The Power of "In Here" Coaching

Change is essential in life. Growth is change, so is decline. There's no avoiding change.

We all want change, but we want others to do the changing or at least change first! It reminds me of Sallah from Raiders of the Lost Ark: "Asps, very dangerous - you go first." Without knowing it, we can expend a great deal of energy avoiding change.

Goals and problems can be approached from many different directions. Some approaches seek to change things "out there" and some to seek to change things "in here," that is, inside the client.

Read the whole article here, then come back and leave a comment.

NEW Coach's Cafe - June 4/5

The Coach's Cafe provides a forum for you to discuss issues that are relevant for you as you grow as a coach - coffee is optional!

This coaching community is a great place to bring questions, successes, challenges, or simply listen in to other coaches as they dialogue, learn and grow together. It is also an opportunity to think and talk about the practical aspects of your coaching.

On a monthly conference call we will address a current topic on coaching, share stories, recommend resources, network and encourage one another in the coaching journey. Best of all - it's free.

Come and join us as we gather together at the Coach's Cafe with the purpose of becoming better coaches and having fun at the same time!

Contact Keith for the phone/PIN to dial in.

Questions to Find Your "Fit"

People want to find where they "fit" in terms of their work, their role, and living out of their true self. For some, they want to change roles, jobs, or organizations. This article will show you how to coach someone to find and evaluate a suitable role or position.

Read the whole article here, then leave a comment below.

Professional Coaching Training This Summer

Upgrade your coaching skills this summer...

Are you ready to increase your ability to empower, equip, encourage, and support others? I want to invite you to join our professional-level coaching training for ministry leaders and save US$450. It's the best in coaching training coupled with the best in missional leadership development.

The Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program includes 5 days of in-person training and 12 hours of TeleClasses as you implement your learning back home. The CCSCP is designed to meet or exceed International Coach Federation standards, and is equivalent the the 60 training hours required for the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) portfolio track application.

Register now for programs in June, August or September and receive US$450 discount, making the Core Coaching Skills program one of the most affordable professional coaching training available anywhere. Choose one of our upcoming programs:
+ Burgundy, France June 8-12
+ Melbourne, Australia August 17-21
+ Singapore September 7-11
+ Annapolis, Maryland September 14-18

See you soon!

Priorities

Everyday we sort our life according to our internal priorities. Priorities show up in our decisions.

Our decisions reveal our priorities, sometimes to the surprise of others. Priorities emerge from our values and habits - our preferred ways of doing things. And, like values, I and others may not be fully aware of how we prioritize things.

Read the full article here. And leave a comment below.

The Second Question to Ask in Planning

The first questions to ask was "why", that was last month's article. The second question to ask is "who."

"Who" is about the people involved. "Who" tells you the context of the plan. Context includes who is involved. What are their needs. What are their values. What are their goals, objectives, and desires. Only by knowing these things can you begin to answer the question "why?"

Read the whole article. Comment below.

What's the First Planning Question to Ask?

You have a good idea. To take it to implementation you must first think through various questions. You might ask:

Who?
What?
When?
Why?
How?

Which of these questions should you ask first? Careful now, all questions are not created equal. Your choice could dictate whether your idea is a smashing success or just a smash!

Read the whole article here.

Learning Literacy

Recently I took another look at one of our training programs. The learning objectives were clear. Then it hit me - the challenge wasn't what the participants needed to learn but what they already knew. Participant preconceptions and prior experience can hinder as much as help. For what we already know can get in the way of what we need to learn.

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." --Alvin Toffler

To learn, we often have to unlearn first, then we can relearn.

Read the whole article here.

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of the year again! I'm curious, do you make new year resolutions? What process have you done to create resolutions that really made a difference AND that you stuck to?

No-Cost Ways to Develop People

As the economy swirls downward, the needs of our staff don't go away just because we don't have the same travel or training budget as last year. This month, I offer four no-cost ways to develop others who live around the world.

1. Focus and Cast Vision
2. Provide Stimulating Resources
3. Coach over Skype
4. Create a TeleClass

For details, read the whole article. Add you comment below.