Coaching Skills
The Gift of Coaching Presence
The ICF coaching competency of Co-Creating the Relationship combines the “best friends” of Establishing Trust and Intimacy and Coaching Presence. In our journey for mastery and excellence, coaching presence is the hallmark of an excellent coach. It is being open, flexible, and confident with your clients. You are giving them the gift of time, full…
Read MoreLearning to Speak Powerfully
I wonder why it is so difficult to change my language pattern particularly as it relates to building positive presuppositions into my repertoire. I have finally come to realize that a positive presupposition is simply speaking into existence what I believe another person can accomplish before I have actually seen evidence to that effect. As…
Read MoreICF Competencies Facilitating Learning and Result
He was young to be an Assistant Principal, but had demonstrated great gifts in the classroom; thoughtful, intelligent, bursting with energy and dedication. The veteran principal new to the building understood why her predecessor would promote someone with so much potential, yet the students and staff had great needs. She, and the school, would endure…
Read More10 Ways To Build Trust
One thing we know for sure – high levels of trust are necessary for high levels of performance! The research findings of Megan Tschannen-Moran clearly support this assertion. Coach leaders who have internalized this premise are intentional about employing trust-building strategies on a daily basis. Here are some ideas to get you started: Make relationships…
Read MoreThe Miracle and Exception Questions
Imagine this – you are talking with a colleague who is using the language of someone who is “stuck” or out of options for dealing with an issue or challenge. What should you do? Should you try to solve the issue or challenge for the person, or should you remain in a coach leader role and help…
Read MoreThe Transformative Power of Coaching Conversations
Coaching conversations are transformative and can completely change how people think and act. In fact, one of our recent coaching clients did just that. Rosa, an assistant principal, was charged by her principal to get their school’s bilingual teacher, Ed, to show up on time for work every day. Ed’s personnel file was overflowing with…
Read MoreAdvice is Toxic!
Advice is toxic! That is what we teach in our seminars. But this is a really hard habit to break! Our colleagues and friends often ask us for our opinions and advice. Our teachers expect us to advise them about what to do in those challenging situations they face. We are chosen for leadership because…
Read MoreOur Obligation as Coaches to Ask Our Clients Powerful Questions
In his book “Community: The Structure of Belonging”, Peter Block describes the work of Kathie Dannenmiller, an innovator in bringing large groups of people together to create visions, build strategies and create directions for institutions and community. Dannenmiller knew that “the questions with the most power were the ones that touched the heart and spoke…
Read MoreIs Self-Regulation the Key to Human Performance?
David Rock, neuroleadership expert, recently said in a radio interview that “self-regulation is the key to human performance,” and that got me thinking. How do I self-regulate and what am I regulating? Hmm… My hunch is that before I can self-regulate, there is a call for clarity around what I want to do, have, or…
Read MoreBe Renewed Daily Through Reflective Thinking – Part 1
Thomas Moore, in Care of the Soul, writes a captivating story about a respected Albanian, Nuri Bey, and his much younger wife. Mr. Bey’s wife questions him concerning the hidden secrets of a mysterious chest which has been in his family for generations. Conflict arises as a result of his wife’s curiosity. She wants to…
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