Economic Fear Factor: We’ll Figure It Out
By Linda Ballew

Linda heads up the 'Breaking News' section of The Coaching Commons and coordinates all mentions of coaching around the world each week for The Chronicle of Coaching.

A few days ago, Ruth Ann asked me what coaching trends I’ve seen as I skim through the hundred or so media articles for the Chronicle of Coaching  each week.

It was an easy answer.

It’s coaching people through the economic fear factor.

“Recession-proof your business.”
“Recession-proof your job.”
“Recession-proof your savings.”
“Recession-proof your life.”

How do we work through these challenges?

I’m reading a new book called “The Go-Giver.” Remember when your parents wanted you to be a “go-getter?” Times are changing. The idea of a go-giver is that you give first, and then you get back, automatically, naturally.

Hmm, I’ve heard this somewhere before.

This moment in history feels like a fresh call to service, and serving is a great way to abate the fear factor. Some people are going to need stuff. Other people have stuff. Go to places like www.freecycle.org and give what you don’t need – perhaps find something you do need. Give something. It’s a thrill.

This moment in history feels like a call for community.
No more I, me, mine!
More than ever, we are a changing global community with an abundance of resources. We can all participate more in efficient distribution of those resources. Our closets are filled with “stuff” that we don’t use, and I’ll bet somebody needs it. Our spirits are filled with unused talent, energy and ability, and I’ll bet somebody needs us.

Really, can we learn to “think outside the dollar?”

US President-Elect Obama calls us “citizens of the world,” and as we begin to act on this hopeful notion, the fear factor will shrink and the hope factor will swell.

Now seems the perfect time to explore the meaning of true wealth.
Hmm, I’ve heard this somewhere before.

I know coaches are helping clients deal with the economic fear factor, and coaches are feeling it as well. Share what you are doing for yourself and for your clients. We’ll meet you at the Commons.

Read On to Find Ways We Can Figure It Out Together!
 

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

By Sylva (Syl) Leduc, an award-winning executive coach who has coached leaders around the world for the past two decades and who has graciously directed the creation of The Gift of Coaching.

Last week, at the ICF Conference in Montreal, Dr. Vikki Brock spoke with a group of coaches. This was a special group of 50+ people who attended our Friday evening event to learn more about the Harnisch Foundation and the many initiatives that are important to us at the Harnisch Foundation. One of the initiatives that’s especially important to me is The Gift of Coaching.

To say that The Gift of Coaching has been a labor or love for the past several months would be an understatement. This summer we conducted extensive beta testing with both coaches and non-coaches. We wanted to receive their feedback on what they most like about the powerful software that matches coaches with recipients, and how the software tracks the impact of pro-bono coaching. And, of course, we wanted to know which aspects of the software might be potentially vexing for tech-challenged people. Their feedback was candid and comprehensive. As a result, our developer is making the system even more robust and easier to use.

During the beta testing, I received many requests for some short “how to” videos, to show coaches and registrants the way they will be able to register to either give or receive pro-bono coaching. They asked and we obliged.

We also received many heartwarming endorsements from some of the world’s most well-known coaches. Rather than simply talk about those endorsements, though, wouldn’t you rather read what they said?

Without further ado, we are delighted to present our new The Gift of Coaching  information site.

Let’s Talk It Over...

Where do we find a comfortable place to chat in this ever-changing environment?
Together, at the Coaching Commons.
How can we figure out answers for ourselves and for our clients?
We talk to each other.
Is there a place for candor, peace and fellowship?
Yes, talk it over with us – at the Coaching Commons.

We invite your voice to join many others at the Coaching Commons.

Our volunteer conversation-leaders spend time each week posting blogs, commenting on blogs and generally stirring the coaching conversation. Every guest contributor is a crucial part of The Coaching Commons.

Our mission is to explore and pursue radical opportunities for the coaching community, so we ask our guest contributors to pose the right questions, make key suggestions, and generally lead the march, so that the community becomes just that …a community.
Want to take a turn? Want to START a discussion?

For more information about starting a conversation near and dear to your coaching-heart, email team@coachingcommons.org. Either Linda or Elizabeth will be pleased to get back to you.
 

A Coaching Session with Tamara Herl: Coaching with the Expressive Arts

NOTE from Linda Ballew: Tamara actually guides you through an expressive arts exercise during this call. Make time to listen to the recording. Your responses to this session may surprise you.

Listen to the recording below:
download mp3

Two years ago, art therapist Tamara Herl became a Life Coach and began using expressive practices in her work with clients

Coaching With the Expressive Arts – A Tool to Create Awareness in Coaching

• What are expressive practices?

• Can they play an important role in coaching?

• How can coaches use the expressive arts to access clients’ personal resources and wisdom?

Like any profession, Life Coaching is growing and evolving. Two years ago, when art therapist Tamara Herl became a Life Coach, she began using expressive practices in her work with clients. The responses and results may surprise you!

In the course of this conversation, Tamara will lead participants through an expressive practice experience and initiate a dialogue about how expressive practices can impact the profession of coaching.

Tamara Herl is a Life Coach who helps clients search within themselves to find answers to their life and career challenges. With a gentle manner and deep wisdom, Tamara facilitates individual coaching, group coaching, and experiential retreats that help people and organizations expand their consciousness by connecting with their creativity.

For more information about Tamara: www.tamaraherl.com
 

Whooooooooooooooo’s Talking? Our Readers

From Renee Freedman
This rant honed in on my feeling about this. So I hope you don’t mind that I give you a small rant of my own. What strikes me is that we, coaches, are still having the certification conversation. Coaching is on the verge of being morphed into the next really great thing - a transformation so to speak - and yet we are still hunkering down wondering if we need to be certified. In the early years of finding our way in this profession, the impact of certification vs. non-certification was an unknown. So, many of us acted on the side of perceived safety. The training was great and remains that way and I recommend good solid coach training to everyone - whether it’s to learn or to refresh skills. However, is not necessarily the same with certification. It’s a known now -very few organizations aside from coach training organizations and the US government and associated organizations require certification. If you want to coach for a coach training organization, the EPA, NASA, or some similar agency, then certify. If not, just be ethical, get educated, and do the best job you can for your client - meet their needs.
More ranting, please.

From Leonardo Ravier
It seems that the same approach at the IAC and ICF is also happening between WABC and GSAEC. The way both understand the coaching business is very similar. Perhaps an important conclusion, at this point, is that virtually all organizations that are studying the issue of coaching competencies/skills, recognize that coaching (1) is still an emerging discipline; (2) requires more theoretical and empirical research, and (3) that dialogue is necessary to continue building and basing the profession. Humility seems to be a common denominator (at least among these organizations). This is a good sign.
What is Leo discussing?
 

Please listen to this month's interview.

Francine Campone, Ed.D., PCC interviews researchers for The Coaching Commons and serves as Docent of the Research Repository as part of The Foundation of Coaching’s Research Division.

Join your Colleagues for an Uncommon Conversation via Telephone
 

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Don’t Worry, Be Happy: This Month’s Quote

“The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for."

• Allan K. Chalmers

Who is Allan K. Chalmers?

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