may have clients that just like to have a ‘problem’. Some people may just get bored if life just goes along and so they find something to complain about or even create a problem. I have not encountered this yet but I think that with the type of women I will be coaching that I may run into a few perpetual victims. This class made me put that possibility into my mental file cabinet so that hopefully it will come to mind should that type of person come along.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Coaching Model #1
The first class in this course was held on Thursday, April 12, 2007. This is the second class for me, I took part two yesterday and am making up part 1 today. This is not how I like to typically take the courses because I like to have a flow and function that comes with taking them consecutively…I’m extending myself grace this time.
After taking Coaching Process #4 yesterday I realize that what I thought was my model was actually my process and I need to come up with a ‘model’ of the process that I have written out. I have come up with a couple diagrams that could work, I’m just not sure if they are the best representation possible.
We spent most of the class looking at the models in the module and sharing what we like or don’t like about the different models. I was able to listen to the discussion and think on my own model and I feel really good about it. I have a few changes to make to my model but I am excited that it was easy for me to write and that I feel like it reflects what I do and will do in my coaching sessions.
After taking Coaching Process #4 yesterday I realize that what I thought was my model was actually my process and I need to come up with a ‘model’ of the process that I have written out. I have come up with a couple diagrams that could work, I’m just not sure if they are the best representation possible.
We spent most of the class looking at the models in the module and sharing what we like or don’t like about the different models. I was able to listen to the discussion and think on my own model and I feel really good about it. I have a few changes to make to my model but I am excited that it was easy for me to write and that I feel like it reflects what I do and will do in my coaching sessions.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The ICA Coaching Process #4
The final class to this course was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. I was excited to complete this course because I feel like it has been going on for awhile, four weeks…ha, ha, ha! Jim started the class by explaining the difference between the coaching process and the coaching model. He said that the model was to be a diagram or picture and that the process was more the step by step written form of what we do in our coaching sessions. Looking back at the coaching model written module there are some that are written and so I am a bit confused. I will be taking the #1 of coaching model tomorrow so I will try to clarify that in that class.
Some people shared their coaching process and as it turns out they were the same as the ones shared in the coaching model class that I had earlier in the day. I guess the two go and in hand and it is a matter of developing the process in your words and the model is making a diagram of the process that makes it easy to explain or understand.
I have begun to develop my coaching process/model based on the way I see my coaching sessions taking place. I hope that I am on my way to clarity with this and I have two more coaching model classes left in order to flush this out.
Some people shared their coaching process and as it turns out they were the same as the ones shared in the coaching model class that I had earlier in the day. I guess the two go and in hand and it is a matter of developing the process in your words and the model is making a diagram of the process that makes it easy to explain or understand.
I have begun to develop my coaching process/model based on the way I see my coaching sessions taking place. I hope that I am on my way to clarity with this and I have two more coaching model classes left in order to flush this out.
Coaching Model #2
The second class for this course was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. For me this was my first class because I missed the first one last week, I am making up #1 tomorrow evening. It will be interesting to be apart of two different groups of students and have a different facilitator on the same topic to see what ideas I can glean from them.
It sounds like in the first class some ideas were discussed about how to start going about writing your own coaching model. I heard mentioned taping sessions and finding common elements, putting pen to paper and asking clients or peers for feedback.
Three different students shared their coaching models. It was interesting to hear what other people came up with. One student shared a model that was visual with a tree and it sounded really beautiful, it made me question whether my simple 5 R’s is too boring. JoAnne was encouraging that we all have out own way and we have to do what works for us. I was encouraged to stick with what I have because it was easy for me to write and so I conclude from that that it may point toward the fact that the model I created fits my coaching style and personality.
If there are not too many people chomping at the bit to share their model nect week, I may share mine. We’ll see.
It sounds like in the first class some ideas were discussed about how to start going about writing your own coaching model. I heard mentioned taping sessions and finding common elements, putting pen to paper and asking clients or peers for feedback.
Three different students shared their coaching models. It was interesting to hear what other people came up with. One student shared a model that was visual with a tree and it sounded really beautiful, it made me question whether my simple 5 R’s is too boring. JoAnne was encouraging that we all have out own way and we have to do what works for us. I was encouraged to stick with what I have because it was easy for me to write and so I conclude from that that it may point toward the fact that the model I created fits my coaching style and personality.
If there are not too many people chomping at the bit to share their model nect week, I may share mine. We’ll see.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The ICA Coaching Process #3
The third class for this course was held on Wednesday, April 04, 2007. The class got off to a slow start. Between bridge line issues and people sharing resources we didn’t get going for some time.
Once we got going we started with talking about tangible examples or ways to tell when our clients are in the different phase: honeymoon phase, client will be excited to dive in; peaks and valleys, struggles and wins; quitting zone, when they talk with discouragement “Nothing’s working”, “This is really hard.”
How can we enhance the ‘willingness’? Enthuse them; remind them why they set the goal in the first place, review advantages and disadvantages, help them visualize their goal, look at reality of environment and help them put structures into place, use SMART goals to help them keep the goals attainable and real.
As I think about my clients and the ways that they may start to move into the quitting zone I feel like the above techniques could really work for them, mostly why they set the goal in the first place and what the advantages and disadvantages are to continue on the journey. I believe that when faced with the reality of why they are doing what they are doing they will want to stay the course.
Once we got going we started with talking about tangible examples or ways to tell when our clients are in the different phase: honeymoon phase, client will be excited to dive in; peaks and valleys, struggles and wins; quitting zone, when they talk with discouragement “Nothing’s working”, “This is really hard.”
How can we enhance the ‘willingness’? Enthuse them; remind them why they set the goal in the first place, review advantages and disadvantages, help them visualize their goal, look at reality of environment and help them put structures into place, use SMART goals to help them keep the goals attainable and real.
As I think about my clients and the ways that they may start to move into the quitting zone I feel like the above techniques could really work for them, mostly why they set the goal in the first place and what the advantages and disadvantages are to continue on the journey. I believe that when faced with the reality of why they are doing what they are doing they will want to stay the course.
Creating Confidence #3
The third class of this course was held on Wednesday, April 04, 2007. We started out discussing where we may lose confidence. Many people on the call found that they lose confidence when they find themselves talking too much. I thought this was interesting that this would make them lose confidence.
We moved into a coaching situation with two students. I believe the intent was to help one student come up with some different ways that they could convey confidence to their clients. The man being coached felt like he should not share his own experiences or thoughts about a situation, he has felt like he should only ask questions. The woman that coached him helped him to come up with ways that he could contribute more to the coaching without just asking questions. The woman that coached made a great statement when asked if she was worried about having confidence in coaching, she said “No, because confidence is about me and coaching isn’t about me.” I love that and can learn a lot from thinking from that perspective in coaching.
We also talked about having an agenda, should we or shouldn’t we? Yes, or else we don’t show up. I think that we need to be somewhat flexible with the agenda but we should have an idea about where we are heading at the beginning of the session. We also need to know what our clients believe coaching is. It doesn’t really matter what we think coaching is but what our clients think it is and what they are hoping to get out of the coaching process. The client should do most of the talking. We can talk but we need to help the client move toward their goals, problem solving etc.
Overall I think we can all walk away from the class with confidence by realizing that there are many ways to coach and many types of coaching. There isn’t one way to coach and everyone else is not a good coach. I have confidence in my coaching because I know that I offer survival and hope and a genuineness that I bring to the coaching session. I believe I can offer tools and support to the women I coach.
We moved into a coaching situation with two students. I believe the intent was to help one student come up with some different ways that they could convey confidence to their clients. The man being coached felt like he should not share his own experiences or thoughts about a situation, he has felt like he should only ask questions. The woman that coached him helped him to come up with ways that he could contribute more to the coaching without just asking questions. The woman that coached made a great statement when asked if she was worried about having confidence in coaching, she said “No, because confidence is about me and coaching isn’t about me.” I love that and can learn a lot from thinking from that perspective in coaching.
We also talked about having an agenda, should we or shouldn’t we? Yes, or else we don’t show up. I think that we need to be somewhat flexible with the agenda but we should have an idea about where we are heading at the beginning of the session. We also need to know what our clients believe coaching is. It doesn’t really matter what we think coaching is but what our clients think it is and what they are hoping to get out of the coaching process. The client should do most of the talking. We can talk but we need to help the client move toward their goals, problem solving etc.
Overall I think we can all walk away from the class with confidence by realizing that there are many ways to coach and many types of coaching. There isn’t one way to coach and everyone else is not a good coach. I have confidence in my coaching because I know that I offer survival and hope and a genuineness that I bring to the coaching session. I believe I can offer tools and support to the women I coach.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Websites That Work #1
The first class in this course was held on Tuesday, April 03, 2007. I was looking forward to this class in hopes that I would get an idea how effective my website is and ways to improve it. I am hoping that the ‘blog’ requirement might be discussed as well seeing as I still have a lot of confusion about what is expected. If we are given instruction on how to form websites that would be great too, I had help with mine and really don’t know much about how they are created.
We started off talking about what feeling we want to create on our website. Some of the feelings that I wrote down for my website are: safety, an ally, confidence, trust and hope. I believe that I have created that feeling in the website that I have.
What do I want my website to do? I’d like people to be able to go to my website to know more about me and what I have been through so that they can have hope that their marriage can survive this as well, and to have confidence that I will be able to help them. I want them to feel as though they have someone to go through this with them.
The discussion started to get technical and I was lost. We were talking about website optimization, ways to go about that. It would be great for people around the world to be able to find me for coaching rather than it just being people that I have had previous contact with, I’ll have to continue to investigate this aspect.
Karen talked about how to create a PDF file on our website, a document that is unchangeable. I have often thought about doing this with some of the documents we have for conferences etc, now I know how! Yea!
We started off talking about what feeling we want to create on our website. Some of the feelings that I wrote down for my website are: safety, an ally, confidence, trust and hope. I believe that I have created that feeling in the website that I have.
What do I want my website to do? I’d like people to be able to go to my website to know more about me and what I have been through so that they can have hope that their marriage can survive this as well, and to have confidence that I will be able to help them. I want them to feel as though they have someone to go through this with them.
The discussion started to get technical and I was lost. We were talking about website optimization, ways to go about that. It would be great for people around the world to be able to find me for coaching rather than it just being people that I have had previous contact with, I’ll have to continue to investigate this aspect.
Karen talked about how to create a PDF file on our website, a document that is unchangeable. I have often thought about doing this with some of the documents we have for conferences etc, now I know how! Yea!
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