Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal’s Post

A beautiful read by Professor Peter Hawkins inspired me this morning to share about the role of beauty in coaching and leadership. I often use art and poetry in coaching, and it has its power to cross the rational mind, and enter spaces in your consciousness from which surprising insights, and knowing can emerge. Here are two articles I wrote in the topic:  🔗 Enhancing Minds and Spirit Through Words, using poems in coaching: https://lnkd.in/gcnAYYhK  🔗 Using Herlinde Koeble, renowed German artist's work as a prompt in coaching: https://lnkd.in/emKCJSnn As a coach, and lover of beauty in all forms in what I do and engage with, I look forward to the Professor's event next week, and reading his new book! "The coaching also should not be addressing the challenges that the coachee or coach already have the answer to. Coaching emerges when both individuals are shoulder to shoulder at the learning edge, both recognising the important challenge that life if providing, but which neither can answer by themselves – a challenge that requires collaborative inquiry and generative dialogue. Coaching is not done by the coach, nor the coachee or even their working partnership. It is sparked into being by the generous challenges that life gives us, some of which we welcome and other we resist with all our energy. The spiritual teacher Ram Dass, spoke about how we all sign up for the school of life, but most of us spend our lives complaining about the curriculum.  Leadership and Coaching need Beauty, to open our doors of perception, to release us from the small dark prison of atomistic thinking to a much greater world of interconnection. Beauty in nature, music, art and poetry, creates new neural pathways in your brain; new alignment of conceptual mind, heart mind and body mind; new interconnections with and between our intuitive and animate knowing, and through our senses, feelings and emotions."  🔗 The Professor's article about beauty in leadership and coaching: https://lnkd.in/g3X6wnXz What poem or artwork inspired you at work lately? ✨ #coaching #beauty #consciousleadership

As I reflect on my incredible journey of reading for 1200 days without pause, I'm reminded of the immense advantages that come with immersing oneself in the written word. The knowledge, insights, and perspectives gained through this endeavor have transformed my life in ways I could have never imagined. Specially on this day on Norways Independence Day! Happy birthday to you! Reading is a powerful tool that opens the door to a world of information, ideas, and inspiration. It has the unparalleled ability to expand our horizons, challenge our assumptions, and spark our creativity. The knowledge acquired through reading is not just a collection of facts; it's a treasure trove of wisdom that enriches our understanding of the world around us. In this years theme of Coaching, I can't help but emphasize how reading has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional development. The lessons learned from books have provided me with a deep well of insights that I've been able to apply to my coaching practice. The diverse perspectives and experiences shared in the pages of countless books have equipped me with a broader understanding of human behavior, leadership, and personal growth. Moreover, reading has honed my critical thinking skills, expanded my vocabulary, and enhanced my ability to articulate ideas effectively. These are invaluable assets in the realm of coaching, where clear communication and the ability to inspire and guide others are paramount. The benefits of reading extend far beyond the realm of professional growth. It has been a source of solace, joy, and intellectual stimulation during both the highs and lows of life. It has broadened my empathy, deepened my compassion, and fostered a lifelong love for learning. As I celebrate this milestone of 1200 days of continuous reading, I encourage you to embrace the power of the written word. Whether it's through books, articles, or research papers, let's nurture a culture of reading that propels us toward greater knowledge, empathy, and understanding. Let's harness the transformative potential of reading to elevate our coaching practices, enrich our lives, and positively impact the world around us. Here's to the magic of reading and the endless possibilities it holds. 📖 #Reading #KnowledgeIsPower #Coaching #PersonalDevelopment

"You don’t need a qualification to be a coach." I see this in coaching groups all the time. While there is some truth to this (the coaching industry isn't regulated, like say the medical industry), here’s the reality: 👉 Clients are becoming savvier. They want to know that the coach they’re working with is both capable and credible, and qualifications give you that. 👉 A certificate isn’t just a piece of paper! It’s proof that you’ve invested in understanding what it really takes to help someone transform their life. 👉 Accreditation isn’t about ticking the boxes. It’s about standing out as a professional who knows what they’re doing. If you’re tired of winging it, trying to piece together a method from free resources or short courses, please know that there’s another way. Real coaching changes lives – and it starts with solid foundations. Ready to finally take that step. Let's talk about our ICF-Accredited Level 1 Certificate in Professional Coaching. DM me to start the conversation.

Do you know how to avoid the pitfalls of pseudo-coaching? 🤔 Our research department has recently created an article to help you steer clear of the traps associated with this trending profession. Currently, the market is experiencing an influx of pseudo-experts who mislead people. Coaching is one such emerging profession, increasingly plagued by individuals using it irresponsibly. An increasing number of "coaches" are employing unsafe methods, promising extraordinary results, and leading people astray 🤥🤥🤥. Coaching is actively studied by scientists. There are numerous studies that clarify: 👉 what constitutes safe coaching, 👉 how coaching differs from therapy and mentorship, 👉 the potential consequences of coaching. We've cherry-picked and combined the best pieces of knowledge into one article so you can rely on your critical thinking when encountering professionals from this field. Enjoy reading 👇! https://lnkd.in/eqAg_-3p

I recently finished an International Coaching Federation CEU presented by Prof. Dr. Julia Milner on empathy across video, audio, and written interactions in coaching based on her research. One of the primary takeaways was the need to translate empathy according to the coaching format. Essentially the way in which we practice empathy as coaches must be adapted according to the coaching context. This requires we be intentional with how we express empathy and is an essential point for any coach leader, supervisor, or trainer. I recall a time when I was working with a coach I managed who struggled with expressing empathy in her text based coaching. I knew her to be highly empathetic so it was a little surprising the lack of empathy I noticed in her written coaching transcripts. Through our reflective supervision together, she realized empathy came to her naturally in face to face conversation, but that she processed it differently in a written context. She had the ability to empathize, but wasn’t translating it well to the context at hand. We partnered to develop a strategy for her to practice her written empathy by speaking her response first using a dictation function on her computer, then editing her response as needed before sending it to the client. Practicing in this way, she was able to be intentional about how she exhibited empathy in writing and within a few weeks no longer needed the dictation as an intermediary. To this day she’s one of the best coaches I know!  #coaching #ICF #supervision

What message do we send when we use short-term funding for coaching positions? There are numerous possible messages: 🤨 We aren’t sure coaching “works” 🤨 We need coaching right now to fix a “problem” (see: our teachers) 🤨 We aren’t committed to investing in this form of professional development The key takeaway is that having a sustainable funding source impact our culture of coaching. These messages create barriers to developing a positive coaching culture in your system. In the final workshop of the deep dive series, we are unpacking the culture section of our coaching system assessment tool. Come and share your thoughts on the messages we send with the decisions we make! Join me on November 25th at 2:30PM EST to go beyond the assessment as we look at the culture indicators. All registered participants will receive the replay and a copy of the assessment tool, including previous recordings. Register at https://lnkd.in/e9g5HDSy Not a workshop person? You can also download a copy of the assessment at https://lnkd.in/efCWWKSY

Through the years, I have done a lot of dissertation coaching and have graduated many. I am realizing what a unique skill it is. Others ask me what my secret is. I tell them intentional, incremental nudging. Yes, nudging is a thing. Thaler and Sunstein introduced nudge theory in their 2008 book Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness. When nudging, I see my Doctoral coachees every other week for 90 minutes. Together, we celebrate, review, and do something specific (write, research, or practice). Then we discuss their work for the next two weeks. This is nudging at its best. We then do the same thing during the next meetings. When they invest 3 months with me, they can begin to nudge themselves. We can move to monthly meetings from there. I do hold them accountable if their work is not done when they come to the meeting. This same type of set up works when I am doing executive coaching too. I love the nudging process. It works well when learners are building skills and confidence at the same time. Nudge on!

It has officially arrived! **A New Resource For Professional Coaches** Every person who becomes a professional coach needs trusted companions in the important work we do every day with our clients. Whether it is our first day as a coach or we’ve been coaching for decades, we will need many people and other resources to support, challenge, and sustain us. I offer coaching supervision as one important way to resource and develop us as coaches. Individual reflective writing is another way to support us. Now these two are combined into one accessible and efficient resource for every professional coaching today. “Elevate Your Coaching With Reflective Writing” is a deep, reflective writing journal for professional coaches working 1:1 on with any type of client. This journal is based on my years as a professional coach and as a coaching supervisor to other professional coaches. It has over 250+ journal prompts intended for reflection across a 6 month period. Work through this journal once or revisit it again and again throughout your coaching career. The prompts are a timeless way to resource and develop yourself through your coaching work. “Elevate Your Coaching Through Reflective Writing” can be purchased directly through Amazon; a link is in the comments. #coaching #coachingsupervision #supervision #reflectivewriting

Coaching With Chemistry, with Hortense at the helm, have come up with unique way of matching coaches with clients to try and take the guess work out of finding a great coach to work with. I really believe everyone can benefit from coaching, and coaching is a mindset rather than just another tool we use. Build a coaching culture in a company, and help people think differently, and use a Coaching mindset everyday with people around us. Listen and be curious. If you would like a conversation, please drop me a message, or have a look at the CWC website and the coaches you could have an opportunity to work with. #coachingculture

This book will examine how we became wired for metaphors. We will explore the theories and science behind conceptual metaphors, discussing the value of client-led conversations and embodied cognition. I will share many examples from real coaching conversations to show how tuning your ears to hear and then leveraging metaphors that light up your client’s mind might deepen your conversations. This will provide you with greater partnership in your coaching as you support your clients in achieving sustainable outcomes and success in accomplishing their goals. My ultimate goal is for you, the coach, to have more access to working with the metaphors your clients share with you. I want you to expand your ability to be fully present with and hear their words, be wholly curious, and support them to explore the deeper and often more important issues that reside below the surface. I hope you come to have better results and a lot more fun with your clients as you have crucial coaching conversations. Share with me; I would love to hear the metaphors you notice in your coaching conversations today! The first two chapters are available on my learning academy, my treat. https://buff.ly/450NJ4l Spring Enrollment has opened for the Power of Metaphors Level One Certification Course starting on February 4th 💡 you are invited 💡 all the details are here: https://buff.ly/3yZGIVY Happy Coaching! #powerofmetaphors #coachtraining #coachingmindset #icfmentorcoach