We are running the workshop again so save the date…
Saturday September 25, 2010 at the fabulous e-spot in Oakville. More to follow.
www.e-spot.ca and www.the learningcontinuum.biz
call us 905-815-8469
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- what excites you about taking coaching into an education system
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- Setting the Foundation
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- Facilitating Learning and Results
Teaching Coaching in Turkey
I’ve just spent a week in Turkey teaching Part 2 of the Adler Certificate Program to a group of teachers and administrators from the Issikent School located in Izmir Turkey, about an hour by air south of Istanbul.
As I sit here waiting for my next flight connection (I’m going from Izmir to Istanbul to Frankurt to Toronto) and hoping that my luggage somehow miraculously makes the same connections, I’ve got some time to reflect on the past week.
Ishmir is an idyllic seaside town of 5 million yet a world away from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. People here are more relaxed, more polite and not in such a big hurry.
Everyone here works on Turkish time (which I think I’m finally getting used to). Turkish time represents a fairly loose approach to schedules. If the course is scheduled to start at 9 AM for example, this could mean anywhere from 8:59 or so to 9:20 AM or thereabouts. Also a 5 PM finishing time might be 5:30 depending on what still needs to be said. I initially felt this loose approach to time was disrespectful but now understand that it is simply their culture and that they get every bit as much accomplished regardless.
I had an amazing time co-leading Part 2 of the Adler Program with Vedat Erol which we delivered in English and Turkish, much to the delight of the students.
Our decision to take the time to translate various aspects of the course on the fly turned out to be a very astute decision. The learning was significantly enhanced because they got to talk, discuss, converse and practise in their native tongue.
Although it was after the end of the school year in Turkey, the teachers found the energy (they are usually now on holiday) to be active participants in this very tool intense program. We got great feedback and they are ready to move on to Part 3 of the course (enjoy Adria and Vedat).
This program was particularly exciting because the teachers at Issikent school are pioneers – taking coaching into the school system and designing how they will use coaching skills with students parents and administrators. They are well aware of the challenges they face which were illuminated by the exercise…
They began to see themselves as a learning system and are eager to try their new skills.
So to all you teachers out there who are reading this blog, I challenge you to think how you might be able to take coaching into your classrooms, your school or your administration (we also had administrators in the room). Just imagine the shift that will happen!
PS: feel free to call me at 905-815-8469 to hear more.
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Relationship Positioning System Workshop – A Success!!
The latest workshop offering…The Relationship Positioning System Workshop was an unqualified success according to feedback from the participants. The mix of recognized relationship tools with new relationship technologies was a major factor in the day’s appeal for participants. The interactive agenda, filled with learning and awareness exercises, contributed to the excitement during the day and resulted in very enthusiastic participation. The workshop looked first at expanding our Awareness of Self from a strengths based perspective using a simple exercise to re-introduce participants to who they are when they are operating at their best. We designed a coaching alliance for how we wanted to be together during the day and established some basic ground rules for working together. We then looked at Awareness of Relationship from your existing “relationship mindset” to how to increase positivity in relationship. Thanks to the Center for Right Relationship for two outstanding relationship tools…The Meta Skills Wheel and The Original Myth.
We spent some very useful time looking at values and how they affect all of our interactions. Following the workshop it was obvious that participants wanted more work with values as the exercise we used was noted as extremely impactful.
We also explored Awareness of Others in the afternoon using another great CRR tool…Lands Work. Participants chose an issue and each then had an opportunity to explain what it’s like from their own perspective. They then got to spend some time in the other persons shoes and experience what it’s like from that side as well…revealing to say the least according to the participants.
A powerful completion exercise then closed the day and solidified for all us the learning that had transpired.
Here’s what some participants had to say…
“I really enjoyed spending the day with you and Hugh at your relationships workshop — thought you did a great job, and what a lovely group of individuals/couples you attracted. This is really worthwhile work that you are doing and I hope your practice in this area flourishes. For my own part I particularly enjoyed seeing how you had woven familiar and new tools together into something that really works. I would have no hesitation in referring to you couples who are at a turning point in life.”
“I liked the role playing you both did to demonstrate …the learning points…and putting yourselves out their with the Lands work.”
” I am taking away better listening skills and the ability to compromise to find a middle ground.”
“great tools and reminders to consider when dealing with issues in any type of relationship”
“It provided a system that I can incorporate into all my important relationships.”
For those of you that like stats here’s some…’
Overall workshop ranking out of 5 was 4.4.
Individual rankings were…
Workshop Content Overall 4.3
Usefulness of Information 4.2
Easy to Understand 4.3
Exercises 4.7
Facilities 4.2
Thanks to all who attended from both of us…you really made the day!!
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Workshop Reminder
Don’t forget to register for the Relationship Positioning System Workshop May 1, 2010. Click here for full workshop and registration details.
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Coaching and the Olympics
Coaching Distinctions and Similarities from the Olympics
So the Olympics are over! What are we going to do now? PVRs and DVRs all over the country are finally cooling down! But what a blast! Here’s to us Canada, eh?
As we watched the Olympics it was easy to notice the presence of coaches everywhere. In curling, the coaches came onto the ice during time outs and helped the rinks with decisions. In speed skating coaches were evident along the sidelines offering encouragement as well as lap times as their athletes sped by. And there were various other examples of coaching playing a role in the Olympics.
It’s interesting to note that even world class athletes and champions use coaches. After every ice skating session there were the coaches sitting shoulder to shoulder with the skaters waiting for their marks; the coaches often giving an encouraging or sympathetic pat on the knee.
Most coaching in the athletic world is about skill levels, technique and presentation; a distinction from life coaching. However, world class athletes also employ psychologists to assist with the mental part of their game. You can see this aspect in downhill skiing where athletes have been taught to visualize the next ski run.
So what does this have to do with life or business coaching? Well, as we watched the Olympics, we were struck with both the similarities and distinctions between coaching in the athletic arenas and coaching in the life and work realms. Some examples…
Curling…as an example
The coaches entered the conversations about shots and strategy, not to convince or advise but to offer different perspectives and possibilities. The curlers ultimately made their own choices. We were struck by the similarity to life, business and executive coaching where the agenda and final decision rests with the person or group being coached.
Downhill skiing…as an example
The art of visualization has long been a staple of life, business and executive coaching. Life coaches constantly urge clients to look down the road, see a desired outcome and a path or steps to achievement of their goals. Sounds a bit like the athletic community borrowed a tried and true technique doesn’t it?
But what happens when the coach turns into advisor, consultant or expert? A distinction…
Speed Skating…a perfect example
Remember when the world champion speed skater from the Netherlands was far and away leading the 5000 km long distance event and literally had the gold medal in his hand? The race had a number of lane changes to be negotiated for each racer to ensure the overall distance covered was equal. On the last lane change the skater from the Netherlands…a world champion and experienced veteran made an improper lane change and was disqualified; a devastating result. Reports suggest that the coach, a trusted and experienced advisor signaled the ill advised lane change.
When coach becomes advisor we always run the risk of denying the athlete/manager/employee/person the right to choose their own path.
A good reminder from of all places, the Olympics!
One could also argue that life/business/executive coaches are also very much in the skills development game – just like athletic coaches with some important distinctions. We simply partner with clients to create awareness and rediscover or uncover skills and abilities already present. Athletic coaches are often chosen because of their expertise in a certain area and they must constantly critique to look for improvement.
Some examples…
Reflection
The art of pausing to reflect upon what learning occurred in any human interaction is almost a mantra of life/business/executive coaching…just like athletic coaching.
Strengths versus Weaknesses
A strength based approach will always result in better performance sooner. The concept has been proven time and again from Adler to Galwey and remains a principle of most coaching disciplines. Just look at the Olympic athletes that did not look for what went wrong but concentrated on doing it right the next time. Medals ensued!
Planning…
Seems kind of a mundane piece for this blog but consider this. Life/business/executive coaches constantly assist clients in developing the how of what they want to achieve. Putting a self developed plan of action in place that reflects the goals set out by the clients themselves and is based on their own particular learning or operational styles – complete with how the client decides to keep themselves accountable. Sounds a lot like a training plan for an Olympic class athlete, doesn’t it? As one coach put it, the bigger the why, the easier the how. So for a coach, here’s the thing…getting clear on the why (WIIFM) makes the how really simple!
We welcome your observations, comments and ideas.
And for next time…how does our coaching reflect the International Coach Federation (ICF) Core Competencies for coaching?
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