The first class in this course was held on Thursday, August 30, 2007. The class was facilitated by a substitute. We began the class by introducing ourselves and sharing something that we do to empower ourselves in our coaching. Everyone shared great ideas from visualization to meditation. I shared how I try to remind myself that the session isn’t about me and how that opens me up to being more present for the client.
The coaching session may not be empowered if the client is not ‘coachable’. We might be able to tell if the client isn’t coachable if we sense resistance; the client is stuck in the past/they are just not ready yet; they are mandated to be their by a boss/spouse/parent or the client doesn’t take action. If we run into this situation, an uncoachable client, we can confront it head on…have the client write down what their expectations are or what they want to accomplish. We can also make a request of the client which could help them move through the ‘stagnant’ stage. We can asked them to define what they think coachability looks like and then to live those out in their daily life. We can also enthuse our client into coachability. Putting a vision out there to them and helping them to get excited about what it is they are working towards. We can enthuse by acknowledging our client and getting excited about them and what they are doing.
I was distracted at the end of class by my children and their homework assignments and getting them settled in after school. I missed the part where she talked about what we would be discussing next week or if we had any fieldwork.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Truth Telling #1
The first class for this course was held on Thursday, August 30, 2007. I knew before this class even began that the concept of ‘absolute truth’ would come up. The concept that everyone’s ‘truth’ is different depending on their experiences. I feel this is more perception rather than truth – I do believe that there are things that are absolute, and that truth is based in fact.
The question was posed by the facilitator of what the difference is between truth and opinion. I think that what people sometimes view as their own ‘truth’ is actually their opinion.
Truth telling in coaching is about stating what is fact, “You did not do x when you said that you would.” When we as coaches use honesty rather than truth is may be a little more about how we feel about the situation. I don’t think that a coach should be too opinionated in the coaching session. Sometimes the client wants to know what you think and sometimes it can give a different perspective that the client may not have thought about. I try to be careful not to abuse the honor of sharing my opinion but use leading questions that can draw out another point of view.
Opinions can turn to judgments if we start to put our own thoughts or ideas on the client. When we try to get them to agree or we tell them what they ‘should’ do about it it becomes judgment.
I think it is important to let the client know that they can expect the truth from us and that we would like them to reciprocate by telling us the truth as well. We can convey this trough our websites, brochures and verbally during the trial session. We can convey it by doing it in the sessions and building a trust and rapport with them of being truthful.
The question was posed by the facilitator of what the difference is between truth and opinion. I think that what people sometimes view as their own ‘truth’ is actually their opinion.
Truth telling in coaching is about stating what is fact, “You did not do x when you said that you would.” When we as coaches use honesty rather than truth is may be a little more about how we feel about the situation. I don’t think that a coach should be too opinionated in the coaching session. Sometimes the client wants to know what you think and sometimes it can give a different perspective that the client may not have thought about. I try to be careful not to abuse the honor of sharing my opinion but use leading questions that can draw out another point of view.
Opinions can turn to judgments if we start to put our own thoughts or ideas on the client. When we try to get them to agree or we tell them what they ‘should’ do about it it becomes judgment.
I think it is important to let the client know that they can expect the truth from us and that we would like them to reciprocate by telling us the truth as well. We can convey this trough our websites, brochures and verbally during the trial session. We can convey it by doing it in the sessions and building a trust and rapport with them of being truthful.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Structures #1
The first class in this course was held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007. I have had a long break from classes because of our cross-country move. I am anxious to get back into the classes and try to finish up the requirements for graduation in June. I was hoping to graduate in December but with our move I was not astute enough to realize I needed to register for the Supervised Coach class. I have worked through the disappointment of failing in this goal and have shifted my perspective to a realization that I now have some time to breathe as I accomplish the remaining requirements. I also had to step back and remind myself that when I began taking classes 10 months ago I slated myself to graduate in June 2008, so I am actually ‘right on track’. Is that a rationalization for my failure or shifting my perspective? Who knows but it works for me.
We started the class today by answering the question: What is a structure? Many things were thrown out…Boundaries, rules to follow, a support system, routines, habits, rituals, tools, assistants, discipline and accountability.
Examples of structures and what they support: walking regularly to get fit; having a coach to keep accountable; keeping a calendar to accomplish goals; routine to keep sane; dates with spouse to stay connected; going to church to stay connected with God and grow. I think we all have so many structures that we may not even have thought of as structures because they are so much a part of life.
We can also have structures that DO NOT support us. One person shared that they have set up a structure that they must work in their office…they don’t like their office and they actually get less done when they are there. I’m sure I have structures that may not support me as well and will be pondering this concept over the next week.
For next week we are to identify some empowering and disempowering structures in our own life. It will interesting and challenging to evaluate my own structures in this way.
We started the class today by answering the question: What is a structure? Many things were thrown out…Boundaries, rules to follow, a support system, routines, habits, rituals, tools, assistants, discipline and accountability.
Examples of structures and what they support: walking regularly to get fit; having a coach to keep accountable; keeping a calendar to accomplish goals; routine to keep sane; dates with spouse to stay connected; going to church to stay connected with God and grow. I think we all have so many structures that we may not even have thought of as structures because they are so much a part of life.
We can also have structures that DO NOT support us. One person shared that they have set up a structure that they must work in their office…they don’t like their office and they actually get less done when they are there. I’m sure I have structures that may not support me as well and will be pondering this concept over the next week.
For next week we are to identify some empowering and disempowering structures in our own life. It will interesting and challenging to evaluate my own structures in this way.
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