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The limitless possibilities of coaching |
One of the many things I love about coaching is that it’s about so much more than just one hour long, one to one sessions with a client. Coaching skills can be used in so many different ways: group coaching, career coaching, business coaching, youth coaching, spiritual coaching. And coaching techniques can also be combined with a number of other disciplines to create extended breakthrough sessions, seminars, workshops, and retreats. Coaching themes can also be explored in public speaking events, such as The Authentic Happiness Summit, where a group of Smart School coaches are getting together to provide a full day event, with each coach sharing their take on what authentic happiness means to them and how to achieve it. There are endless ways that coaching skills can be used in practice.
From the very beginning of my coaching journey, I knew that I wanted to organise workshops and retreats in addition to doing one to one work with clients. I started out by planning my coaching goals for the year, which included first getting a full schedule of one to one clients, then later working my way toward doing my first workshop by the end of this year, finally starting out 2012 with my first retreat early on in the year. I was so clear on this being the journey: first working with one to one clients, then moving on to bigger group events, that it didn’t occur to me for many months that it could actually work the other way around as well.
It was about halfway through a full day event on public speaking when I had a breakthrough moment and I realised I could actually mix things up. I finally understood that I could work on a number of different projects at the same time: seeking one to one clients, and organising workshops and other events. This more flexible approach has led me to an autumn schedule packed with events: I’m speaking at The Authentic Happiness Summit in September, I have a one day workshop and two weekend workshops planned for the month of October. I’m also planning a full retreat for early February 2012.
One of the great things about having trained at The Smart School is that I’ve got a full community of coaches to work with: like minded people I can bounce ideas off, receive assistance through coaching sessions, and even plan events with. Two of the three events I’ve got planned for October are a joint effort with other Smart School coaches. Making the move to organising group events is so much easier when collaborating with another coach or two. We can all support each other in our first steps, and later move on to creating our own solo events in the future.
And I also look forward to seeing what exciting new events I’ll be creating in the future. Coaching is such a powerful tool for change, capable of creating high impact results in many forms: through one to one sessions with clients, group coaching, seminars, workshops, and retreats. The options are truly limitless.
Filed Under Transformational Coaching
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The fastest way isn’t always the best |
When attending the Smart School’s meetings and having graduated and collected coaching experience for a while now, it was interesting to listen to the thoughts and issues of the new coaches going through the training on the coaching course.
One of the things mentioned frequently was that new coaches find it difficult to spare time for coaching practice and for their studies. I also got the impression they a couple of them would prefer an easy way through their hours. You could almost say a motorway to their destination. And this got me thinking and reminded of my travels.
As I haven’t been back in the UK for too long I have been spending a lot of time exploring England, Scotland and Wales. My partner and I are especially attracted to the coast and visited Wales recently.
Now, obviously I could take the motorway from Conway to get to Cardiff, but what would I see of Wales? It just wouldn’t make sense, would it! Of course, I could pull out a map once we arrived in north Wales and check out a nice route. But when you are in a “place” for the first time you don’t really know what you are looking for…unless you are well prepared of course.
When I go on a journey like I did in Wales, my partner and I spend days checking guides and scanning the web for information about the area and places you may not find on those guides. Then we plan the route and make sure we add plenty of time to travel at ease to get the full experience. There is a German saying: “Die Reise ist das Ziel!” which means in direct translation “the journey is the objective.”
We had a great time in Wales by the way. I guess thare are no short cuts to experience!
Funny thing is, that reminds me of my coaching journey!
I loved my journey with The Smart School because I was well prepared by the Smart trainers and provided with full documentation and I gathered some fantastic experience with great support from my mentor. And the journey isn’t over yet.
Oh…I must be honest. I did gather my hours in a very short time so I guess I was “speeding” a little. But I loved every minute of it and always knew where I was heading with the Smart School as my SatNav.
All the best on your very personal jouney!
Filed Under NLP & Hypnotherapy
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Achieving reflective closure in coaching |
Sitting in Russell Square on a sunny day I was coaching a client on their last session. As is often the case with coaching we had covered a lot of ground, made leaps forward and stumbles backwards but always pushed forward to greater self discovery. By the time of our final session a lot had been learned and gained, but how was I going to help my client secure and consolidate what he had learnt?
I struck upon the idea of interviewing him about the journey he had been on, not as himself but as a close friend or family member. After explaining what I would like to do and getting agreement the interview began: What do you think Tom has got out of his coaching? What has he learned? What are you most proud of him for? If he is going to do or remember one thing for the rest of his life that will help him what do you think that would be? What is most likely to hinder Tom going forward? What advice would you give him to stop that from happening? You see how it works, don’t you? It was great to see the client (who’s name wasn’t Tom in case you’re wondering) reflect back and pull out the most important parts of his coaching journey. A simple method but one that gives a great way of consolidating what has been learnt. Have a play with it and see how you get on.
Filed Under Transformational Coaching
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The impact of Carl Rogers’ person-centred theory on coaching |
Have you ever wondered why even the simplest chat can help someone tackle a problem or challenge that’s been holding them back for a long time?
I’m not talking here about coaching but just simply the act of listening and asking the odd question or two.
Carl Rogers, a psychotherapist writing from the 1940s onwards, proposed a new way of conceptualising human behaviour that shook traditional psychology, with its pathologising approach, to its core. And it has been fighting the battle ever since.
What is not so well understood is that, in many ways, it has also become the root from which sprang coaching in its purest form. Read more
Filed Under Transformational Coaching
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