The Best In Coaching

New Book - The Power of Trama

2008-04-30T16:10:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to let you know about the publication of a colleague and friend's new book: "The Power of Trauma: From the Darkness of Despair to a Life Filled with Light" by Ute Lawrence. I had the privilege of reading the final draft and look forward to purchasing my own copy. The book is on Amazon worldwide and the chain store Target from the US has picked Ute's book and they are pre-selling it on line. Here is a brief description of the book:

On September 3, 1999, Ute Lawrence was involved in a horrific eighty-seven-car highway pile-up—the worst in Canadian history—that saw eight people killed. In The Power of Trauma, she draws on her mind-altering experience to develop a profound new perspective on life that has actually empowered her. Lawrence was nearly stopped in her tracks after staring death in the face, and her lengthy and successful career as a magazine publisher soon ended as she battled the haunting memories of that tragic day. Her intense struggle with post traumatic stress disorder and the lack of helpful and compassionate guidance and information inspired Lawrence to share her experience—and her powerful healing—with others. In this candid and illuminating guide, Lawrence details the symptoms of the disorder, the therapies and programs that eventually led her to a more balanced and fulfilling life, and interviews with the professionals who aided her along her journey from a paralyzing experience to a pilgrimage of self-discovery. The Power of Trauma will help those who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder to better understand and accept their symptoms. Trauma doesn’t have to be a life sentence. This guide will help you can take steps to heal and positively transform yourself.

You might find this inspirational book of use to any client of yours that has or is experiencing trauma.

Google Coaching Series on YouTube

2008-04-21T05:21:00.001-05:00

Google has started offering coaching to most of their employees. They recently sponsored a
series of talks given by their coaches, and they have posted videos of their talks up on YouTube.
I haven't had time to review any myself so let me know what you think.

If you are interested, you can access them by going to YouTube.com and searching
for "Google techtalks coaching" or you can use this direct link or the
Title of this Post to get the listing.
There are currently six talks there.

Coaching Series: Accomplishing More By Doing Less
Coaching Series: Leading from Strength: Making a Difference
Coaching Series: What Tech Women Really Want
Coaching Series: Impactful Communication
Coaching Series: Create the Career You Want: A Non-Hyped App
Coaching Series: Advancing Toward Your Dreams & Goals

Learning and sharing using Web 2.0 tools and techniques

2008-04-10T03:14:00.000-05:00

Let's face it: technology is a big part of our lives. Is it controlling you or are you managing it? Here is a list recently complied of the top 100 social media tools. The list has been compiled from a cohort of learning professionals who shared their Top 10 Tools for Learning both for their own personal learning/productivity and for creating learning solutions for others. The author claims to have used 70% of the applications - I am not that far off myself. I actively use all of the top ten and have at least registered myself with many of the other social tools. Of course, I want to check out those with which I am not familiar. What does that say about me?

I have always said - "Sell a service never sell your time."

2008-04-10T03:08:00.000-05:00

Don't let the title of this article or the fact that it is referencing the legal profession. Take the time to read it and you will find some interesting points for coaches regarding two issues.

1. Licensing:

Economists have proven this over and over with empirical evidence. Licensing professions rarely protects the public; it’s more about protecting the profession from the public, limiting competition, and driving up wages and profits.

2. Billing by the Hour:

Customers are not price sensitive, they are value conscious. What the billable hour has done has shifted the focus from value and results, to inputs, hours, costs, activities, as if these latter attributes had anything at all to do with value.

There are a whole more bunch of references if you are interested including from the Wall Street Journal.

Intentional Leadership: Leaving a Leadership Legacy

2008-04-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

My good friend and great coach Mary Jo Asmus recently used this blog post. If you would like to post anything here that you might think is useful for coaches. Please send it to me.
Intentional Leadership: Leaving a Leadership Legacy

Why I refuse to go from Windows XP to Vista!

2008-03-18T05:57:00.000-05:00

I made one post today and loved this but had no way to share it so I decided to post it here. OK this has absolutely nothing to do coaching - even in my own bizarre way of making connections, this would be most tenuous. But here goes . . . The topic of what is humor (a competency for coaches and what does it really mean) came up on a coaching list serve yesterday. This is actually going to be an interesting discussion.

So I find this funny . . .

Encouraging the unrealistic expectations for coaches entering the business

2008-03-18T05:39:00.001-05:00

I must have missed it but this article first appeared in Training and Coaching Today and this came out at the end of last year.

According to coaching firm Shirlaws in 2007 year two of its coaches passed the £1m earnings barrier. This is a little misleading due to the "how" they achieved these levels. Both manages a team of coaches so what commissions or bonuses were involved is not stated.

"A few specialist coaches can command a significant fee for their services and these tend to be people who have held prestigious positions in high level organisations, have a niche specialism and very high credibility with senior executives. This top 1% could command up to £5,000 per 90-minute session.
"But an average coaching rate in the corporate sector is around £300 for a 90 minute session. Some salaried coaches can be on about £110,000 a year which can be increased by performance-related commission."

The International Coaching Federation's 2007 survey said the average annual coaching fees for UK respondents was £32,500 though for full time coaches the average was £55,994. This would seen that UK coaches average $60,000 but it is not really comparing apples. Earnings are obviously different in different countries due to acceptance and standards of living. While not totally accurate, I have found that using the actual numbers (forget currency) seems to work out equivalently these days. What I mean is that if a coach earns $1 CDN in the US he or she could expect to earn = $1 US in Switzerland = 1 CHF in Europe = 1 Euro and if in Britain 1 pound. (In reality 1 pound was until recently $2 US).

choice Magazine - interesting offer and curious what is going on.

2008-03-02T09:25:00.001-05:00

choice Magazine has just announced a new electronic subscription option. The print subscription is still available of course. To entice new subscriptions (I suspect) they are offering a download of their Third Anniversary Issue on Ethics. It is a well done issue.

Strange but the web site's last update was on January 18th and so there is no mention of this new direction of subscriptions including a PDF version. Apparently this will be mailed but the size is over 8 gig and so I would have preferred to see a download version - something similar to what Executive Book Summaries does.

I must have missed something but it seems that from the site, only one of the three original founders is still with the magazine. Garry Schleifer as publisher remains but Melanie DewBerry-Jones and Maureen Ford no longer appear to be owners.

Coaching for Commitment Webinar on HR.com

2008-02-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

I finally after a week got around to listening to Cindy Coe, my fiend and colleague's webinar on HR.com entitled: Coaching for Commitment: It Will Revolutionize the Way You Think about Coaching!

Here's how it is described on the web page:

Never before has there been a program that so clearly distinguishes coaching as a singular role or a tool (CSI) that allows people to assess which role they gravitate toward (mentor, manager, instructor, coach) while measuring the “coaching gap” between performing other roles and being in the coach role. From assessing your coaching skills to learning new ways to coach and teach coaching to others the Coaching for Commitment Program is designed to help you achieve better results as a manager, a business owner, as an employee, a parent, etc. The Coaching for Commitment program includes proven techniques along with a clearly defined coaching process, model and skills. This program is unique in that it encourages you to look at coaching in its purest form. Get ready to make the shift!

This archive is available to every member - which is free to register. I highly recommend taking the time to visit the webinar. Cindy and Amy have done a great job of revamping this material and putting together a great package. The model they have designed is simple and comprehensive. I like their five competencies. They do a real short live case and work through the five competencies and how they could be applied. Brilliant.

Another Coaching Article in the Newspaper . . . blah , blah blah

2008-02-20T02:46:00.000-05:00

Do I sound a little jaded? The Sunday Times Online used the following title in this Saturday's article: Bosses let coach take the strain -The move from sport to industry advising is now big business in Britain

No wonder I feel a little fed up with everyone getting excited about mainstream reports on coaching. This title makes it sound like coaching is a direct off-shoot of sports. The expert source for the article is Jez Cartwrigth a former sports coach and psychologist. No wonder the article makes coaching sound like a cross between athletic coaching and on-the-couch therapy. Personally, I don't think that this gives coaching a good image and is rather misleading. While Cartwright may be perfectly trained to do therapy, less trained coaches are not qualified to do so. Readers may make the mistake of hiring someone who plays amateur psychiatrist.

Andy Winterburgh,. . ., admits he was wary about letting a coach into his office, but had heard good things about Cartwright and, besides, it was his boss’s idea.
“I was both interested and wary,” said Winterburgh. “I’m quite open about training and personal development, but I found some of it quite difficult and I was quite suspicious of why he was asking all these questions about my childhood and how that related to the work I was doing.”
. . .
“It was quite hard-hitting,” said Winterburgh, explaining that Cartwright had unearthed a particularly telling childhood memory that had influenced not only his own self-image, but the way he had interacted with people ever since.

Forget the money he's charging: "Cartwright’s programme of eight one-and-a-half-hour sessions will set you back £6,000. " I will give him credit. Either he is the greatest thing since sliced bread or the greatest salesman!

"Coaching might have a significant and important influence on the results achieved by companies, but there is virtually no hard evidence to prove it."

2008-02-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

Last October, I wrote about the connection between corporate coaching and return on investment. Recently Gary Platt posted an excellent article on the British site of The Training Zone entitled: Coaching: A Faster Way to Lose Money Than Burning It. Not only is the article well written but the ten comments to date are well presented as well.

n the 2005 CIPD report it states; 'Coaching isn't a cheap option. There are significant costs involved in implementing coaching initiatives - so what might be the best way forward for coaches and host organisations to ensure that the former is behaving ethically and the latter is spending its money sensibly? I propose asking two very simple questions which either party could pose at the early stages of proposing and contracting and I suggest that these issues are recorded in any agreement between the parties.
"Like virtually every other form of HR development in the UK the predominant approach to assessing effectiveness (of coaching) is anecdote, opinion and, as the CIPD defines it, 'beliefs'."
The first question is why? Why do you want to introduce coaching? What is the intention and purpose? . . .
The second question is how: how will success be measured? How will progress be tracked during and after the introduction of coaching? The answers to the first question will provide the focus of this, but it is important to set formal methods for assessing movement towards the targets outlined.

Thank you Gary!

Big Deal - New York Times Article - Coaches Wanted in the Game of Life

2008-01-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

Why we continue to be amazed when some serious magazine or newspaper or television show mentions coaching is beyond me. I had thought we had got passed all of this "poor cousin" sort of attitude. But no, along comes this article andon every listserve and ezine and web site - it is announced with great fanfare. Now, I realize that I am contributing to the frenzy but at least I decided to wait one week and make it about my comments on the coaccing industry instead.

Isn't is rather pathetic that almost ten years later, the most important ROI study that we continue to use as a reference is the Manchester Study OR the best article we love to send out is a half dozen years old from Fortune Magazine.

I don't even bother to use any google alerts which contain the word coaching or any variations. I have way better things to do. Maybe that is why I find it more and more hard to post to this blog as well. Anyone interested in taking over - it really is a great URL if nothing else, is welcome to contact me.

Meanwhile, I hope your year is off to a great and prosperous start.

Multi Media Expert Serices by choice magazine - good start but good luck trying to find it online

2008-01-21T02:29:00.000-05:00

choice, the magazine of professional coaching is now celebrating their 4th anniversary.
choice is a magazine totally devoted to coaching, read by people who use coaching extensively in their work and personal lives. It is a quarterly, color, printed, 52-page publication distributed by paid circulation to subscribers in 28 countries and via newsstands in the USA.

I don't find their web site all that user friendly and while they have in the past had two written articles in their expert series, Are you Managing or Developing Your Organization and Coaching as a Leadership Tool I could not find anything online for the following:

choice, the Magazine of Professional Coaching has a new service for the start of 2008 and it looks like a great kick-off. The first two offerings of Multi Media Expert Series features coaches/authors Deborah Gallant and Diana Sterling. It is free and open to the first 200 participants. You will be sent a downloadable pdf article, and after the call, you will receive a link to download the MP3 audio. For non-registrants, the article download/MP3 Audio packages will be available, for sale, on our website, after the calls. So if you are interested, go and register to get access even if you can't show up to hear the call.

Stop Ignoring the Internet!
With Deborah Gallant
Wednesday, January 30th, 4 p.m. EST
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Transforming Lives
With Diana Sterling
Wednesday February 20th, 4 p.m. EST
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

ICF European Coaching Conference 2008

2008-01-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

"Connecting Worlds" is the theme of the ICF European Coaching Conference 2008 which is in Geneva, Switzerland (my home town) and is running from June 26th to 28th of this year. The registration has just opened but unfortunately you can't find a full time schedule or anything about speakers. They are started taking calls for speakers this week. I know some of the people organizing and I am sure that they are doing the best they can. This is a major undertaking but unless they get moving, the turnout is going to be low. I wish them luck.

To take advantage of the ECC2008 Early Bird rates, visit www.ecc2008.ch to register before 15 February 2008 and save your place. Tricky since you don't know what you are signing up for and the price is steep. Payment is in Swiss Francs as opposed to Euros which is a shame. You will need to do your own calculation.

Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey Results

2008-01-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

Results of the third annual Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey have just been released today, Tuesday , January 15, 2008.

To download the full report at no charge, visit:
www.sherpacoaching.com/survey.html

Conversation Among Masters - early registration and more news on presenters.

2008-01-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

Unlike some of the other conferences coming up, CAM is doing a great job of updating and keeping us informed. The latest announcement is thatBerman Fortgang will be the Host. Chekc th eweb site out for more speakers and special arrangements. I won't be able to attend but so far this year, this looks like the best bet.

A Conversation Among Masters - CAM '08 is happening on April 6 - 9 at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC but the Advance Pricing (as in Early Bird) registration rate will end on January 31st if you are thinking of attending, now is the time to register.

Initital Results - Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey

2007-12-19T03:31:00.000-05:00

The Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey closed on December 15th, 2007. Within 72 hours, preliminary results were published in a major daily newspaper. Compete results and analysis will be available on January 15, 2008. Here's the article:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cincinnati Enquirer, Tuesday December 18, 2007

Poll: Executive coaches asked to develop leaders

BY JOHN ECKBERG

Companies that pay for coaching for senior executives expect results to focus on leadership development, according to the third annual international survey from Sherpa Coaching of West Chester Township.

The company, which teaches coaching as a profession to students at three universities, surveyed executive coaches from 35 countries, but centered on the U.S.

This year's survey was co-sponsored by the Tandy Center for Executive Leadership at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. The survey, which has grown from 550 respondents in 2005 to 1,300 in 2007, has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Sherpa offered university-level executive coaching programs at TCU, Penn State University and the University of Georgia.

"The industry is placing more and more importance on certification and more and more coaches are getting certified," said Karl Corbett, managing partner at Sherpa, founded in 2004.

"We're finding less and less 'as-needed' coaching. People are going to regular meetings. People also want a more limited scope - six months or less."

The survey found:

Nine of 10 human resources professionals and clients see the value of coaching as "very high" or "somewhat high." The number of business people who rate the credibility of coaching as "very high" or "somewhat high" was 74 percent, up 7 percentage points from last year.

The number of people in the discipline who report employers paying for services increased from 71 percent in 2006 to 78 percent in 2007.

More than half of practicing executive coaches believe that a standardized approach to coaching - similar to the standards created for the accounting and financial planning professions - is essential if the discipline is to grow in importance.

The original article is on line at http://www.sherpacoaching.com/survey.html

Special Xmas offer by Choice Magazine

2007-12-15T07:01:00.000-05:00

Order choice as a gift during the month of December and they will send your recipient a pdf version of their Premier issue What is Coaching? and include a "gift card" from you, and a 1 year subscription of four more issues of choice. (volume 6, issues 1-4)

This offer expires on December 25th!

Gift Subscription Offer

$39.95 includes 1 YR Subscription to choice
PLUS our Premier Issue PDF download.

Click here to order now!

Upcoming Coaching Events as announced by Peer Resources

2007-12-12T03:06:00.000-05:00

Several coaching conferences and training events are scheduled over the next few months. A selection of those in-person events from the Peer Resources website (http://www.peer.ca/coaching.html) are mentioned but you need to go the site to see them all. Even better, subscribe to the newsletter!

3rd National Coaching Psychology Conference
December 17-18, 2007
City University, London, England
www.sgcp.org.uk/news/sgcp-3rd-national-coaching-psychology-conference-dec-2007.cfm
Tel: 020 8390 7717 (Between 9am-5pm UK time)
sgcpcom@bps.org.uk

International Consortium for Coaching Organizations Symposium
January 9-11, 2008
Oslo, Norway
www.coachingconsortium.org
info@coachingconsortium.org

International Coaching Week
February 3-9, 2008

International Consortium for Coaching Organizations Symposium
February 21-22, 2008
Pepperdine University, West Los Angeles, California
www.coachingconsortium.org
info@coachingconsortium.org

Association for Coaching International Conference
March 13-14, 2008
Victoria Plaza Hotel, London, England
www.associationforcoaching.com
marje@associationforcoaching.com
Call for papers/presentations (Deadline: May 20, 2007)
Request a speaker submission form from sheree@associationforcoaching.com

A Conversation Among MastersApril 6-9, 2008
Grove Park Inn Resort, Asheville, North Carolina
www.conversationamongmasters.com/schedule.html
info@conversationamongmasters.com

International Consortium for Coaching Organizations Symposium
April 17-19, 2008
Toronto, Ontario
www.coachingconsortium.org
info@coachingconsortium.org

Coaching Freedom Cruise
April 20-27, 2008
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida departure to Caribbean ports
www.coachingfreedomcruise.com
(888) 259-9191 ext 1262
emoreno@worldviewtravel.com

ICF European Conference
June 12-14, 2008
Geneva, Switzerland
www.coachfederation.org
(888) 423-3131 or (859) 219-3580
icfheadquarters@coachfederation.org

Global Convention on Coaching
July, 2008 (five days)
Ireland
www.coachingconvention.org/

ICF International Conference
November 12-15, 2008
Palais des congres de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec
www.coachfederation.org
(888) 423-3131 or (859) 219-3580
icfheadquarters@coachfederation.org

For additional coaching events, go to http://www.peer.ca/coaching.html. They only list in-person events that are a minimum of a full-day in length. (Peer Resources Network members can have their in-person events added at no cost. To add an event, contact Rey Carr at rcarr@peer.ca)

The Best Magazine in Coaching

2007-12-12T02:49:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned The Coaching News before and each addition provides more than one pearl of wisdom. I strongly suggest subscribing by sending an email to info@peer.ca

This month includes upcoming coaching events, the latest in coaching publications and articles, and what is new in coaching schools (regular features). There is usually an interesting guest article this month by Bill Dueease on "How Teens and Young Adults Relate to Life Coaching"

The Coaching News is a publication of Peer Resources (http://www.peer.ca), and is distributed at no cost to subscribers every 45-60 days. Back issues of The Coaching News are available at (http://www.peer.ca/thecoachingnews.html). All articles are written by Rey Carr unless otherwise indicated. Anyone who would like to contribute an article or information for an upcoming issue of the newsletter can contact Rey Carr at rcarr@peer.ca

Trying to define what you do in coaching?

2007-12-11T07:36:00.000-05:00

interested in the coaching process. I have been a fan of Nick Askew's Monday9am.tv since I discovered it a few years ago. Here is a mid-week film and description by Nick for all coaches, and those interested in the coaching process.

intangibly inarticulatable

OK - I made the word up. Inarticulatable. Spellcheck told me I was a fool. But I knew that.

The essence of the coaching process is intangible. Perhaps even 'inarticulatable'. But how amusing might it be to provoke an Englishman to attempt the impossible. A description with mere words.

Not a monday9am film but a Nic Askew commissioned film from earlier in the year. The point - to capture the subject (Simon Tyler) as he really is ... on film & with no place to hide. The edit was highly amusing to the me throughout.

My rant on the challenges with Google and Blogger

2007-12-09T01:24:00.000-05:00

While I had mentioned in the past that I don't have the time to keep this up to date, I have been even more remiss in posting. Why you wonder? Because ever since Google purchased Blogger - it has been impossible for me to figure out what to do. After at least a couple of hours - I am up and running again. It is not because the switch over isn't a good thing - there are more options now with Blogger such as "categories". It is not because the instructions where complicated - it was straight forward once I realized that I had to sign into the old account and then switch over. I take responsibility for that confusion.

IT WAS BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED I COULDN'T GET BLOGGER IN ANYTHING BUT GERMAN. In attempts to be so efficient, even when I typed in google.com - it would recognize my ISP as coming from Switzerland and insist on redirecting me to google.ch I didn't see this for some time and when I did it took me awhile to find the place where it would actually take me to the .com So now I know the challenges but I am still not sure how to get around it on a daily basis. I have given up on going to blogs managed by Blogger because, again it insist that I want to read it in German. Strange when you thing that Switzerland has four official languages including Italian and French. How come they are an option? Not that I really want to read the post in anything but English (not an official language) but even my French is better than my German.

Imagine travelling to another country that doesn't speak English. You sign on with your laptop and go to www.Blogger.com and who know what you will get. Sometimes in the effort to be customer focus - they just plain screw up.

On a totally different note . . . am I the only one that can't ever type in the word verification properly the first time? In fact it usually takes me twice - especially if there is a g or q - which I always seem to misread.

ROI and Corporate Coaching - any studies?

2007-11-08T02:48:00.000-05:00

I often get requested asking about any research or articles correlating ROI with coaching. Most of the original research tied the improved effectiveness of training when coaching occurs in conjunction. It is still referenced a lot but the research goes back almost ten years. EVERYONE seems to continue to quote the same old stuff and it is often not properly reverenced. Figures like 265% return are bandied about without any concern for validity or context. While I don't concur with all of the information I have cited below, it represents a good start on this topic.

The most recent article that I have with some concrete analysis is:
http://www.cpiworld.ca/default.asp?tier_1=21&tier_2=27&content=51

It does reference Nortel study done by Metrixglobal . Having worked for Nortel in the past, I remain skeptical but do like their study which is listed below.

A very good article and references can be found here:
http://www.coachingnetwork.org.uk/ResourceCentre/Articles/ViewArticle.asp?artId=79

Here is the one that I like: www.metrixglobal.net/images/pdfs/metrixglobal_coaching_roi_briefing.pdf

Serpa has done some surveys regarding coaching over the past two years and they have a nice ROI formula here:
http://www.sherpacoaching.com/GlobalCoachingSurvey2007Delivery.pdf

Manchester Study is constantly the one that is quoted but it is very dated by now and hard to find original source (which I do have somewhere and is bound to be referenced in one of the above links):

Manchester conducted what is believed to be the first major study to quantify the business impact of executive coaching.

Half of the executives in the study held positions of vice president or higher (including division president, general manager, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief information officer, partner, principal, and practice leader). Almost six out of 10 (57%) executives who received coaching were ages 40 to 49, and one-third earned $200,000 or more per year.

Among the results of the study:

· Manchester’s coaching programs delivered an average return on investment of
5.7 times the initial investment in a typical executive coaching assignment — or a return of more than $100,000 — according to executives who estimated the monetary value of the results achieved through coaching.

· Among the benefits to companies that provided coaching to executives were improvements in:

Productivity (reported by 53% of executives)

Quality (48%)

Organizational strength (48%)

Customer service (39%)

Reducing customer complaints (34%)

Retaining executives who received coaching (32%)

Cost reductions (23%)

Bottom-line profitability (22%)

· Among the benefits to executives who received coaching were improved:

Working relationships with direct reports (reported by 77% of executives)

Working relationships with immediate supervisors (71%)

Teamwork (67%)

Working relationships with peers (63%)

Job satisfaction (61%)

Conflict reduction (52%)

Organizational commitment (44%)

Working relationships with clients (37%)

Besides a Fortune Inc article which must be referenced somewhere above as well, here is another “popular” article often sited that is a bit of an overkill to me:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45725-2004Aug6.html

New Book - Therapist as Life Coach

2007-10-02T09:57:00.000-05:00

Patrick Williams is a great model in our coaching community and I am pleased to see his new book out. Here what I got in my Inbox today from Amazon:

We've noticed that customers who have purchased or rated books by Coach U Inc. have also purchased Therapist as Life Coach: An Introduction for Counselors and Other Helping Professionals, Revised and Expanded Edition by Patrick Williams. For this reason, you might like to know that Therapist as Life Coach: An Introduction for Counselors and Other Helping Professionals, Revised and Expanded Edition will be released on October 15, 2007.

You can get Pat's complete newsletter online at:
http://www.lifecoachtraining.com/resources/newsletter/archive/200711.shtml

You Can't Really Escape Who You Are

2007-06-21T03:58:00.000-05:00

You may or may not be familiar with Second Life (see my post on PersonalityTestsNow blog) but idea of creating anew identity isn't new in life or online. But I couldn't help but smile when I saw this article: Man hires Second Life coach

It begins:

A North London man who had become dissatisfied with things were going for him in his virtual world of Second Life, has hired a life coach to help him find some meaning and direction in his internet-based alternative reality.

And ends:

‘I got fed up with her’ he explained. ‘Last week she was so full of clichés and platitudes; it was like ‘Second Life is what you make it.’ And ‘you only get out of Second Life as much as you put in.’ She even started going on about this whole other world called First Life, where you had to face up to your problems. She was just like the life coach I used to see in my normal life.’

Training Teleclass: Key Trends in the Coaching Industry

2007-03-23T03:53:00.000-05:00

Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm Eastern Time with an additional 15 minutes for Q & A. (11:00 am Pacific)
Presenter: Erika Levasseur, Senior Consultant, Certified Coach and RCS Lead Trainer
Format: Delivered via teleconference with optional Webinar access available and encouraged. Access details will be sent via email to registered attendees prior to the event.
Cost: This event is free to attend.
Register: Click here

About this event
Join US Regional Manager Erika Levasseur for this lively presentation and discussion on the coaching industry today. We will look at trends in the industry as a whole, with a special focus on coaching in the workplace.
We will examine what people are doing to survive and thrive in the industry today, and what you can do to position yourself for success.

Topics of note will include:

Executive coaching today â€“ credentials and options
Coaching programs within organizations â€“ a new frontier
Internal coaching as a career option
Combining coaching with other services

We will also touch on certification, compensation, and external coaching business models. Erika will present some slides, share some examples from the field, and provide time for Q&A and contributions by participants.

About the presenter
Erika Levasseur is the US Regional Manager of Results Coaching Systems, a leading global coach consulting and training firm. Through her work as a consultant, speaker and trainer, Erika is helping pioneer support in the US for the growing field of brain-based coaching.

In her work with organizations, Erika specializes in bringing the benefits of a brain-based coaching approach into corporate settings to transform conversations and improve performance and leadership. She teaches managers and coaches how to apply a brain-based coaching approach, and works closely with a full range of small business to Fortune 100 companies to integrate the benefits of coaching into their organizations through scalable internal coaching skills programs. She also specializes in using metrics in helping those organizations quantify the impact that internal coaching initiatives have.

Erika has nearly 20 years of experience in communications, capacity-building, and organizational development within emerging organizations and initiatives. She holds a Masters of Science in Management from Antioch University, and multiple coaching certifications from Results Coaching Systems and New York University

In Memoriam: Laura Whitworth

2007-03-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

We have lost a friend, a teacher, a visionary, a fighter for life, hers and ours.

After a long and dedicated battle with lung cancer, our beloved co-founder Laura Whitworth died today, February 28, 2007.

We grieve her passing at the same time we celebrate her extraordinary life. That, after all, was what Laura was all about: Life. Fully lived. She was fierce for that and unrelenting. And with that stake she changed the world, yours and mine. If you are reading this you are one of thousands around the world whose life is different because of her.

We will post more information about ways to honor Laura's life as information is available. For now, please feel free to respond to Laura's blog: http://laurawhitworth.blogspot.com

With deep sadness,
Karen and Henry Kimsey-House

Resource: Webinar on Coaching Ourselves (From the Team Perspective)

2007-02-14T06:15:00.000-05:00

I attended an interesting HR.com webcast titled Coaching Ourselves on February 12, 2007.

Phil LeNir had a problem. The three rounds of layoffs and offshore outsourcing of work to the Ukraine had pushed his managers into uncharted territory. They didn’t know how to deal with these new challenges. Phil would have liked to send his managers to a top end development program like the IMPM but he had no budget or time. Sound familiar? With McGill’s Henry Mintzberg he hit upon a solution — Using relevant managerial topics and their own experiences, managers coach each other!

HR.com is offering the archived recording of the presentation for this event to those who attended and friends - See announcement below (Membership is free):

Please feel free to share this archive with any of your friends or co-workers. They will have to register for a free membership at HR.com but will gain access to largest social network and online community of HR executives, HR.com delivers user contributed content, over 25,000 articles, 450 live and archived webcasts, discussion forums, surveys, polls, blogs, tools, business book reviews and an HR job network and marketplace directly to their desktop.

You can access the archive by clicking HERE

If you have difficulties opening the presentation, please ensure that you have an updated version of MacroMedia Flash. You must disable your pop-up-blocker in order to view the presentation. If you have any other technical difficulties please contact me at khotham@hr.com

POWERPOINT SLIDES & PODCASTS

PowerPoint slides and the MP3 from this and other webcasts are downloadable if you are a member of HR.com. Simply go to the archive listing (www.hr.com and click on Webcasts) and once you have registered you can click on the more details button and you will be presented with a link to download the slides.

The Big Picture Editorial: Introducing the Book

2007-02-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

The reason we need trainers and coaches is age old. I could not get the YouTube video to be imbedded here. Either go to the link or check out the post on my www.AssessmentsToday.com blog.

Resources: Second Annual Global Executive Coaching Survey

2007-02-10T06:19:00.000-05:00

Read the final results, including three new articles at

www.sherpacoaching.com/survey.html.

(Participants received preliminary data a few weeks back.)

You can download these articles and read them off line, if you wish.

Karl Corbett, Business Manager, Sherpa Coaching, Cincinnati, Ohio USA

on behalf of:

Penn State Executive Programs,

the Tandy Center for Executive Leadership at Texas Christian University

and the Cincinnati Business Courier

Teleclasses from ICF Vancouver Island for International Coaching Week

2007-02-06T04:23:00.000-05:00

The ICF Vancouver Island Chapter is offering free seminars as part of its "Coaching for Performance" 5 day virtual conference from February 5 to 9, 2007.

Visit the website http://www.vicoaches.org/workshops.php for details on the following free seminars:

* One Man's View of Coaching and How it Could Change your Life!
* Growing Tomorrow's Leaders...Today
* Defining your Retirement and Planning Your Exit Strategy
* Why Coaching? To Move Forward in All Areas of Life with Purpose, on
Purpose!
* Primer for Performance Parenting
* The SMART Way to Achieving Your Goals - It's Easier That You Think
* Rediscovering Your Inner Sensuality - A Workshop for Women

Training: “Coaching with the Brain in Mind”

2007-02-06T04:22:00.000-05:00

It is always a privilege to be able to share with you coaching activities or events that are being done by my colleagues who I both know and respect. Here is one for tomorrow that might be of interest to you. Kay has also listed a number of other resources that are worth looking into:

“Coaching with the Brain in Mind” ….at last a hard science for coaching

Date: Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Eastern time (1:30 pm to 3:00 pm PT)
Details: Delivered via teleconference.
Teleconference details will be sent to attendees prior to the event taking place.
This event is free to attend.
Register: Click here

About this event
We’ve learned more about the brain since the 1980’s than in all previous history. Many discoveries are providing hard evidence for how and why a coaching approach is so effective, and pointing to new ways to define, measure and deliver coaching. In this breakthrough 1.5 hour event, you will learn:
» Why change is so hard, from a physical perspective
» What every coach, manager or leader should know about the brain
» The new science of attention, reflection, insight and action

As a result you will be able to better understand how and why coaching works, improve the performance of others and be more confident in presenting the central ideas of coaching. About the presenter David Rock, CEO and Founder of Results is a thought leader in the global coaching field, having trained over 4,000 coaches since 1998. He is the author of two books, most recently, Quiet Leadership, published by Harper Collins. David co-founded NYU's Coaching Certificate Program, and is independently researching the links between coaching and the brain, in partnership with a leading neuroscientist. He is active with several Fortune 100 clients integrating coaching into their culture, and consults with clients such as IBM, HSBC and AIG. He is a regular speaker at global coaching, training, leadership and learning conferences.

Additional resources about the topic:

AUDIO
Check out the webinar with Dr Jeffrey Schwartz and David Rock at strategy+business magazine. See http://www.strategy-business.com/webinars/webinar/webinar-neuro_lead Listen to an interview about Quiet Leadership: http://800ceoread.com/podcasts/archives/006325.html

COURSES
Attend and ICF accredited training on the brain-based approach to coaching. Visit http://www.resultscoaches.com/ or contact Kay Zurn at kayzurn@resultscoaches.com.

ARTICLES
‘The Neuroscience of Leadership’ in Strategy + Business See http://www.strategy-business.com/press/freearticle/06207?gko=498f4-12656449-15832258
Check out ‘The New Science of Change’, a recent cover story in CIO magazine.

Summary of ICF Survey Results

2007-02-02T03:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to John Agno for putting this together. To subscribe t John’s excellent ezine, a coach should send an email message to: coach2coach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Results of the first-ever global survey of coaches demonstrate how the young profession of coaching has gained a strong foothold in the marketplace and now contributes more than $1.5 billion (USD) to the global economy.

The International Coach Federation (ICF) commissioned independent research firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct this groundbreaking study of coaches worldwide in order to evaluate the magnitude of the coaching profession.

From September to December 2006, nearly 6,000 coaches (both ICF members and non-members) in 74 countries were surveyed on their coaching practice and client demographic information, as well as revenue details.
The highlights of the survey findings include:
The approximate annual worldwide revenue produced by coaching is $1.5 billion (USD).
Coaches earn an average of $50,510 (USD) per year.
69% percent of coaches are female.
The average coach is 46-55 years old, has coached for 5-10 years, and 53 percent of coaches have acquired an advanced level of education (i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D).
The majority of coaches maintain 11 active clients at any given time.
Coaching clients tend to be 56 percent female/44 percent male, and between 38 and 45 years of age.

Sources: International Coach Federation, February 5, 2007 press release and www.Forbes.com, January 12, 2007

International Coaching Week and Its History

2007-01-31T11:22:00.000-05:00

Coach Jerri Udelson, an MCC from Massachusetts who specializes in helping entrepreneurs create successful business solutions and live fulfilling lives, created International Coaching Week in 1999 and listed it in Chase’s Calendar of Events as a way to promote the coaching profession.

The purpose of International Coaching Week is to provide a week each year to educate the public about the value of working with a personal or business coach and to provide an opportunity for coaches and their clients to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process. Coaches offer a variety of pro bono services in their communities during the week, including free coaching sessions, lectures and workshops.

Udelson says, I am really pleased that so many coaches are participating in International Coaching Week. It is very gratifying to know that so many people are offering pro-bono coaching and other community events in such a heartfelt way. When I started National Coaching Week (which later became International Coaching Week) in 1999, I had no idea that it would soon take on a life of its own. I really am delighted that this Week is becoming a focal point for both publicizing coaching worldwide and providing the public with a sense of the possibilities that coaching offers.

History of International Coaching Week

International Coaching Week is February 4 - 10, 2007. Its purpose is to provide a week each year to education the public about the value of working with a personal, business or executive coach and to provide an opportunity for coaches and their clients to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process.

In 1999 I created International Coaching Week as a way to promote the profession of coaching. Originally named National Personal and Business Coaching Week, I had it listed in Chases Calendar of Events (a major PR tool), and it was held the first week of February, 1999.

In year 2000 Canadian coaches wanted to participate, so I changed the name to International Personal and Business Coaching Week; in 2000 the International Coach Federation (ICF) helped publicize it by mentioning it in their newsletter and also by sending special Coaching Week broadcasts to members and chapters.

In 2001 the ICF actually prepared a sample press release for coaches to customize and use to publicize the week and their participation in it, and also gave ICF members a list of suggested events (e.g. pro bono coaching, free teleclasses, etc.) to inspire them to participate in their own way. Also in 2001 Thomas Leonard picked up the idea and ran with it. He created a Coaching Week page on the Coachville website, created a logo, and offered to put coaches press releases on the page as well as a summary of Coaching Week events.

In 2002 Thomas created a CoachingWeek.com website, and invited coaches to post their events and press releases on it. I continued to network with the ICF, Coachville and various coaches to promote the week.

For the last few years, the ICF has been mentioning the week on the website and announcing it to chapters. This year I have created a website, CoachingWeek.org, on which coaches and ICF Chapters can post their Coaching Week-related activities.

Training: Marketing Qi Intensive - Coaches, Consultants and Trainers

2007-01-26T03:39:00.000-05:00

Here is an announcement from a coach I respect – Ellen Britt:

Extraordinary roster of marketing masters gather together to bring you a powerful learning resource like no other! The next session is Thursday, Feb. 1st at 8PM Eastern with

Janet Attwood, co-founder of online magazine Healthy Wealthy nWise, Enlightened Alliances and author of The Passion Test, teaches you how to identify your top passion in five minutes, the difference between passions and purpose and the one key secret which guarantees a passionate life.

"Act Right Now--To Gain Instant FREE Live Weekly Access to 12 of the Top Coaching, Consulting and Training Marketing Minds on the Planet Who Are Dedicated to Getting You Clients, Growing Your Business and Inspiring You to Live your Dreams...

“Give us just 1 hour a week and you'll get the incredible opportunity to sit in on inspiring conversations with 12 of the planet's most successful coaches, consultants and trainers, as they reveal their most powerful and proven methods for creating success - not only in their businesses, but in their personal lives as well.”

--Ellen Britt, PA, Ed.D. Founder, CCT Marketing Qi Intensive

Teleclass - Coaching Predictions

2007-01-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

This is one teleclass that I recommend you taking the time over the next week or so to review. It is broken up by each "expert" and lasts close to three hours in total. Very interesting stuff and kudos to Milana!

If you missed the 2007 Coaching Predictions call earlier this week, you can listen here.

Do you have a coaching prediction for 2007?

I'd love to hear comments and predictions of your own, just post them here:

http://www.milana.com/blog/

Milana Leshinsky, ACCPOW

Training: 2007 Is Your Last Chance For IAC Certification

2007-01-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

2007 is your last chance for IAC Certification with the 15 Certified Coach Proficiencies. After this year, you will need to learn and demonstrate the new IAC technology. Why should you care?**

• The Proficiencies are thoroughly vetted. It took three years for
instructors and certifiers to fully understand and score them consistently, so now coaches know what to expect when they sit for certification.
Confusion can be costly and painful.
• Learning materials, like the detailed 15 Proficiencies Learning Guides
and recordings are already available here:
http://certifiedcoach.org/learningguide/proficiencies.html These reference materials are priceless, when it comes to achieving coaching mastery.
• There are programs like the Seven Secrets of Certification, where you can
get help mastering the Proficiencies from mentor coaches who have already done it. They can help you understand what great coaching is really about and what it isn’t.
• Mastering the Proficiencies and becoming a Certified Coach means you’ve
passed Thomas Leonard’s definition of a great coach. As the coaching industry explodes, the quality of coaching that’s expected is soaring.
Thomas was way ahead of his time in establishing this extraordinary benchmark. Enjoy the cache. Only 52 of 10,205 coaches have passed, so far.
• Most of you are already familiar with the language of the Certified Coach
Proficiencies. Why confuse yourself with a new format that could slow your progress down by months or years? Take advantage of the head start you already have with this extraordinary coaching material.

**Please don’t read any criticism of the new IAC coaching material here.
It’s just too new to enjoy the above benefits.

Members of the Seven Secrets of Certification Practicums are enjoying rapid learning. Some have already passed and several more are currently submitting their recordings. Listen to some masterful coaching from two of them in this sample practicum: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WpLJmPV4

The fee for the Practicums is going up this week. Beat the price increase, now. As a special New Years bonus, I will give a free coaching critique (Normal price: $200) to the next five coaches who sign up for the Seven Secrets of Certification. Go there now:
http://www.yourlifepart2.com/sevensecrets.htm

This program is for you if:

• You’re already a good coach
• You’re familiar with the 15 Certified Coach Proficiencies
• You’re ready, willing and able to spend the time, money and effort to
become a masterful coach

The Practicums will continue this month on Wednesdays at 5 PM ET and Fridays at 10 AM ET and I'm adding a third section on Mondays at 4 PM ET.

Here's what you get:

• Three 60-90 min sessions per month with an average of 5 participants
coaching and getting feedback. You're welcome to sit in on other sections, as well, at no extra charge.

• Just in Time Personal Coaching three times per month.

• A private web platform with 100's of Certified Coach resources and over
40 hours of critiques - it's one of the largest libraries of coaching critiques in the world - and growing quickly.

• Verbal feedback & written feedback on the most detailed scorecard that
you're likely to see.

• Opportunities to give your feedback - an important part of the learning
process. Opportunities to form triads with members and attend and/or host study groups with over 200 members.

• Opportunities to ask questions and clear up confusion. Most coaches put
off getting certified because they are just plain confused

• The energy to get it done. If you’re like most coaches, you plan to get
certified, but you’re really just drifting. You need to get into a strong supportive environment if you really want to get it done this year.

Once again, the price is about to go up. If you act fast, you can beat the increase and get a $200 coaching critique for free.

Once again, Happy New Year and Keep Being Great!

Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, CMC
www.yourlifepart2.com
www.experiencedcoach.com
www.associationforcoachingexcellence.com

Training: UTD Coaching Programs

2007-01-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

Continuing Education: The Executive and Professional Coaching Program at the University of Texas at Dallas provides a series of short courses designed to meet the educational and professional development needs of those interested in improving their coaching skills and/or meeting the continuing education requirements of their profession.
These short courses, offered through distance learning, are meaningful educational opportunities for coaches seeking to earn the required Continuing Coach Education Units (CCEU's) for PCC or MCC re-certification through the International Coach Federation and are open to all coaches. Information and schedules at http://som.utdallas.edu/executive/coaching/coaching_education.htm

The Executive and Professional Coaching Program offers a Graduate Certificate designed for working adults. It utilizes the very best in distance learning methodologies, making it convenient, efficient, and geographically independent for busy professionals. We offer a flexible format that includes graduate credit hours that can be applied toward a Masters Degree, access to student loans, and compliance with corporate tuition reimbursement programs. The next Cohort Class begins on March 5, 2007. For further information or to apply for admission visit our website at http://som.utdallas.edu/coaching . This program meets all ICF requirements and ACTP status is pending and expected very soon.

On January 11, 2007 there will be a group Information Session with an overview and Q& A on the Coaching Programs at 5:30 p.m. Central Time.
It will be conducted on a group teleconference line so you can call from anywhere in the world. If you are interested in attending, send an e-mail to coaching@utdallas.edu with "Information Session" in the subject line and we'll send you an invitation. Please include your full name and location in your e- mail.

Submitted by:
Judith F. Feld, MCC
Program Manager and Training Director, Executive and Professional Coaching University of Texas at Dallas, School of Management judith.feld@utdallas.edu

Coaching Trivia

2006-12-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

Milana Leshinsky prepared this holiday page filled with coaching trivia, music, and jokes. I thought you would enjoy it and have a wonderful holiday vacation!

Training: 3rd and Final ACCPOW Coaching Telesummit: Power of Leverage - January 22-31, 2007

2006-12-20T03:30:00.000-05:00

Once again, Milana Leshinsky again is bringing top experts, business owners and coaches to show you some of the best ways to use leverage in your business. These people know how to make the most out of their time, what strategies to use for maximum results and that's why are so successful. The entire Coaching Telesummit is designed to help you inject Leverage into your business.

The past two Telesummit were very successful, well received and while I didn't attend, the feedback to me was that it was certainly value added. This is not an affiliate link - something that Milana has really been effective in leveraging - it is just a link for you to see if this is something that interests you.

New to the Coaching Telesummit? Here Are the FourThings You Want To Know

If you have attended ACCPOW Coaching Telesummit previously, you're already familiar with this information.

But if this is your first time, let me take a moment and share the top 4 things that are probably on your mind right now:

1. Where will this event be held?

The entire tele-summit is held over a telephone bridgeline.

2. How long does the tele-summit last?

The tele-summit lasts 8 weekdays starting January 22nd, and runs between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm EST (New York time).

3. What if I cannot attend all training sessions?

Thanks to the wonders of technology, each call will be recorded and made available online along with handouts within 48 hours in both, downloadable MP3 and Live Stream formats.

4. How can I actively participate in the tele-summit?

This event wouldn't be the same without the participance of its "students." You can send your questions before, during or after each training session via e-mail or Instant Messenger.

Training: Theoretical Foundations in Coaching

2006-12-20T03:09:00.000-05:00

As someone who is both a coach and consultant AND passionate about the proper use of assessments, I often think that coaches lack a solid theoretical framework. So while this isn't an inexpensive program, I was so glad to see that someone, in this case, Results Coaching Systems out of Australia is providing this training.

Theoretical Foundations in Coaching begins Feb. 5, 2007 - led by David Rock, author of Quiet Leadership

Join David and special guests for 3 months of intensive study of the science behind leadership development and coaching. Explore the links between neuroscience, change theory, learning theory, positive psychology, systems theory and other important domains.

About this program

Coaching draws on many related domains, which include philosophy, behavioral science, solution-focused therapy, systems thinking, and the study of the brain. Examine where this new field has come from and where it is heading in this course.

Understand the scientific basis behind any coaching framework. Broaden your understanding of a wide range of fields linking coaching theory and practice while coaching others.

Topics include a study of how systems work; an understanding of how people change; the principles of adult learning theory, management development theory and psychology.

Lead Trainer: David Rock, founder Results Coaching Systems and author of Quiet Leadership

Dates and Time: Mondays beginning February 5, 2007 at 8:00 – 9:30 PM ET

Format: 12 x 90 minute group tele-conferencing classes

Sessions may include theory, discussion, tools, role-plays, group work, case studies and readings.

Who this program is for: Executives, professionals, coaches who'd like to learn more about the origins of coaching.

Resources: Free Coaching?

2006-12-19T08:40:00.000-05:00

Do you want to be coached by MindMentor, an internet coaching robot. MindMentor guides the user through a basic NLP process. Depth is added by using a projection procedure (somewhat similar to a Rorschach test). Apparently in his first month on line, MindMentor did 582 coaching sessions and achieved a solution percentage of 55%. That is: people who finished their session with him solved their problem for 55% on average. His creators, Dutch psychologists Jaap Hollander and Jeffrey Wijnberg are said to be somewhat euphoric about this result. Right now, they see MindMentor as an intern; a beginning electronic coach/therapist who is showing great promise but who still needs to learn a lot. In order to help him learn, they would like him to do as many coaching sessions as possible. Therefore they have decided to offer his services free of charge. You are invited to work with him as often as you like and to refer any colleagues, friends and students to him. This offer lasts for the month of December.

As reported in a posting from Euro Coach List

Coaching on the Today Show

2006-12-12T02:54:00.000-05:00

We want to alert you to a potential opportunity for you to get media coverage in your local area. The ICF Communications Department has been working with the Today Show, a large national morning show on the NBC television network in the United States. They have developed a segment on great gifts to give for the holidays and have agreed to highlight coaching.

We just received word today that the segment is currently scheduled to air on Wednesday, December 13 at 9:30 a.m. (United States Eastern Standard Time). Please note that the segment may be moved or cancelled depending on the news of the day.

With the holiday season approaching in many areas of the world, and the awareness of coaching growing steadily, it is logical that people would be very interested in purchasing the gift of coaching for friends and loved ones. If you'd like to promote this gift, we've developed a sample media release to be distributed to your local media, and a sample gift certificate. You can download both of these items to assist you with promotion in your local area.

Please feel free to modify the tools to make them most useful for your company and specific area of the world.

We sincerely hope that you find these tools useful. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Kim Livesay and Ann Belcher
ICF Communications Department
press@coachfederation.org

Seven Secrets fre*e Virtual Study Groups for coaches who are working toward IAC Certification.

2006-12-04T04:26:00.000-05:00

While I am not personally trained by IAC, I do think that the assistance offered by Julia Stewart is excellent - no matter what your coach background or preferences may be.

NOTE: Each study group has its own bridge # and schedule. This information will change from month to month. Please make a note of each.

I. Building Your Coaching Proficiencies with Virginia McHenry will be held at 1:00 PT/4:00 ET the first Thursday of the month.
and the numbers are Bridge: 319-256-1550 Pin# 716212

We will focus on two of the coaching proficiencies per session. Volunteers will work in triads - coach, coachee, observer - allowing each to work in each role for 5 minutes. We will debrief for five minutes after each coaching session. Total coaching time: 30 minutes. Participants will learn by listening for the focused proficiencies and any others that come out naturally.

Host email and website: vmchenry@usa.net www.advantagebydesign.us

II. Focus on Certification (FOC) Study Group with Claudette Ward 2nd Thursday of each month at 2 PM Eastern/NY Time
Bridge: 641-297-7200 Pin# 313573

Would you like to get certified, but feel you need a safe environment to practice in? Are you interested in studying with great people who want to travel the road to certification with greater confidence? If your answer is yes to either or both, we invite you to join the Focus on Certification (FOC) study group! At FOC, feedback is valued, expected and appreciated and we're all about caring, sharing and supporting each other. We're a group of coaches working to put that little extra into ordinary coaching!

Host email and website: Cward@therightfocus.com
www.therightfocus.com

III. Welcome to the Greatness Cafe!

Inspiring Greatness - our Own and our Clients'

Next Meeting
Please mark your calendar
We'd love to have you join us

December 21ST 2-3pm Eastern

319 256 1550
PIN 769848

Training: A Conversation Among Masters Communiqué Update

2006-12-01T04:31:00.000-05:00

They have just received word from the ICF that their Conversation Among Masters program has been approved for 19. For those of you seeking CEU units to apply toward credentialing renewal or obtaining a credential this is good news.

Musical Parody on working in Corporate America

2006-11-04T07:37:00.000-05:00

I couldn't help but smile at this Musical Parody It is a short funny video explains what it is like to work in corporate America ... in a big company where cubicles are prevalent and no one knows your name. It may take a few minutes to load. Enjoy.

Working with a Mentor Coach

2006-09-29T04:20:00.000-05:00

Check out this post from D onna Steinhorn's blog: The Coaches Toolbox:

As a Coach, it's vital to experience coaching and be mentored by an experienced coach. This is a much different, deeper experience than working with a buddy or peer coach!

Selecting that mentor coach is a very personal experience. Donna hope this two part teleclass will help you in that selection. You can listen to it on your PC, or choose the downloadable MP3. Also, Donna has created a checklist for areas to work on with your mentor coach

Resource - Try this automated personal-values assessment

2006-09-29T04:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much for this post on Ken Winston Caine's blog: Mind Body Spirit Journal

Ever have trouble choosing your guiding values from one of those lists of 150 values?

And then narrowing it down to 5 or 10?

How ’bout if we take most of the difficulty out of it?

Conductor and composer Douglas Wagoner has done that. He’s automated the process. It’s online. Free.

You still start off with a list of 150. But then it gets easier.

Try it here:

Your Guiding Values Test

Coaches and holistic counselors will find this especially useful. Your clients will love it. And will be eager to coach around their results and what the results mean for them.

Coaching News Tidbits (Thanks Stephanie)

2006-09-24T04:04:00.000-05:00

from On Coaching Blog

Posted by Stephanie Brail on September 20th, 2006

More on the U.K. government coaching scandal in “Couch government: the cost of Labour’s shrinks.”

“‘Our Lady of Weight Loss’ Is Speaking To You” - a coach with a “holy” humorous approach.

“Life coaches help clients reach next level” in the Jewish Review.

Training Teleclass - Are you a "Conflict Coach?

2006-09-22T01:50:00.000-05:00

The next free monthly teleconference for coaches with a focus on conflict coaching is coming up soon. Please mark your calendar. DAY/TIME: Monday, September 25, 4:00 pm ET, 40 minutes duration HOST: Dan Dana - http://www.mediationworks.com/DanDana DESCRIPTION: Join your coaching colleagues for a discussion of professional and practice issues with a special focus on conflict coaching. See: http://www.mediationworks.com/123/coach Free and open to coaches with any level of experience. FOR CONFERENCE ACCESS: Confirm that you are subscribed to the Conflict Coaching Forum at http://www.mediationworks.com/123/coach Call 712-432-2222 at the start time, enter code 66208

Training: The Serpa Process and Executive Coaching

2006-09-12T02:20:00.000-05:00

In attempts to keep you informed of all the wonderful training options out in the market place, here is another school of which I know nothing. However, I am impressed with their philosophy and approach as quoted from their web site. I recently received their latest newsletter and at the end of this explaination of their executive coaching approach is an interesting article on Leadership Coaching you might enjoy.

University Certification for Executive Coaching Based on : "The Sherpa Guide: Process-Driven Executive Coaching" Classes taught by authors Corbett and Colemon.

As executive coaches, Sherpas deal with business behavior. In the Sherpa Stance, we ask four questions that determine if a conversation is permitted, and whether it's worthwhile:

1. Is it Precise? Are we talking about a problem, a symptom or a feeling? Sherpas only spend time on problems.
2. Is it Personal? If it's too personal, we don't continue.
3. Is it Present tense? Sherpas live in the moment, and in the future, not the past.
4. Is it Possible? Will a change in your client’s behavior actually fix this problem?

We deal only with specific, achievable business behavior. Our process makes sure of that.

We are not life coaches, success coaches, personal coaches, psychologists or therapists. Coaching seems to be an easy occupation. All you have to do is meet with someone (or even easier, talk on the phone) and give them your advice. Without a process, what do most coaches do? Wander into areas bordering on therapy, and take on personal issues and history. Without a process, you have an unqualified advisor, working toward an ill-defined goal with no road map, no documentation and no deadline.

The Sherpa process is detailed enough to produce a 350-page book and 80-page client guide. It's specific, yet flexible enough to accomodate any client's development needs.

Our executive coaching certification classes at multiple universities teach the process in detail.

Sherpa clients experience the process, while finding it transparent.

Every phase and every step includes assessments, journaling and 'homework' assignments, to keep the coaching process moving between meetings. Here's a quick summary.:

Phase One – We will be looking at you, the real you. (Taking Stock).
Phase Two – You'll look at the important people in your life and how they affect and support you. (Global View).
Phase Three - Then we’ll discover your motivations, why people and things affect you the way they do and how to create and communicate expectations. (Destination)
Phase Four - We will work on specific areas that will affect your day-to-day work life. We'll organize and structure goals that fit your needs. (Charting the Course)
Phase Five - Then we'll make sure it's planned for success, checking that accountability and attitude are right where they should be. (Agenda)
Phase Six - When we are done, we’ll have cause to celebrate. (The Summit)

Leadership Coaching: Developing Effective Executives
Chief Learning Officer magazine

Coaching has become extremely popular as a component of most companies’ leadership development programs. More than 70 percent of organizations with formal leadership development programs use coaching as an important part of that mix.

Coaching works. It encompasses many elements of the best learning methodologies and content used in leadership development:

concepts and ideas that are job relevant;
content that is practical, actionable and personalized to the individual;
highly engaging learning methods;
emphasis on the long-term and follow-through

Managers who are highly effective at coaching their direct reports boost employee satisfaction with the organization, employee confidence in the organization’s ability to achieve goals, employee commitment to “go the extra mile” and intention to stay at the organization.

As companies realize the value of coaching, they seek ways to make coaching available to a broader range of employees; more efficient and cost-effective ways to deliver it.

One way to achieve scalability is to create a coaching culture in which managers embrace coaching skills as the way to lead others. Coaching skills can be taught. Provide training and support for managers to act as coaches. It’s a critical component in sustaining a coaching culture.

Coaching has already made significant contributions to leadership development. Few things are of greater importance than developing extraordinary leaders.

Training: The Positive Psychology and Coaching Master Class

2006-09-12T01:52:00.000-05:00

While I can't keep up with all of the various coach training around, I do want to keep you informed of things that come across my desk. You can check them out for yourself.

The MentorCoach Positive Psychology Coaching Master Class is designed to give students a solid grounding in the history, development, approach, and application of positive psychology in their coaching practice. This Master Class consists of eight 90-minute classes: September 21, September 28, October 12, October 19, November 2, November 16, November 30, and December 7. To register and for full information, click here.

HEAR ALEX TALK ABOUT THIS CLASS
Alex is a thought leader on coaching and positive psychology. His work will be the focus of our October newsletter. Even if you have taken other courses on positive psychology, this will be different. Come to this Q&A and hear him speak about his approach.

Q&A About Alex Linley's Upcoming Class on Positive Psychology Coaching
WHO: Alex Linley, Ph.D., Ben Dean, Ph.D.,
DATE: Tuesday, September 12, 2006
TIME: One Hour Call at 8 am Pacific, 9 am Mtn, 10 am Central, 11 am Eastern (New York Time) and 4 pm GMT/UTC (London Time)
BRIDGE: Register for the live Q&A here.

CAN'T COME? Listen to the entire Q&A (taped live) by calling 1-405-244-4000, PIN 200, anytime, day or night.

ICF has commissioned global study on coaching

2006-09-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

Overview
The International Coach Federation has commissioned a global study on the state of the coaching profession. This study will provide groundbreaking insights on the size and scope of our growing profession. The study will be conducted by a well-known, independent, and global company, PricewaterhouseCoopers. The study is scheduled to launch in mid-September.

The survey will be sent to all ICF members in mid-September. The survey will come directly from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Please take the time to participant in this study. It's vital to have very robust results from all areas of the world to show the size of coaching. In addition, we may be able to provide regional figures if a large enough sample size from your area is received. This would provide great local media attention.

Second, since this is an industry survey, it's very important that coaches from all over the world are given the opportunity to participate (the survey will be offered in English, French, German and Spanish). In order to keep strict controls on the data, each survey must be sent directly to participants by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It is not possible to just forward the survey link you receive to other coaches.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has designated a place on their Web site where coaches can go to sign up to participate in the study. The link to go to is https://www.pwcresearch.com/uc/coachingsurveyregistration/

Study to compare traditional assessments to Personology

2006-09-04T09:58:00.000-05:00

Naomi Tickle is currently doing a study to see how her career and personality program compares with the more traditional tests. She plans to do an initial study of 100 people. So far the results are very similar. She is looking for volunteers who would be interested in submitting their photographs and tests results to her via e-mail.

To read about Personality and how to participate in this study go to:
http://www.assessmentstoday.com/2006/09/study_to_compar.html

THE BOOK - “A Guide to Coaching and Mental Health - the recognition and management of psychological issues”

2006-09-04T09:56:00.000-05:00

For coaching to continue to progress towards the status of profession many steps must be taken. One of these is for coaches and trainee coaches to check that they have the knowledge, skill and personal commitment to recognize psychological issues with their clients and then make appropriate choices on how the coaching should progress.

Understanding ‘when not to coach’ warrants inclusion in every coach’s skill set.

Not only is it not appropriate to continue coaching or mentoring some people who have psychological problems, it can be dangerous to all parties, coach, client and sponsoring organization. But, not all mental health issues are barriers to coaching. The coach, coach trainer, supervisor do not need to learn how to diagnose - in fact, it’s more important that they don’t try, but it is important for them to be aware of what might be happening and to listen for what is not being said.

THE BOOK - “A Guide to Coaching and Mental Health - the recognition and management of psychological issues” by Andrew Buckley and Carole Buckley will be published on September 5th 2006 in the UK and be available about six weeks later in the USA (other areas depend on distribution) as the third book in the Essential Coaching Skills and Knowledge Series by Routledge.

Priced at £14.99 / $26.95 for the paperback and £45.00 / $80.00 for the hardback, this text is an ideal introduction to the recognition and management - from a coaching, mentoring and other non-medical perspective - of psychological and mental health issues. The book covers the background, questioning, ethical considerations and discussion of the steps to be taken once a client has shown signs of mental illness.

More information can be found at

You can also order/pre-order now from Amazon and Routledge ( www.routledge.com )

This text will provide the knowledge that is needed by all coaches and coaching supervisors to be able to judge when not to coach.

But, knowledge is only half the story - specific training, using the principles outlined in A Guide to Coaching and Mental Health, will help ensure that trainee and more experienced coaches will not fall foul of a code of ethics and good practice by working when other treatment is indicated or working beyond their personal competence.

THE TRAINING - ‘Recognising psychological issues in coaching’. Andrew Buckley has designed a one-day training programme that, in conjunction with the book, will ensure that coaches have an understanding of the wide-ranging signs of mental illness, how to explore and question clients and what to do, in the best interests of the client, the coach and any sponsoring organisation. This training can be booked for your training course. Alternatively look out for publicity on an open training course near you - e-mail if you would like to be sent information on these training courses when it is published. At present this is only available in the UK.

Training Teleclass Recording: 5 Simple Steps to Becoming an Undeniably Successful Coach

2006-08-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

This is a recording of a teleclass earlier this month by Will Craig and Rhonda Hess of the Coach Training Alliance and hosted by Milana Leshinsky.

Press the Play button on the replay line and you'll hear the entire program. There are also links to additional resources to help you reach your goal of becoming undeniably successful.

Learn the details of these five provocative steps and discover what it takes to catapult your coaching business to the top:

Develop an Attitude
Fill Your Pockets
Own Your Market
Value Yourself
Live in Abundance

Events - A Conversation Among Masters

2006-08-24T19:29:00.000-05:00

Not too much happening these days - or at least not that I have been paying attention to. Perhaps that is because I have been on the road so much. Here is an interesting announcement about the event: A Conversation Amongst Masters.

"A Conversation Among Masters" Communique - the first-ever, Invitation-Only Event for experienced, successful coaches which will be held in Monterey California, April 30-May 2, 2007 at the beautiful Portola Plaza Hotel.

CAM 2007 is an invitation-only event, open to Master Coaches from all backgrounds, from all over the world. Life, business and executive coaches. Those with formal credentials and those without…but all of them professional, experienced, successful – and fascinating!

We're also inviting Masters from arenas other than coaching. These Masters – visionaries who represent the full spectrum of human experience – will initiate conversations that are guaranteed to enhance our lives…and the lives of our clients!

Articles: Sure you can earn 6 figures coaching without any training

2006-08-11T07:46:00.000-05:00

There always seems to be some debate regarding two issues in coaching:

can you make lots of money?
do you need training?

An article recently put out by MSN suggests the answer is yes to both:

“About 20 percent of the 10,000 registered coaches earn six figure incomes, according to estimates from industry veterans. No special degree or training is required. And while some provide specific expertise, such as those hired by large companies to train a sales staff, others rake in money from those looking for little more than a cheerleader as they open a business or try their hand at writing a book. And along with the growth of coaching come derivative businesses that cater to them.”

Oh really, well what is the research behind that. Here is a press release that is much more founded:

“The number of life coaches has risen to more than 30,000 ten years after the profession of life coaching began. Together, Wood and Falter-Barns reach more than 20,000 of these coaches through the websites, blogs and ezine lists of their companies, Get Known Now and Solution Box.com. Wood is former Publicity Chair of the International Coach Federation and founder of 15 coaching related web sites, and Falter-Barns is a former New York marketing consultant and successful self help author.

In the survey, 73% of life coaches said their main reason for coaching is to ‘have a greater impact on people.’ Yet a full 49% said their biggest challenge with their business was filling their practice. Only 29% of all coaches surveyed reported that they earned more than $25,000 annually.”

Consistent with that here is an excerpt of an interview with Stephen Fairley that I attended a couple of years back:

You conducted some ground breaking research into the business practices of coaches nationwide. Could you tell us more about your research?

I believe this is the very first survey of its kind. In 2002, I surveyed over 300 coaches nationwide to discover what worked and what didn’t in terms of: sales & marketing practices, finances, packaging and pricing their services, partnering with other coaches, coach training and certification, and a number of other areas. Then I analyzed the data to find out what specific areas separate financially successful coaches from financially unsuccessful coaches. The results form the foundation of this book.

Can you share some of the most interesting findings?

Some of the statistics are quite startling:

· 73% of all coaches make less than $10,000 in their first year.

· Only 60% of all second-year coaches have managed to find 10 paying clients.

· Less than 11% of coaches make more than $50,000 by their second year in practice.

· Even though coaches charge an average of $160 an hour for their services, 53% of them make less than $20,000 a year.

· 30% of all coaches have never been able to find 10 paying clients.

· Only 9% of coaches are currently making more than $100,000 a year coaching.
Stephen Fairley, president of Today’s Leadership Coaching, is a Business Coach, a speaker, and the author of 3 books including “Getting Started in Personal and Executive Coaching.” He can be reached at Stephen@TodaysLeadership.com or 888-588-5891. You can order his book from Amazon.com or from his website: http://www.TodaysLeadership.com

Resources - Some New Offerings By Other Coaches I respect

2006-08-02T02:31:00.000-05:00

Check out Don Morris's cool new WordPress blog for his new weekly virtual study group for coaches seeking IAC/Coachville certification called "Extraordinary Journey" on Tuesday, August 15, 2006, at 8:00 PM ET. Charge: $0.00 (can't beat that!). To learn more and register (must be a Coachville member or join free), go here: http://tinyurl.com/ecuun

Here is how Don describes what he is doing:

I need to do some more things to make it the best, but I am learning! Here's the URL: http://www.extraordinaryjourney.com

I am not a mentor coach, but a peer (a "feellow traveler" on the road to masrful coaching). I want to submit my two coaching sessions for IAC certification in the next 3-6 months, too. Study groups provide a safe, supportive learning environment to practice and get feedback on he 15 proficiencies. And there are several AMAZING coaches already on board -- can you tell I'm excited? Plus, this study group is not just for Coachville SOC members. I am not one -- I just have the basic Coachville membership.

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Speaking of IAC/Coachville certification, the work of Julia Steward is absolutely excellent. Her material is great even if you aren't interestedin IAC certification. It is just solid coach training. Here is what she has to say:

Given that changes are coming in the world of certification, anyone who has been studying the 15 Certified Coach Proficiencies by Thomas Leonard, should consider getting certified in them by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the majority of coaches who apply for IAC certification are still not passing.
I’ve decided to share these Seven Coaching Masteries with you for FREE, so that they no longer are secrets, because I believe that if you’re like most coaches, you can coach at this level, once you learn how. This knowledge can make all the difference when it comes time for you to get certified. But it’s about much more than certification, it’s about masterful coaching, which has the power to transform lives!

I see this as the greatest service I can do for coaching, right now: freely sharing the Seven Secrets that distinguish truly great coaching from coaching that is merely good. AND it will help coaches get certified.

To begin receiving the FREE Seven Secrets of Certification eCourse, with over seven hours of MP3 recordings by email, go here: http://www.yourlifepart2.com/sevensecrets.htm

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Seems to me that there isn't a lot of quality on-going development for seasoned coaches. Here is on that might be of interest. Judy Feld is starting a New Mentor Coaching Group: Intermediate Level "Propel Your Practice" on Sept 11th. If you would like to receive a list of coaching topics and a registration form: E-mail to judy@coachnet.com with "Monday PYP Topics" in the subject line. Here is what she has to say.

I invite you to apply to join a new intermediate-level Mentor Coaching group that will begin on September 11th--at a very popular Monday-morning (in the U.S.) time. I have expanded the material on alliance-building and group coaching--all proven, practical methods and models! Feel free to pass this along to other coaches (or discussion groups or SIGs) who might be interested in and qualified for an intermediate-level practice-building coaching group with a highly experienced Master Certified Coach and Certified Mentor Coach. I am also the Training Director and on the faculty for the Coaching Program at the University of Texas at Dallas' School of Management.

Mentor Coaching Group: "Propel Your Practice"
Leader: Judy Feld, MCC, CMC, MS, MAS
Program Manager, UTD Executive and Professional Coaching Program ICF President, 2003
FEE: $175/month for two one-hour group sessions.
Group Size: 8 coaches.

Resource - Short Interviews with Coach Gurus

2006-07-31T02:53:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned Nick Askew’s Monday9am.tv before on the blog and highly recommend his little inspirational interviews each week. Last week he had a short interview with Sir John Whitmore that can be found now in the achieves at:
http://www.monday9am.tv/archive/play/12

Whitmore is a former champion professional race-car driver, a businessman, and a sports psychologist who excels today as a management consultant and advocate of "coaching" in business. He will be best known by coaches for his best seller on the subject entitled: "Coaching for Performance: Growing People, Performance and Purpose." He is rather famous for his: constant mantra of "What if? However, it is this week’s interview that I personally found more interesting.

Michael Neill promotes himself is one of the world's leading life coaches, an established broadcaster, an actor, an author, a media commentator, a licensed Master Trainer of NLP. I didn’t know who he was but I certainly enjoyed his views and he definitely looks at issues from a “coach approach”.

Enjoy: http://www.monday9am.tv/fotw/play

Article: HR.com interview with Catherine Nomura

2006-07-28T03:08:00.000-05:00

Catherine Nomura is an expert on entrepreneurship and co-author of the recently published book, “The Laws of Lifetime Growth.” She joined the Strategic Coach in 1998. In addition to her work with the Strategic Coach, she advises purpose-driven entrepreneurs; helping them turn their growing visions into realities. She is also the co-author of “Unique Ability - Creating The Life You Want,” published in 2003.

Here is a list of 10 laws, but remember you do need a free membership to read it.

Law #1 is - Always make your future bigger than your past.
Law #2 is - Always Make Your Learning Greater Than Your Experience.
Law #3 is - Always Make Your Contribution Bigger Than Your Reward.
Law #4 is - always make your performance greater than your applause.
Law #5 is- always make your gratitude greater than your success.
Law #6 is - always make your enjoyment greater than your effort.
Law #7 is - always makes your cooperation greater than your status.
Law #8 is - Always make your confidence greater than your comfort.
Law #9 is - always make your purpose greater than your money.
Law #10 is - Always make your questions bigger than your answers.

Resources - Recent Books Pubished on Coaching

2006-07-20T07:17:00.000-05:00

The following are brief excerpts from Soundview Executive Book Summaries - a great resource that I have subscribed to for over 15 years. There greatest value is all the other subjects that are covered and make great resources for your cients.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COACHED TO LEAD by Susan Battley
Jossey-Bass © 2006, 250 pages, $24.95 (ISBN 0-7879-8144-3).

In Coached to Lead, Battley outlines the five-step coaching model that she has used for 20 years to design hundreds of high-performance pro- grams for people, groups and organizations.

Step 1: Define. Battley asks her clients, “What will success look like for you?” The answers uncover specific objectives and metrics.

Step 2: Assess. Analyze your business or professional situation. Gather valid, timely and pertinent information you can use when developing coaching plans and activities.

Step 3. Plan. Develop your custom action plan. Establish accountabilities and create a specific to-do list. Battley explains that a major goal might need to be broken down into several component goals.

Step 4. Act. In this phase of execution, certain activities and tasks are accomplished. A coach observes and facilitates progress.

Step 5. Review. Finally, you evaluate coaching results and determine whether goals were attained. Battley explains that a review component can include recommendations for a follow-up strategy so coaching accomplishments are fully realized.

In addition, Battley offers a dozen scenarios that represent sensitive coaching situations as well as the easiest ways to resolve them. Battley completes her tour of executive coaching success by telling those who want to sponsor coaching for others how they can raise
the subject and enhance a person’s coaching experience.

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POWER MENTORING by Ellen Ensher and Susan Murphy
Jossey-Bass © 2005, 355 pages, $27.95 (ISBN 0-7879-7952-X).

In an effort to help professionals and managers make the most of their careers, management professor Ellen A. Ensher and psychology professor Susan Elaine Murphy have interviewed 50 of America’s most successful mentors and protégés to discover the secrets of great mentoring relationships.

The authors write that there are four differences between their power mentoring approach and traditional mentoring. Power mentoring differs in who initiates the relationship (it is often initiated by the protégé), in the extensive role of tests and challenges, in the prevalence of true reciprocity (both mentor and protégé benefit), and in its generative focus (giving back to the next generation occurs throughout the power mentor’s career).

Roberta Got Her MCC!

2006-07-14T09:31:00.000-05:00

I have just been awarded my MCC (Master Certified Coach) from the International Coaching Federation. In CELEBRATION, I am giving away an Influencing Style Clock Profile. Here is the link but please do NOT give it to anyone else. This is the PERFECT companion to my flag ship product The Platinum Rule as it is using similar continuums.

Send a blank email NOW to: AssessmentsNow@aweber.com

This will ask you to consider opting into my Assessments eZine,which I hope you will do BUT it will also contain the direct link to take the Influencing Profile - no strings. This offer is available ONLY until July 31st, 2006 but the other download will continue.

(Check your inbox for the link to the profile and I hope you will click on the confirmation link as well. If you do,, please add AssessmentsNow@aweber.com to your address book or whitelist to be absolutely certain you receive the download link. If you don't receive the confirmation email with download link within 5 minutes of registering, please check your SPAM box. After doing so, the download location for the complimentary Coaching Styles Profile will be sent to you through email.)

Thanks,

Roberta, MBA, MCC

Coach approach to "Quiet Leadership"

2006-07-14T05:55:00.000-05:00

Here is a radio interview with David Rock, author of the recently published "Quiet Leadership : Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work" The author also provides a lot of discussion around coaching and the process. Check it out.

Rock provides an overview to his six steps:

"Think About Thinking" (let people think things through without telling them what to do, while remaining "solutions-focused")
"Listen for Potential" (be a sounding board for employees)
"Speak with Intent" (clarify and streamline conversation)
"Dance Toward Insight" (communicate in ways that promote other people's insights)
"CREATE New Thinking" (which stands for Current Reality, Explore Alternatives and Tap Their Energy, an acronym about "helping people turn their insights into habits")
"Follow Up" to ensure ongoing improved performance.

Worth a quick listen but while interesting there isn't anything terribly new. I suspect Rock would agree but he has put a new packaging and language on basic concepts.

Resources and Articles - Center for Creative Leadership

2006-07-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) sure has spent a lot of energy lately on coaching (as it relates to leadership - I suppose). I figure they recognize a hot topic (floavour of the month) when they see it. Do I sound a little skeptical - well I have had my disagreements with CCL in the past. That said, they put out some great material based on solid research - so who am I to complaint. Here is info on their latest issue.

A Deeper Look at Coaching: Meeting Your Challenges

A recent online poll conducted by CCL revealed some of the challenges leaders face in playing the role of coach to their direct reports and peers. Top on the list was "juggling the coaching role with other roles as a manager," "cultivating candor, trust and dialogue with the coachee" and "dealing with resistance to my feedback." This issue of Leading Effectively follows up on these and other concerns.

Tools and Tricks - Public Speaking

2006-07-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

When speaking publicly, imagine that your audience is hearing impaired. It will force you to slow down, speak up, and enunciate clearly.

Career Coaching Competencies Survey

2006-06-21T15:02:00.000-05:00

Here is an email that came across my desk today that might be of interest to you:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello,

My name is John-Paul Hatala and I am presently conducting a study looking at Career Coaching Competencies. I was hoping that you would volunteer to fill out a survey which looks at specific career coaching skills and abilities. The study is an attempt to empirically validate a list of skills and abilities for career coaches. Once the surveys have been tabulated, the items will be statistically placed into groupings at which point the competencies will be labeled.

If you leave your email address at the survey site, you will be provided with a final report as well as an assessment on your coaching skills. In addition, you will be able to compare your ratings with other coaches around the world.

To access the survey, please go to http://www.careerscale.com

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanking you in advance.

John-Paul Hatala Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Human Resource and Leadership Development

Louisiana State University

111 Old Forestry Bldg.

Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

225-578-1597

jphatala@lsu.edu

Article: What is Emotional Intelligence?

2006-06-15T03:12:00.000-05:00

Whether you like assessments or not - they are an important issue for us as coaches. Besides the concern around using assessments, what kind becomes even more burdensome. This whole area of Emotional Intelligence continues to fascinate and irritate many - including me. As "the assessment expert" for coaches, I have had difficulty recommending various tools when I get requests. I have finally decided to adopt the Genos - both for its rigor and because of my support of the work that Joseph Liberti does with EQatWor k. Meanwhile, I continue to be disappointed in some of the instruments on the market and think that many coaches are not getting the information that they need to make an informed decision.

Here is a great article on the whole topic of Emotional Intelligence that I liked so much that I asked Kathleen if I could post the whole article on my AssessmentsNow Blog. Please, do visit her site if you enjoy the material.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

A free feature to print off and read written by Life Coach Kathleen Ruth Hadikin.

Announcement: Canadian ICF Coaches

2006-06-09T04:51:00.000-05:00

Dear Canadian ICF Members,

Coaches Canada would like to announce that nominations are now being accepted for The 2007 Canadian Coach of the Year Award. This award is open to all ICF coaches in Canada, according to the eligibility guidelines outlined in the nomination package. Nominations are accepted from both nominators (on behalf of the nominee) and by nominees themselves (self-nomination). The nomination package is available for download (French version will be available by June 30th) on the Coaches Canada website, www.coachescanada.com . The deadline for submission is September 15^th.

This is the second year of the Award, which is brought to you by Coaches Canada. The winner for 2006, announced at last year's ICF conference, is Michael Bungay Stanier. Congratulations once again to Michael! Coaches Canada is pleased to support such a unique and worthwhile recognition of coaches in Canada and we need your support to continue doing so. Please consider joining Coaches Canada!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers on the Canadian Coach of the Year Award Committee, with special mention to Jean-Pierre Bekier for stepping in at the 11-hour hour to help with French translation. Without all of you, this award would not be possible.

Bring on those nominations!

Warm regards,

Chers Membres canadiens de ICF,

Coaches Canada vous annonce que les nominations sont maintenant acceptées pour 2007. Cette récompense est ouverte à tous les coachs membre d'ICF au Canada, selon les indications d'éligibilité précisées dans le formulaire de nomination. Une personne peut présenter la nomination d'un coach ou c'est le coach lui-même qui peut présenter sa propre nomination. Le formulaire de nomination est disponible pour le chargement (la version française sera disponible vers le 20 juin) sur notre site Web : www.coachescanada.com. La date limite pour la soumission des candidatures est le : 15 septembre.

C'est la deuxième année que cette récompense est offerte par Coaches Canada. Le vainqueur pour 2006, annoncé à la conférence de ICF de l'année dernière, fut Michael Bungay Stanier. Avec toutes nos félicitations à Michael ! De façon à soutenir une telle reconnaissance unique et de valeur pour le coaching au Canada, Coaches Canada à besoin de votre soutien pour continuer à agir dans ce sens alors s'il vous plaît, rejoignez Coaches Canada !

Nous aimerions saisir cette occasion pour remercier tous les volontaires du comité de « La récompense du coach Canadien de l'année » avec la mention spéciale à Jean-Pierre Bekier pour son aide dans la traduction française. Sans vous tous, cette récompense ne serait pas possible.

Présentez vos nominations !

Sincères salutations

Sue McKee, B.Sc., MBA, CPCC - Nomination Committee Chair
sue@leaders-excelling.com
416-238-7966
on behalf of the Canadian Coach of the Year Award Committee:

Sheila Kelly, BA, CPCC - Committee Chair
Colin Holbrow, BA, MNRM, CPCC - ICF Liaison
Jamie Pritchard, BA - Selection Committee Chair
Michael Bungay Stanier, BA, LLB, M.Phil, CPCC - 2006 Canadian Coach of the Year
Sue Edwards, BA, CHRP, ACC - Member at Large

Visit us at www.coachescanada.com

Article Christian Science Monitor: Haven't scored the good life yet? Hire a coach!

2006-06-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

By Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor from the June 05, 2006 edition.

Thanks to Stephanie West Allen for this article as posted in NewCoachConnection Yahoo Group.

Article New York Times: Skilled Traveler? Good Coach

2006-06-07T02:22:00.000-05:00

By MICHAEL T. LUONGO

Published: June 6, 2006

It is wonderful to read this article about a special niche in coaching: "travelling" and see a couple of names of my colleagues - Donna Karlan from my "home town" of Ottawa and a great coach - Ernest F. Oriente. Here is an excerpt.

More business travelers appear to be catching the coaching bug.
Natalie Tucker Miller, president of the International Association of Coaches, said the group's membership had been growing. And while she does not have numbers specifically on travel coaches, she says she believes their numbers are increasing. "All kinds of specific needs for coaching are popping up, travel being one of the crucial areas," she said. "When people are away from their normal routine, it can invite all kinds of unexpected scenarios."

Article from TrainingZONE.co.uk: The Myths of Coaching

2006-06-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

Written by Dave Marchant, Developing People Ltd.

I loved this article. It is very well presented and I while don't agree 100 percent I think it is balanced. You will have to regiser for a free account but I think you will find it worthwhile. Here are just a couple provocative "myths" and then the author's perspective on it from his coaching experience with people from various organisations in the UK & Europe:

You need to be an expert . . .
You need to have a formal coaching qualification . . .
You should not coach a manager and someone reporting to them . . .
You cannot coach someone in their office . . .
You shouldn’t coach peers from the same team . . .
You cannot listen attentively and take notes at the same time . . .

Resource: "Coachletter" from Coaching Interactive (Israel)

2006-06-02T07:52:00.000-05:00

I continue to be amazed at all of the coach resources that are "out there" and not just in America or Britain. As part of the activities at Coaching Interactive, they have decided to publish a monthly magazine Coachletter. I think that the articles and the authors are top notch.

Fast Company Article: Coaching: The Fad that Won’t Go Away

2006-06-01T03:46:00.000-05:00

by Jim Bolt

Five suggestions for getting the most out of a coach.

I ended my last column noting that we would examine three very popular leadership development methods (Action Learning, Coaching, and Leader-Led Learning) in more depth. So let’s start with executive coaching, which is now a billion-dollar industry experiencing explosive growth. Frankly, it wasn’t very long ago that having coach was sort of a dirty little secret -- you kept it to yourself.

Read the rest by clicking here. There are some very interesting statistics from a study that they conducted.

However, the vast majority of our respondents indicated “leader development” to be the primary reason coaches were engaged. The biggest change is from coaching being used as “fix it tool” for leaders with problems, to helping successful leaders get even better. In many firms, having a coach is seen as a badge of honor. And we found that coaching now reaches into the highest levels: 43% of CEOs and 71% of the senior executive team had worked with a coach. And here's the bottom-line: 63% of organizations say they plan to increase their use of coaching over the next five years. Most telling, 92% of leaders being coached say they plan to use a coach again.

Resource Tool: We Organize U Ezine

2006-06-01T03:37:00.000-05:00

As coaches besides stress and balance, one of the things that comes up as an issue for clients (especially in Life Coaching) is around clutter. Helen Buttigieg has a great We Organize U Ezine entitled: Monthly Tips on Organizing Your Home, Your Office & Your Life

Here is just one idea from this month'e edition that has nothing to do with work, but I liked it:

Picture this.

Before putting framed artwork in storage, take a picture of it. Then wrap it in kraft paper and tape the photo to the front so you can easily see what's inside. Use acid-free tissue paper under the kraft paper for valuable pieces. Stack the frames on their side (not flat) and store in a safe corner.

(c) Copyright 2006 by Hellen Buttigieg, We Organize U. Reprinted with permission from the We Organize U Newsletter. Visit http://www.weorganizeu.com

Request your free subscription at http://www.weorganizeu.com or send a blank email to: mailto:subscribe-956605567@ezinedirector.net

Article: Can business coaches learn from sports coaches?

2006-05-31T07:35:00.000-05:00

by Annalisa Gigante

It’s been fascinating to witness the rise and explosion of the Business and Life Coaching industry over the past few years, well actually both fascinating and perplexing! In fact, what is a coach? It is certainly a term borrowed from the world of sports, but is the same?

I have seen many acquaintances from all different backgrounds: entrepreneurs, consultants, recruiters, communication experts, sales people and psychologists discover and plunge into this new profession and grow successful businesses.

So begins a recent article in this month's Euopean's Professional Network. While an interesting article, I find the comparision chart (at the bottom of the page) between what a Business Coach does versus a Sports Coach quite disturbing. It certainly doesn't represent my way of coaching. See what you think and please comment.

Article: Training/Coaching article from ASTD

2006-05-31T07:27:00.000-05:00

T+D Magazine of American Society of Training And Development profiles Nancy Hemmenway, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, AMB Property Corporation, San Francisco, California

I don't believe in sending people to school. I believe in on-the-job training that you can apply that day," says Nancy Hemmenway, senior vice president for HR and administration at AMB Property Corporation in San Francisco. . .

Her preferred method for honing talent within AMB is internally developed programs with a strong coaching component. "In the years that I've been involved in learning and development, I've found that learning opportunities combined with coaching make a huge difference," she says.

How so? "Coaching helps people make the transition between the learning and work environments. It helps them connect the dots and find real-time applications for the learning."

Hemmenway admits that coaching can be an intimidating-and sometimes intense-experience. She knows how people feel when they're asked to enter a new coaching relationship, saying that the first time she was coached, "I was scared to death."

Why do people find coaching frightening? . . .

Click here for extended part of article.

Thanks to Terry A. Maugeri for this article as posted in Coachtalk-1.

Tools and Tricks: How to Remember Names

2006-05-31T03:27:00.000-05:00

The ability to remember the names of people you meet will always serve you well in social situations. As a coach or trainer it is a critical skill for success. I have always prided myself on my ability to remember up to 40 names in half a day while training. But ask me the name of someone that I just met and I am often useless.

This article not only gives you the five steps (appreviated below) but also some extra tips.

	Steps:
1.	Pay attention.

2.	Write down the new name.

3.	Ask how to spell a difficult name.

4.	Connect a name to a common word.

5.	Make a connection .

Resources: International Journal of Coaching in Organizations (great articles)

2006-05-29T02:42:00.000-05:00

How did I not know about this before? International Journal of Coaching in Organizations has been around for over four years and publishes a journal four times a year. I had the opportunity of sitting down at the Euorpean ICF Conference and talking with one of the foungers: John B. Lazar. I was surprised how many members of the Editorial Board that I know. We all need to be promoting these kind of resources.

Their mission?
International Journal of Coaching in Organizations promotes the sharing of wisdom, insights, theories, models and practices among professional coaches.

You will find three sample articles on the site which will give you a clear idea about the calibre of both the writers and the subjects. This is one journal that subscribing to should be on your list. There appears to be a discount for ICF, ISPI and ICCO members.

Great Article: Ungagged - Executives on Executive Coaching

2006-05-28T10:40:00.000-05:00

by Christine Turner

Imagine, writes this author, "reading a report about an Olympic training program that omits the athletes' experiences." As implausible as it seems, that omission, or failing, compromises much of the commentary on executive coaching. What the coach has to say can be valuable, but the commentary can't be all that meaningful unless comments by the players -- executives -- are included. This author went directly to executives, who for the first time, voiced their opinions on the value and utility of executive coaching.

Ivy Business School is my alma mater and I recommend subscribing to their journal.

Watch out - the 'virtual coach' is on its way!

2006-05-26T04:42:00.000-05:00

As reported in NewScientist.com, researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands are developing an 'anti smoking chatbot' - a female virtual coach that will help smokers trying to quit by answering their questions and 'listening' to them with appropriate facial expressions and voice tones. They plan to develop more 'virtual coaches' for other user groups.

Shrouded in the anonymity provided by the internet, smokers can log on to a website and type questions and confessions into a chat box. The coach is programmed to respond with the same answers and facial expressions that Stivoro's human counsellors use.

Virtual coaches have a good track record. Frequent conversations with the chatbot Laura, the brainchild of Timothy Bickmore at Northeastern University in Boston, helped to persuade a group of elderly people to exercise more (New Scientist, 3 December 2005, p 42).

Thanks to for Andy Smith for this article as he posted in the Eurocoach-list.

Tool Trick: Erase permanent marker from your dry erase board

2006-05-26T02:17:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about getting more ink out of your markers. Well, this seems to be an even more important item.

WikiHow has a simple method for removing permanent marker from dry erase boards:

Get the board you want the stuff off.
Get a dry erase marker (yes, we will make marks to take marks) and a dry eraser.
Draw over what you want to erase (make sure you draw slowly to fill it in better).
Erase.
Done!

There is some more ideas and suggestions if it doesn't work, but I have tried this method very successfully.

Editorial: How generous are coaches?

2006-05-24T04:59:00.000-05:00

We skirt this issue all the time in some of other questions such as:

Why are different coaching schools often trashing one another (subtle as it may be)?
Why does it seem that ÂsuccessfulÂ coaches are making their money "off the backs" of newer coaches?
Why do we tend to place status on what we "label" ourselves? Executive Coach is better than Business Coach. Life Coach is better than Spiritual Coach.
Why do we love to take pot shots at well known figures in the coaching community?

In 2000, I attended my first major coaching conference where I had the opportunity to talk with a reasonable well known coach, author and Teleclass leader. I remember mentioning that so far one of the things that I liked about the coaching community was how generous coaches were. While she seemed not to react, smiled and continued the conversation, I noticed in her body language a fleeting gesture that suggested she did not share this view. This woman is no longer is in the coaching profession. While I have not become as jaded, I have revised my view.

I have made some of the most amazing connections with other coaches and developed a wonderful community. I hope and strive to model sharing, but I am discerning. I have discovered that like other professions, there are charlatans and individuals who are not well suited to this business. The most generous I can be is that perhaps their intentions are good but they are too busy. Fortunately "the takers" are few and I can pretty much spot them right away. I am not surprised anymore when I feel that someone is taking advantage of me but I am still disappointed. There are also times when I have been overly cautious, only to discover that someone was very generous to me when I needed some assistance. This has renewed my desire to give people the benefit of the doubt more often.

While the "pay it forward" concept seems a bit trite, I do believe that what you give out will come back fourfold and you never know where it will come from. I am far from the only person who ascribes to this philosophy but putting it into practice is another story. You would be quite surprised how many of my mentee coaches have told me that one of the things that they got the most out of coaching with me is a change in this limiting belief: The pie is only so big and what someone else's gets, you can't have. (My metaphor). I really and truly believe that the world really needs what good coaches have to offer and there is SO MUCH work out there. Finding it is harder but if we worked together more collectively, I think we would all be amazed at the results.

I have just returned from the European ICF Conference, where I saw both the "puffing up" approach as well as a genuine desire to share. Last night I attended our local Suisse Romande ICF Chapter where one of our members Laurence Treille did an abbreviated version of her presentation to the ICF Conference on "Teaming up with other coaches: The value of collaboration." The key seems to be whether we have a scarcity model operating or an abundance one.

Here is what I have decided. I choose to remain optomistic. Coaches are human and no better or worse or more evolved than the rest of the human race, even if we like to believe we are.

DASH coach reports infomercial flopped; says no coaches received referrals

2006-05-23T07:01:00.000-05:00

Here is an important follow-up by Ken Winston.

Following is a copy of an email I just sent to 40-some coaches who were recruited by DASH to serve what was anticipated to be a flood of coaching clients once Mercury Media began airing an infomercial featuring DASH founder Eric Aronson.

According to one source, the informerical flopped and not one of the 100-plus coaches recruited received a client referral from DASH. (Coaches were required to pay $495 to join the referral system.)

Ken was the was the founding editor of an online news magazine called Coaching Insider. He reported on DASH in Coaching Insider in early 2005. See:

http://www.coachinginsider.com/ci/index.php/issue/2005-03-23/

http://www.coachinginsider.com/ci/index.php/issue/2005-04-12/

For those of you on the list that weren't here for the original torrent of emails from the Dash folks - here's the chronology: Example of original emails:- Reaction to their spammy email tactics on this list:

Someone joins the COACHTALK-L list, fluffs up the company and then promptly leaves:

Stories in /Coaching Insider/:

- http://www.coachinginsider.com/ci/index.php/issue/story/coaching_infomercial/

- http://www.coachinginsider.com/ci/index.php/issue/story/dash_3/

Analysis from Coach Outlaws -http://coachoutlaws.blogspot.com/2005/03/dash-debacle.html

- Ritual flogging on the list (must be listmember to view)

My thanks to Andy Wibbels for this update. Check out his new bestseller: http://GOblogwild.com/

Resources: WABC, ICF and ROI

2006-05-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

While I was attending the European ICF Conference last week in Brussels, the latest edition of WABC Newsletter came out. I strongly encourage you to check it out and not just because I am a regular writer for them. This month, they really do have some excellent articles.

A big topic at the ICF Conference, is ROI. You might find this article on the subject useful: The ROI of Business Coaching Revisited by Bronwyn Bowery-Ireland.

Numerous models are available to measure the ROI of business coaching. Some are adaptations of Donald Kirkpatrick's or Jack Phillips', while others afford new and refreshing methods of evaluating the coaching process. This column examines Mel Leedham's Coaching Scorecard, which is based on the way purchasers measure the effectiveness of external business coaches.

If you are looking for back issues try here.

Kudo’s to the Belgium Chapter and organizers of the European ICF event. While there is always something one could complain about, they did a great job readjusting from the expected 450 participants to over 600. What a wonderful success. I was particularly impressed with the key note speakers.

Article: For the Families of the Dying, Coaching as the Hours Wane

2006-05-22T06:46:00.000-05:00

By JANE GROSS
Inspired by research on the end of life, hospices are broadening their range of
therapeutic services.

Thanks to Stephanie West Allen for this reference.

Article: Finally, hard facts that prove coaching works!

2006-05-17T08:27:00.000-05:00

by Martin Down from Issue 4 Newsletter of the Hay Group

"But, while it’s clear that coaching can have a measurable impact on performance in the world of sport, how can you prove a similar impact in the world of work? What measures can be used?"

The article suggests 3 ways in which your investment can be achieved:
1) Measuring improvements at individual, team or organisational level
2) Measuring the impact of leadership
3) Measure the ROI

They also quote - as everyone does - the now dated (my opinion) -- The Manchester Review 2001 Volume 6 Number 1.

“The Onion” Spoofs Life Coaching

2006-05-16T07:23:00.000-05:00

Thanks to OnCoaching for this one:

Life Coach Has Losing Record

May 3, 2006 | Issue 42•18 | Onion Sports

Tool Trick: getting more mileage out of markers

2006-05-16T07:13:00.000-05:00

If your magic marker is running dry, tape a string to the bottom of it and spin it over your head in a big circle. A few times around will generate enough centrifugal force to push any remaining ink to the tip.

Warning: There is usually a lot more ink left in a "dry" marker, so make sure the lid is on security before you start and remove it carefully when you are finished.

Two interesting events despite the hype

2006-05-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

I thought that the days of advertising that “you could make six figures coaching from home almost immediately” were over, but I guess that I am wrong. I continue to see various programs suggesting more than they can possible deliver. I realize that part of this is necessary for the “selling process” but there has to be an ethical line that we don’t cross. There are two up-coming events where one walks the line successfully while the other does not.

Here is the trick that I know from trying to write copy . . . you have to appeal to “something” in order to increase the likely hood of getting someone to respond and then to buy. What is that “something”?

People respond for one of three reasons . . .

they are in pain and need a quick solution
they see the opportunity of making money (saving money doesn't work half as well) - the issue of time falls into points one and two
they are passionate about the particular product or service being offered

They buy for one of three reasons . . .

it is a limited offer (only so many or for so long a time)
it is something no one else has (or only a few) or know about
it is something they want now (passion or pain)

I think that the announcement of the next ACCPOW's Tele-Summit on Masterful Coaching does a nice job of balancing these trade-offs while remaining in integrity. It starts a little questionably with: “Attention Coaches Who Want to Quickly Double or Triple Your Fees, Get A Flood of Client Referrals, and Become The Leading Coach In Your Field...” However, the following statistics and claims are realistic. They also point out:

Out of hundreds of coaches I have consulted, interviewed and collaborated with, I have NOT met a single coach who achieved a high level of success without specializing.

In fact, research shows that coaches who do not specialize earn 2-5 times less than those who do.

For example, a life coach who works with many different types of clients helping them reach all kinds of different goals might earn between $55-$125 an hour.

At the same time, a coach who specializes in a certain area of life or business typically earns almost twice as much - $100-$250 an hour... and sometimes, depending on their level of expertise and target audience, even more!

I encourage you to checkout this program and the names involved. This looks like good value for the money.

-------------------------------------------------------

What: Coaching Mastery Telesummit

When: May 22-25, 2006

Where: Over a telephone bridgeline

Hosted by: Josephine Romano, Green Mountain Life Coach Sponsored by: ACCPOW

Topics: Top 9 coaching niches

--------------------------------------------------------

iPEC Coaching on the other hand, does not make the same grade. The Core Energy Seminar that they are offering appears to be one of good value but I have serious problems with the following part of their advertising: “You may even discover a brand new career in life, small business or executive coaching where you can earn $100,000, $250,000 or more doing something you’re passionate about and invigorates you instead of draining you.” This is far from an oversight as they later offer: Special Report: How to Make $250k as a Professional Coach. (Value $39) along wit the promise: "This event will reveal the secrets that will make this happen for you and offer you ways to begin to reveal these secrets to others."

Becoming a masterful coach, heck becoming a decent coach, demands effort, self awareness, life long learning and practice.

Tell me what you think. Post a comment.

Inspiration: Lessons From Water

2006-05-12T03:31:00.000-05:00

While I think of it, I would like to acknowledge Ellen Britt for what she brings to coaching from her hosting of the ICF Wellness SIG to her regular contributuions on various list serves. I would like to share her flash movie with you: Lessons From Water

Training: Wellness Coaching Teleclass with Cheryl Richardson

2006-05-12T03:22:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Ellen Britt of The Coaching Zone Network. They had a tremendous turnout for Cheryl's Richardson's talk to the International Coach Federation's Wellness SIG yesterday. This isn’t a surprise to me since this is a hot topic and Cheryl is a hot guest. Even I, who has no interest in Wellness, (dare I admit it?) nor one who like you has limited time, decided that this was well worth it.

Click here for the MP3 It will only be up for a short time.

The Helix Institute™ announces the opening of the School of Wellness Coaching, offering a proprietary curriculum for Certification as a Helix Institute Wellness Coach. The next Stress Resiliency Wellness Coaching (SRWC) Foundations class starts June 5th. For more information and to enroll please click on SRWC info.

The Big Picture: Richard Boyatzis, on Competencies and Values

2006-05-11T07:16:00.000-05:00

Richard Boyatzis is a professor in the Department of Organizational Behavior and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University and a Visiting Professor in Human Resources at ESADE in Barcelona. He is the author of more than 125 articles on behavior change, leadership, competencies and emotional intelligence.

Here is one question that was asked in this webinar from HR.com:

Interviewer: . . . obviously technology has had a big impact on that ability. Do you have any thoughts on the best ways to use technology as a tool to utilize competencies?

Boyatzis: Well, my view of it right now is a little bit of render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's, which means there are some things that computer programs and software systems are good for doing, like keeping track of things, posting jobs, giving a lot more access across a company to people being able to consider different job openings and career paths. When it comes to something like a person getting feedback, I think a computer is pretty cold, because it is alexithymic. It has no emotion. It takes the emotion out of communication. And, that is one of the criticisms about email versus telephone or face-to-face conversations. That is okay if you just want the facts, however, seldom when it involves us do we just want the facts. We want a little bit of image; well, is that good or is that bad? Are you saying I just did well or I didn’t do so well?

I think that computers can be marvelous for helping keep track of things, when it comes to feedback, when it comes to development; nothing will replace human-to-human contact because you can’t. Now, you can use technology to have to spend less hours sitting together. So, if you include in technology other things, like the telephone, I think that I have seen people take coaching, for example, to a new height, by being able to use a telephone in between times they are face to face, being able to use online video conferencing in between times you are face to face. I have seen people do that with one on one as well as team coaching quite successfully. I think that holds a lot of promise. Knowing the exact ratio of how much is face to face versus how much you let part of it be imparted through electrons, I do not know. But, I do know that the push to get all the assessments filled out and then go through this computer program to help them figure out what it is, is kind of like looking up your horoscope in a newspaper with about the same constructive impact. I think there are an awful lot of people chasing a magic pill that is right now wasting a bit of time. (italics mine)

To access the full article (available only for the next week or so) you will have to open a free account at HR.com I reccomend this site as a great resource for anyone interested in a broader more systemic view of coaching.

Inspiration: Monday 9 am videos

2006-05-10T01:03:00.000-05:00

This site is something that I came across this from a recommendation from another coach late last year and I have found these Monday Morning vignettes to be quite inspiring.

The Coaching Forums launches it's 1st Podcast!

2006-05-08T08:54:00.000-05:00

This is a very timely issue: Coach Supervision and I am glad to see this as the kick off topic for The Coaching Forums' first podcast. It features an interview with this month's competition sponsor, Edna Murdoch from The Coaching Supervision Academy. Edna talks passioniately about coaching supervision and it's role within the profession.

Speaking of the competition, here are the details.

Competition:
What kind of clients/client situations take us to the edge of our comfort zone?
This month's competition is sponsored by Edna Murdoch of The Coaching Supervision Academy, and the prize is 2 coaching supervision sessions worth £200 with Edna herself. To win enter the discussion on "What kind of clients/client situations take us to the edge of our comfort zone?" The closing date is 31st May and the competition will be judged by Edna, good luck! Discuss here to enter and win.

Editorial by Roberta:
I am glad to see all the effort Jules Wright has been putting into this effort and I am looking forward to meeting her in person next week at the ICF Conference in Brussels. It seems ironic (or predictive) that I had set up teleclasses called The Coaches Forum in the Spring of 2001. This was evolved into the Coaching Debates (currently on hiatus but soon to be revived) in 2004. We had very similar debates as the ones in The Coaching Forums, so it is good to know that the dialogue continues.

Useful Tools for Coaches: Measuring Tape Tape

2006-05-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

While this blog is to highlight the best IN coaching, I am also going to be including things and items and ideas the are the best FOR coaches.

Here is an item that as a facilitator and trainer I was excited to discover: Post-It Tape! This yellow and black measuring tape is used in the theatre and film industry to block off sets and stages. We have found many additional uses for it and appreciate its striking graphic quality. 1/2" x 50 yards Price $8.00 each.

How Best to Use this Site

2006-05-01T07:26:00.000-05:00

Blogger is a great free blog system but not without its limitations. There is no easy way to create and find categories. Not to worry. If you know the key words to search on, you can go to the top of this page, write in the word, and search "this blog".

I have set up a way for you to find important items using the following key words in the Title:

Article
Debate (different views on issues from Roberta and Nancy)
The Big Picture (looking at coaching from a systemic or OD perspective)
Inspiration (things that may motivate you or be timely for your clients)
Editorial (sometimes I just want to pontificate)
Events (anything that I think you might want to know that is coming up)
Resources (places that might help you grow your business)
Tools (just stuff I like that may be technical or just a great "trick" of the trade)
Training (this is for your personal development and includes schools, workshops or teleclasses)

Also, you will find a list of "Techie Resources" that I like by scrolling down to the bottom left column - so you can see how it works.

Promoting other Coaches and Their Blogs

2006-04-29T01:18:00.000-05:00

I recently posted on a listserve a few blogs by coaches that I am aware of that are related to coaching in general. Of course, I missed many and some of you have pointed this out to me. I will be collecting more over the next week and posting them here.

Also, as I come across items related to coaching to post here, I want to give credit to who let me know about the item. So make a comment or send then to me and I will be sure to post it along with your blog or web site.

Thanks Roberta

Do you Need a Coach? Inc. Article

2006-04-29T01:15:00.000-05:00

From: Inc. Magazine, April 2006 Page: 86
By: Alison Stein Wellner

More entrepreneurs are turning to business coaches for that extra edge. Here's how to find the right coach--and what you can expect once you do. this article is more aobut coaches as entrepreneurs thatn about the coaching industry and it does an excellent job as such. There are also two tip boxes (Get the Right Coach and What Kind of Coach Do You Need?) that provide some guidance.

Thanks for this information goes to: Elizabeth Tull
http://www.agapelegacycoach.com/

Coaching Innovation to Close May 1st

2006-04-28T02:53:00.000-05:00

What is happening in the Coaching World these days? Things seem to come and go - often with some sort of mysterious circumstances.

As reported by Pat Gundy in COACHTALK-L automatic digest system:
"I don't know if there will be some official announcement from Coaching Innovation's owners on May 1, or if that's just when some part of it shuts down. "

Pat suggests that if you're want to request a refund from Coaching Innovation of your mycoachinghome.com membership fee, email David Goldsmith at dgoldsmith@thegoldsmithgroup.com with your request. He is one of the owners.

Susan Austin, the original face behind the organization, now has no connection to Coaching Innovation. Speaking of faces, one of the great ideas that they had was the "Faces of Coaching" Check it out before it disappears and see if you recognize your colleagues . . . then scroll over to see the name.

The Coaching Innovation is not to be mistaken with The Coaching Insider Newsletter, which also seems to be on hiatus these days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The good news is that there are other newsletters and lists out there that help to keep us informed on coaching. Many have been mentioned here before in a previous post but I want to give a nod to the following neutral organizations:

Peer Resources
Association for Coaching Excellence (Julia and Donna are working hard on this but really need to get the web site out more in their correspondence AND promote an easier way to sign up for the newsletter.)
COACHTALK-L automatic digest system
The New Coach Connection
EuroCoachList

Others you might wish to consider that have newsletters and information about their own services that I subscribe to are: