CRM Coaching

Coaching Groups by Steve Ogne

2011-07-06T03:38:00.000+08:00

It's no surprise - most organizations can't function without forming groups of one kind or another to help accomplish goals. But groups can be challenging places to get work done!

Coaching in a group setting is not only possible, but an extremely effective way to help different types of groups reach their potential together.

The process of coaching groups is similar to coaching individuals, yet with slights differences. In this article I'll give seven skills to coach groups effectively.

Read the whole article and comment below.

Coaching & Social Status

2011-06-09T01:50:00.000+08:00

Does coaching work only in Egalitarian societies?

This question emerged from discussion around cultural differences in social structures of societies. In the USA and the Netherlands, for example, inequality is viewed as not good and they strive to eliminate it to be more egalitarian. Whereas in many Asian and Middle East cultures inequality is expected and not a problem.

Coaching is sometimes described as a "partnership" of the coach and coachee "learning together." The meaning of these terms are very different depending on your cultural view of equality in social structures.

Read the whole article here. Comment below.

Keith Speaking on Cross-Cultural Coaching in Seattle

2011-05-23T00:59:00.000+08:00

Cross-Cultural Coaching
Leveraging cultural differences for creative synergy.

Puget Sound Coaches Association (ICF)

June 7, 2011 from 5:00pm

REI, Yale Street, Seattle, WA

“The issue is not whether culture matters… The real issue, rather, is how – not whether – culture matters.” Amartya Sen

Your culture and the culture of your client affect the coaching process. It is critical for coaches working with culturally diverse clients to understand basic differences in culture. This interactive presentation will increase awareness of cultural differences and their impact on the coaching process. Through stories, discussion, and coaching models and tools you will learn to recognize and effectively coach those culturally different than you.

You will learn:

1. How culture impacts your coaching.

2. Two common cultural scales to enhance your coaching practice.

3. How to leverage culture for your client's growth and goal attainment.

Please join us for an interactive evening with Dr. Keith E. Webb, Principal of Creative Results Management. Keith will share his significant experience as a coach in Japan, Indonesia and Singapore - and serve as inspiration for our local coaching community to build bridges connecting us to the international coaching community. Prepare to experience a shift in your thinking about our place in service to the capable, creative, resourceful and whole global human!

Coaching Feedback

2011-05-10T13:52:00.000+08:00

Everyone dreads critical feedback. I suspect those who say otherwise are delusional or maybe their self-images are build on more solid foundations that mine!

During coaching conversations, the coachee sometimes relates to me feedback he received. Coaching others on feedback they received from others can be challenging. I've found four common responses to critical feedback.

Cut through defenses to help the coachee reflect on the feedback to find what parts can be learned from and applied.

Read the whole article and comment below.

Conflicting Leadership Roles

2011-04-12T02:15:00.000+08:00

Migel is starting a new church and he's frustrated. "I feel like I can't win," he says. "Things are changing fast, yet we don't have the people to run things. We've got to get some systems in place, but there's no time or people to do it. So, I work on building capacity, but things fall apart in the meantime, and when I 'invest' in people, the other ministry slows down."

Migel is experiencing the conflicting nature of leadership roles. He must lead in multiple ways that are in conflict with each other.

Four Leadership Roles
Four roles, the necessary ingredients for leadership. You can't avoid any of the roles. And you must do them all at the same time.

Read the whole article here. Comment below.

Accountability

2011-03-10T13:42:00.001+08:00

Coaches usually don't have authority over those they coach, so how to coaches provide accountability? This question reveals a bias, that is, authority is needed for accountability. It's not.

The power of coaching is that it is self-directed learning. And coaches provide accountability to those they coach in several ways.

Read the whole article here. Please comment using the button below!

You or Me?

2011-02-09T00:39:00.000+08:00

One notable feature of coaching is its client-centered approach. This means focusing on the other's person's agenda, thoughts, ideas, and allowing them to reach their own conclusions. I find this challenging! The other-centeredness of coaching reveals just how "me" centered I am.

Read the whole article here and comment below.

Coaching Presence

2011-01-06T10:15:00.001+08:00

Coaching is hard work.

At coaching workshops I see people physically worn out after a 15 minute coaching practice. What makes coaching so physically taxing? Paying attention.

We all know that during a coaching conversation we shouldn't look at text messages or answer phone calls. Staying present with the client is more than just that. It's engaging the client with your heart, mind, spirit, and intuition during the whole of the conversation. This is called "Coaching Presence."

Read the whole article here and comment below.

My Almost Mid-Life Crisis

2010-12-01T08:48:00.001+08:00

When I turned 41 years old I started to have a mid-life crisis. My mid-life crisis involved a vineyard, a couple of dogs, and a small monastic retreat center - all in Tuscany, Italy. The problem was, I couldn't afford it!

I decided to put my mid-life crisis on hold while I save up for it. I'm still saving...

In the meantime, I've come to the conclusion that a bit of a mid-life crisis now and then is a good thing. Read the whole article here.

Coaching Greener Grass

2010-11-11T01:12:00.007+08:00

Everyday we receive offers to become involved in something, whether it's a new job or a volunteer position.

It's all too easy to jump at new opportunities because of dissatisfaction with what we're presently doing and the attraction of the new.

The grass is always greener, until you get there!

Read the whole article, and comment below.

Ambiguity and Risk

2010-10-08T05:42:00.002+08:00

Sometimes coaches want to first 'figure it out' and then lead the coachee to a solution using questions.

Master coaches embrace ambiguity. They don't need to know the exact path or even the final destination. They take risk, exploring with clients areas that might bear fruit.

Embracing ambiguity makes the coach a mutual learner and fellow-traveler with the coachee.

Read the whole article, and comment below.

Getting Out of a Rut

2010-09-08T10:25:00.000+08:00

In this month's article, Bryan Wintersteen shares how to get out of a rut. Watch this video to see a fun, creative way of getting people out a rut.

Bryan writes, "Sometimes I can fall into a rut. I don't like to be in a rut! I want life to be filled with creativity, fun, positivity, & possibility. However, my normal routines and behavior can become predictable and stale. Ruts are formed by the small choices I make each day." Read the whole article.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.

Long-term, Short-term Planning

2010-08-04T06:15:00.001+08:00

For most of our five years in Indonesia we lived under the stress of never knowing how long we'd actually be able to stay in the country. That kind of uncertainty plays havoc with long-term planning.

Usually people recommend building ministries over a long time period. What happens, however, if four years into things and before things are firmly established, you suddenly have to leave due to a medical emergency, education issues, visa rejections, threats, etc. What would remain?

Plan long-term by determining what you're trying to achieve, and then plan short-term by breaking it down into parts that can stand on their own.

Read the whole article. Leave a comment below.

Rewire Your Brain for Change

2010-07-13T06:00:00.001+08:00

Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." I believe this is true.

Coaches help people change. Yet change is difficult. Our brains are wired to do what we've always done. We need to rewire them. That's the subject of this month's article.

Read the article here, and then come back and comment below.

What's Your Expertise

2010-06-09T08:24:00.002+08:00

In the heart of London's financial district, I sat down with an executive coach. During the conversation I learned that he earns ten times the money other executive coaches receive. Knowing he's not a "big name" author or speaker, I asked him how he could charge so much more than others. The reason, he explained, is the expertise he brings to his clients.

He doesn't just coach. "Coaching is a commodity that a lot of people provide", he explained. "What I bring are results, real value, that comes from my expertise in business and as a coach."

Continue reading here.

Add your thoughts by clicking "comment" below.

Making Training Active

2010-05-04T16:47:00.001+08:00

"How can I make my training more active?" is a question we frequently hear. In this article I'll share with you our experience.

I begin with the twin goals of discovery and experience. Take the topic of questions, for example. I want participants to discover the power of questions and experience using them in powerful ways. Any knowledge that comes through discovery is owned; and experience is not quickly forgotten.

Read about the three grids we use to create interactive training. The full article is here. Leave your comments below.

Three books I'd recommend:

Why? Don't be lazy!

2010-04-07T10:19:00.001+08:00

When it comes to questions, few are potentially more powerful than "Why." Yet, I rarely use it. It is a lazy question.

It's easy to ask "Why?", but also lazy. The answer to "Why?" is often as rote as the answer to "How are you?" Both questions produce immediate, simplistic responses. And not much reflection.

Instead, rephrase "Why?" into a question that will cause deep reflection and generate multiple responses.

Read the whole article here, and comment below.

Questions to Coach Meaning

2010-03-15T12:04:00.001+08:00

Meaning is all around us: living out calling, relationships, learning goals, spirituality, etc. Unfortunately, all of life is not focused on meaningful pursuits.

Life is full of routine. Routine is comforting, but also can become numbing, even to the point of replacing meaning.

Continue reading the article for questions to coach meaning. More

Add your comment by clicking the link...

Coaching When Disaster Strikes

2010-02-02T13:49:00.002+08:00

How can coaches respond and help after natural disasters like the earthquake in Haiti? There are many ways, from giving and going to coaching from home. Lessons learned from the 2004 Asian Tsunami can help.

Read the whole article here. Comment below.

Also, see How to Support Aid Workers in Self Care by Kelly O'Donnell.

And the book: The New Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling.

The Answer is the Question

2010-01-07T14:44:00.002+08:00

Are you looking for answers?

We often look for answers in the form of information - books, advice, teaching, etc. However, we make a mistake if we confuse information gathering with learning.

The University of California, San Diego did a study of how much information the average American takes in a day. It's 100,500 words or 34 gigabytes of data - a day! That's like filling your computer's hard drive every two days.

But information does not wisdom make.

Read the whole article here. And use the "comment" link below to give your thoughts.

Working with a Virtual Assistant

2010-01-07T11:50:00.001+08:00

Non-profit leaders are often on their own. We're part of a larger organization, but living and working in isolation from an office or administration functions. We've all heard about Virtual Assistants (VAs), basically, freelance administrative assistants that can be hired by the project or hour.

For nearly 18 months, I've had a virtual assistant working with me 10 hours a week. She coordinates participants joining the Core Coaching Skills program from first inquiry through to graduation. She does a dozen other things as well.

What I've learned in working with her is that I've got to be much more organized than I am. There's a world of difference between me working through something myself, and me directing someone else to do it. My biggest problem has been knowing exactly what I want done. My fuzziness of objective makes it difficult for the VA to work. I've learned to be more concrete in what I want done, and more explicit in my instructions

I ran across an article of someone who's learned how to work effectively with a VA. I'd love to hear any of your tips as well. Use the comment link below.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:42:00.000+08:00

Wishing you a 2010 with plenty of growth, impact, and happiness.

What are your goals for 2010?

Are Action Steps Essential?

2009-12-10T13:14:00.005+08:00

Boil the practice of coaching down to it's core two functions and you are left with reflection for insights and actions steps for application. Yet, some people struggle with coaching action steps. They view stimulating reflection as virtuous and the main job of a coach, while generating action steps as too pragmatic and therefore optional.

The article looks at where these attitudes may stem from and take a closer look at a spiritual process of setting action steps.

Comment below.

Questions for Decision-Making

2009-11-02T11:40:00.005+08:00

It's said that 90% of decision-making is based on emotions. I see most decision-making as a product of our underlying motivations: we want something, or we want to avoid something.

Motivations based on social status, security, or pleasure lurk under the surface of the decision-making process. By drawing out motivations you can help people to make better decisions.

Read the whole article here, and comment below.

Don't Quit Too Soon

2009-10-13T14:59:00.004+08:00

Research shows our really unique contributions begin after 10 years of mastering a domain of study. Yet, 1 in 4 cross-cultural workers don't stay on the field beyond 4 years.

I suspect that many of us prefer the "new" and when things get tough or stale, we jump to the next new thing.

This month we'll look at how to focus long enough and when to move on. Read the whole article here, and comment below.

Authentic Credibility

2009-09-06T10:40:00.004+08:00

In your ministry, are you credible? Credibility is determined by how people answers these two questions about us:

1. Does she know what she is talking about? That's Competency.
2. Will he do what he say he will? That's Reliability.

Read the whole article here, then comment below.

Planning With Vision, Foresight & Faith

2009-08-07T12:11:00.006+08:00

The reality is we all need to plan ahead. And planning takes vision, foresight, and faith.

We need vision to know what we should be accomplishing.

We need foresight to predict the conditions that will effect our work.

We need faith to push us past our predictions and give us hope in fulfilling our vision.

Here's some questions I use in planning: [read more]

Comment below.

Exploring Values

2009-07-16T11:47:00.006+08:00

Everyone structures and navigates life according to his or her own internal "numbering system": the values, beliefs, and experiences that shape how we view the world.

You can assist people to powerful new awareness by helping them examine these, and helping them discover how these things are influencing their situation.

Read the whole article here. And comment below.

Core Coaching Skills Graduate Earns ACC

2009-07-13T10:05:00.007+08:00

Kirk Kirlin, a CRM staff member and Core Coaching Skills Graduate, earned the designation of Associate Certified Coach (ACC) by the International Coach Federation (ICF).

Congratulations Kirk!

In two short years, the Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program has been held 12 times in 8 countries with 222 participants, and as of today 56 graduates. Kirk makes the 5th graduate to go on to earn his ICF designation.

The Power of "In Here" Coaching

2009-06-01T14:08:00.001+08:00

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

2009-05-28T20:26:00.003+08:00

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"

2009-05-14T09:38:00.004+08:00

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

2009-05-11T21:10:00.004+08:00

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

2009-04-03T15:20:00.004+08:00

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

2009-03-21T13:37:00.001+08:00

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?

2009-02-21T00:34:00.001+08:00

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

2009-01-15T15:20:00.005+08:00

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

2008-12-28T22:14:00.003+08:00

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

2008-12-09T16:09:00.002+08:00

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.

Coaching Couples

2008-12-08T22:20:00.003+08:00

Jeff and Jill Williams believe that when it comes to marriage coaching, two coaches are better than one.

Their approach is unique. They coach couples, as a couple. This innovative coaching approach is the subject of our first TeleClass: Coaching Couples, Level 1. The TeleClass will be on January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009, 7:00pm to 8:15pm (Eastern, USA), and costs US$125 per couple to join.

This four part TeleClass is designed to teach couples how to improve their marriage through life-giving conversations and coach others to do the same. More more details and registration go here.

Coaching Hope out of Failure

2008-11-20T21:46:00.002+08:00

"Failure" is an emotionally-charged word. Discouragement is it's constant companion. The word "failure" has a note of finality or completeness. Black or white. Bad or good.

We're afraid of failure, but some kinds of failure are actually good for us. Here's two reasons why a little failure now and then will make us stronger.

Read the full article here. Comment below.

Getting 300% More Training Impact

2008-10-12T20:40:00.002+08:00

Let's be honest, most training is full of knowledge, ideas, and "good stuff" but not much practice.

Paul wrote, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" Philippians 4:9.

Too often, my problem is not a lack of knowledge; it is too little living out of that knowledge. Chinese philosopher Han Fei Tzu said it well: “It is not difficult to know a thing; what is difficult is to know how to use what you know.”

This is where Follow-Up Coaching comes in.

Read the full article here. Comment below.

Blinded by Experience

2008-09-06T11:39:00.007+08:00

Our experience is an asset as well as a liability. It gives us grids or categories in which to make sense of the world around us. But it also "colors" what we see because we make false assumptions based on previous experience.

There are ways to use your experience to see clearly.

Read the whole article here.

Click on "comments" below and tell us what you think.

The Clarity of a Heart Attack

2008-08-20T12:28:00.009+08:00

You've heard it too, reflections from a person who had a near-death experience. Many come away changed. They make life-correcting decisions on how they spend their time, who they invest in, what's important in their lives.

Are you waiting for your heart attack to make significant life changes?

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

Developmental Narcissism

2008-07-03T00:00:00.004+08:00

Here's a significant post from a friend:

Developmental narcissism is when some wonderful concepts get twisted ever so slightly so that the focus becomes inordinately self-centered. It’s all about me …my fulfillment, my calling, my purpose, my ultimate contribution, my life plan, my role, my gifts, natural abilities and acquired skills, my values, my vision, my ministry, my, my, my….

Read the whole thing.

Questioning Knowledge

2008-06-22T01:44:00.009+08:00

Knowledge is overrated.

I used to think that if I knew the right things, I'd be set. After all, knowledge provides answers to solve problems, right?

We live in a knowledge economy where we live off what we know instead of what we physically produce. The Internet has made that information widely available to millions of people, most of whom are hungrier and more clever than myself. Living off of knowledge is getting tougher and tougher.

Read the full article here, and then leave your comments below.

Coaching from the Road

2008-06-15T01:53:00.004+08:00

This summer I'm in the Seattle area for my family's every-two-years visit. So I'm coaching from the road. Here's a few observations:

Don't use your travel as an excuse. Honor your clients by not making excuses for poor connection or background distractions or postponements.

Schedule your coaching appointments all in a row. Last Thursday I coached 5 people in Asia from 5pm to 11pm with 15 mins between calls. Because they were all one evening, I wasn't distracted the rest of week by appointments, nor did I forget any. This summer I'm basically coaching Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. My clients were happy to accommodate my limited schedule.

Pay careful attention to timezones, and set according to the client's timezone. Try inputing all your coaching sessions on your computer's calendar with a timezone attached to the event. The calendar then adjusts the time to your local time. When your local time changes the appointment slides to a new time accordingly. The website www.timeanddate.com can also help.

Check out ahead of time your way of connecting (phone, Skype, etc) and make sure your clients know how you'll connect. Or figure it out once you get to your destination and email your clients if there are any changes.

Transition between other things you're doing and your coaching. Take a few minutes before hand to center yourself, pray, and be fully present. Rather than allowing your travel or new location being a distraction, tap into what the new environment stimulates in you during your coaching and use that.

Enjoy your travel and your coaching!

New Book: Coaching Questions

2008-05-15T16:02:00.002+08:00

The single most important skill in coaching is asking powerful questions. An incisive question posed at just the right moment can be a life-changing experience.

In this volume, master coach trainer Tony Stoltzfus joins with 12 other professional coaches (including me, Keith Webb) to present dozens of valuable asking tools, models and exercises, and illustrates them with over 1,000 examples of penetrating coaching questions. Covering the gamut from basic techniques like options and actions to advanced concepts such as challenge and reframing, Coaching Questions is a book that will find a home on any coach's short list of handy references.

Instead of just offering lists of questions, this book connects the question examples with the coaching tool they are used with and their place in the coaching conversation, and teaches you to use the tools as well. The focus on tools plus examples makes it a reference guide you'll return to again and again.

You can purchase this directly from Tony.

What do you think of this book? Leave a comment.

The Freedom of Choice

2008-05-08T18:03:00.003+08:00

Americans worship choice.

The freedom to choose seems to be one of its highest cultural values. Consider:
* 302 breakfast cereals
* 94 shampoos
* 100+ types of dog food
* Democracy
* A tall decafe extra shot skinny vanilla latte
* 3 worship services, each with a different style of music, sermon length, and dress code

Many cultural contexts around the world allow for little independent decision making, unless you are a senior ranking person.

Expatriates, including coaches, are sometimes unaware of how this dynamic effects them and their clients. Becoming aware of and working through social environments can maximize results.

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

New Eyes, Not New Knowledge

2008-03-29T17:36:00.004+08:00

In coaching the goal is not new information or knowledge. Here's why: more knowledge from the same perspective will produce the same sort of actions.

Transformation comes by increasing the coachee's perspective - helping him or her to see the same world in new ways, through new eyes.

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

The Focus of Coaching Over the Phone

2008-03-21T10:07:00.005+08:00

I've noticed that coaching over the telephone (or Skype if it's a good connection) brings a focus to the conversation that in-person coaching doesn't.

A coaching session on the phone is focused more fully on the client's needs and agenda, and less on the social requirements of meeting together. For one, you can cut the socially required 30 mins of small talk prior to and after an in-person coaching appointment. Instead, replacing it with what the coachee, not society, really needs. A busy schedule keeps many coaches and clients from pursuing face to face meetings. It takes time to travel to meet, and time to get ready. Many more people will commit to coaching if it's just a twice a month one hour call.

But is telephone coaching as good as in-person?

Better, says an article in today's International Herald Tribune. It says, "The late Canadian media guru Marshall McLuhan said that radio is a "hot" medium, whereas television is a "cool" medium, meaning that radio, like the telephone, forces you to focus entirely on the voice, the spoken word, making them much more intimate. You can acquire more information in listening to what people are saying and how they're saying it, than searching for visual clues."

I also find that I'm less distracted in my office using the phone (if I've turned off my email program like a good coach) than if I'm meeting somewhere outside.

What's your experience? Comment here.

Culture, Coaching, and the Brain

2008-03-06T13:42:00.005+08:00

A few years ago my buddy Takeshi told me about Geography of Thought, a book that makes a case that East Asians and Westerners (Americans) think differently. Great book. I review it here.

I've also been hearing about how neuroscience has been discovering the physical reasons for why coaching is effective. See here.

Now neuroscientists are finding physical evidence of cultural patterns in our though processes. See here.

All very fascinating with huge implications to how we work cross-culturally. For me it increases the expertise needed to coach across cultures. If perceptions and thought patterns are seemingly hardwired into our brains by culture, then the coach better understand that and be able to tap into the strengths of that wiring.

What are your thoughts?

My Journey into Coaching

2008-03-04T15:49:00.008+08:00

This month I'd like to share a bit of my journey into coaching. I'm not naturally good at coaching. It was out of desperation to lead in empowering, non-directive ways that I began to learn how to coach.

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

Core Coaching Skills in Burgundy, France

2008-02-18T09:49:00.006+08:00

The acclaimed Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program to be held in Burgundy, France June 8-12, 2009.

This 60-hour professional coach training is for ministry leaders who wishes to gain foundational and advanced coaching skills. This unique program focuses on core coaching skills through a Christian and cross-cultural worldview. Leaders reflect on their current behavior and leadership styles to create a unique blend for greater leadership effectiveness.

Information on the Core Coaching Skills program is here. The specific Burgundy program details are here.

The Making of Leader

2008-02-15T20:16:00.005+08:00

Read my review of Bobby Clinton's classic book on leadership development phases.

Once you're there, at the bottom please click "yes" this review was helpful.

The Hungarian Cart Maker and the Coach

2008-02-03T00:46:00.002+08:00

I'd like to tell you the story of a Hungarian village cart maker who spawned the word coach.

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

Self-Evaluation Questions

2008-02-03T00:33:00.000+08:00

Rather than give feedback, ask your client to self-evaluate.

What did you do well?

What, if anything, would you like to improve?

How would you do that differently next time?

Living Out Calling

2008-01-06T19:32:00.000+08:00

A calling to contribute drives men and women to overcome huge obstacles to relocate cross-culturally, learn the language, develop all-new social networks, and join often low-paying organizations. However, once there, the reality of living cross-culturally, role adjustment, organizational mismatch, conflict with co-workers, etc. all work to undermine that original sense of calling.

Read the whole article here.

Click "comment" below and tell us what you think.

The Myth of the Expert

2007-12-03T19:21:00.001+08:00

In the cross-cultural ministry world, many field leaders and workers hold to the Expert Theory. This theory says that if a person hasn't become fluent in the local language, planted an indigenous church, or out-performed and out-lasted others in ministry, then they are not qualified to lead others.

Some try to use the Expert Theory to determine who is qualified to coach others.

My perspective is different. Read the whole article here, then leave a comment below.

Coaching For Christian Leaders

2007-11-23T22:22:00.000+08:00

I just reviewed an interesting book called Coaching For Christian Leaders. It is a helpful introduction to Christian coaching. The strength of the book lies in its balance of explaining coaching skills, benefits, and uses of coaching in Christian ministry.

Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com, read my review under "customer reviews" and please click "yes" if it was helpful.

What's "Coaching" To You?

2007-11-11T11:42:00.000+08:00

Add your comments in response to the CRM Coaching eNews article "What's 'Coaching' To You?".

The COACH Model Card

2007-11-10T23:07:00.000+08:00

By popular demand, I've revised the COACH Model Card and am making them available in packs of 10 for US$10, incl. postage and handling. Click here for details.

Keep Going!

2007-10-19T08:48:00.001+08:00

"If you are going through hell, then keep on going." --Winston Churchill

I've seen this quote twice in a week. I like it. It reminds me of what Robert Hargrove wrote a few years ago:

"One of the most important action steps a coach can take is to simply keep people in action, even if they are not successful at first." He goes on to say, "Once you get people in action, it's important to keep them there by teaching them the new skills and capabilities they need to succeed."

It's easy to quit when things are tough. And, at the right time, quitting might be the appropriate next step. Often, however, people don't press through difficulties and therefore miss learning valuable character lessons, skills, and experiences.

Keep going, and get a coach to walk with you.

Through Pain We Grow

2007-10-03T16:49:00.000+08:00

That's me teaching "Core aching Skills." A leader's character is formed most often through painful experiences. To speed up the pain I (apparently) offer training on aching skills.

Are You A Top Performer?

2007-10-03T12:37:00.000+08:00

Are you one of the top 10% of performers in your organization?

A recent poll in Business Week found that overall 90% of workers polled said they were in the top 10% of performers. An impossible number of "yes" responses came from 89% of females, 91% of males and a whopping 97% of executives.

How about you? Did you answer yes? I did! What's happening here? Read the current CRM Coaching eNews...

What are your thoughts on self-image, reality, and top performers? Click on "comments" below.

Coaching for Life Workshop

2007-09-19T11:31:00.000+08:00

Integrate Coaching Skills into Your Life

Transformational leadership requires new ways of communicating with those you work with. Coaching skills are essential.

This 1 day workshop is for anyone who wishes to incorporate coaching skills into their existing life roles.

Next Workshop in Singapore:
Saturday 24 November 2007, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
CRM Singapore office: 39A Jalan Pemimpin; #05-03
Halcyon Building 577183
S$100 (incl. lunch, snacks & materials).
Only 20 spaces available.

Details and registration.

A Blog... Ideas?

2007-09-16T22:38:00.000+08:00

Well, I'm giving a blog a chance. I'm giving you a chance. Because I'm not thinking of just writing TO you, I do that in my newsletter. I want to hear FROM you at this blog. So, lets start with this: What would you like this blog to address? Give me your ideas on topics, issues, and questions.

Click "comments" below to respond.

2008 Core Coaching Skills dates

2007-09-10T10:34:00.000+08:00

We've hit several milestones with the Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program over the past 12 months:

Completed a "beta" course and 2 full programs

46 participants serving in 12 countries

A revised 350 page original coaching training manual

Graduates have applied for and received International Coach Federation credentialing

Announcing our 2008 schedule:
Hungary - January 7-11, 2008
Tokyo - February 25-29, 2008
Seattle - June 2-6, 2008
Singapore - October 13-17, 2008

Details.

The Coaching Organization

2007-09-08T08:04:00.001+08:00

I just reviewed an interesting book on creating a coaching culture in an organization called The Coaching Organization. It's one of only two books out there on implementing coaching organization-wide. (The other is Making Coaching Workby Clutterbuck, but it's only available in the UK and isn't cheap!)

Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com, read my review under "customer reviews" and please click "yes" if it was helpful.

Christ-Centered Coaching: 7 Benefits for Ministry Leaders

2007-09-08T07:59:00.001+08:00

I just reviewed an interesting book called Christ-Centered Coaching: 7 Benefits for Ministry Leaders. It's one of only a few books out there on coaching from a Christian perspective. It doesn't give the detailed "how-to" of coaching skills, but it does a good job of illustrating the processes and mentality of good coaching. The Christian integration is light, but helpful none-the-less.

Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com, read my review under "customer reviews" and please click "yes" if it was helpful.

Coaching Diverse People

2007-09-04T10:32:00.000+08:00

It's getting tougher to effectively help people grow. I'm getting older and think differently than younger generations. Plus, I'm living cross-culturally. What I used to do isn't as effective with a diversity of people. Coaching has given me new tools. Read the full article here.

How are you meeting the challenges of a growing diversity of people? Click "comment" and join the dialogue.

Coaching & Culture

2007-08-20T19:05:00.000+08:00

Does culture effect coaching? You bet it does!

I've noticed that most coaching training originated from cultures that could be described as individualistic and egalitarian - countries like Australia, Britain, and the United States.

However, much of the world is group oriented and hierarchical in their cultural ways of behaving. The peoples of Arab-speaking countries, China, Greece, Indonesia, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, West Africa, in fact, the majority of the world's population follow these cultural tendencies .

More...