Chatterbox


Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with Jane Minton

Chatterbox

Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with

Jane Minton

The Coaching Confidence Chatterbox is an interview feature with coaches where the questions are generated based on the origami fortune teller/chatterbox game.

Jane Minton

Name: Jane Minton

Name of your Coaching Business: Jane Minton Coaching

Website: www.janemintoncoaching.co.uk

.

(The answers to the above questions are then used to generate a choice of numbers)

.

Select one of the following numbers 7, 2, 3 or 6: 7

“What do you look for when choosing a coach for yourself?”:

A sense of connection; this might be something in their personal story that is shared or similar, but it’s also a feeling about them – a gut reaction.

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1, 4 or 5: 5

“What is your favourite way that a client has found out about your work?”:

When I shared some writing from a month long project that I took part in. An example of something I’d written was shared on the course leader’s site and that brought a client to me. I love the way those kind of things can happen – it’s about connection again!

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1 or 4: 4

“What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learnt, so far, as a coach?”:

To be authentic. This applies in all interactions with clients and when I’m networking. I think that’s where a good website and blog can be really useful; potential clients can get a sense of who you are if you’re genuine in your content.

.

What question would you like to add to the Chatterbox for another coach to answer?:

What advice would you give to someone who thinks that they’d like to become a coach?

.

How would you answer that question?:

To remember that it’s not about YOU it’s about THEM!

 

Thanks for playing Jane, if you want to find out more about her work visit www.janemintoncoaching.co.uk.

If you are a coach and want to play with the Coaching Confidence Chatterbox send an email via this page.


Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with Olivia Chapman 1

Chatterbox

Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with

Olivia Chapman

The Coaching Confidence Chatterbox is an interview feature with coaches where the questions are generated based on the origami fortune teller/chatterbox game.

Olivia Chapman

Name: Olivia Chapman

Name of your Coaching Business: Natural Greatness Coaching, LLC.

Website: www.naturalgreatnesscoaching.com

.

(The answers to the above questions are then used to generate a choice of numbers)

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1, 4 or 5: 8

“What, if anything, do you look for when choosing to work with a client?”:

First and foremost I want to be sure that any potential clients are willing to be truly invested in the process. The coaching process is one where both coach and client are deeply invested in the relationship, the plan and the intended goals.

Secondly, I ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between the client and myself as well as reflect upon whether or not I am best suited to help each individual client. For example, if the area in which they seek coaching is not an area in which I feel I have the proper expertise or is not aligned with the moral foundation of my company, I will refer them to another coach or service.

Ultimately, I want to be the best coach for each individual client so I take time to check in with myself and reflect before going into contract.

.

Select one of the following numbers 1, 4 or 5: 5

“What is your favourite way that a client has found out about your work?”:

My favorite way to find out that a client has discovered my work is word of mouth. If my previous clients have referred me to their friends, coworkers or family, I feel as though I am making a difference. That validation and endorsement from clients is what grows my business as well as gives me the assurance that my work is empowering and motivating others.

.

Select one of the following numbers 1 or 4: 5

“What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learnt, so far, as a coach?”:

The biggest lesson I have learned as a coach so far is so simple: listen. Just listen. Listen closely and listen to truly gain understanding. Do not listen just to respond, listen to clarify, listen to learn and listen to connect.

.

What question would you like to add to the Chatterbox for another coach to answer?:

As a coach, what do you feel has been the greatest benefit of being coached?

.

How would you answer that question?:

As a coach, I have had a relationship with my own coach for a while now. Also, I have been coached in trainings as well as by coaching mentors in the field and in my own business. The greatest benefit of this coaching is that I am continuously gaining more perspective and having moments of realization in my own life and practice. Often times I can use this greater understanding of myself to break down my own barriers of thinking and pass on new insights and perspectives to my clients. In a way, I see coaching as a tree, whereas the branches of perspective and knowledge keep growing which is constantly energizing to me.

 

Thanks for playing Olivia, if you want to find out more about her work visit www.naturalgreatnesscoaching.com.

If you are a coach and want to play with the Coaching Confidence Chatterbox send an email via this page.

 


Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with Emma Fowler 1

Chatterbox

Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with

Emma Fowler

The Coaching Confidence Chatterbox is an interview feature with coaches where the questions are generated based on the origami fortune teller/chatterbox game.

Name: Emma Fowler

Name of your Coaching Business: Free your career

Website: www.FreeYourCareer.com

.

(The answers to the above questions are then used to generate a choice of numbers)

.

Select one of the following numbers 7, 2, 3 or 6: 7

“What do you look for when choosing a coach for yourself”:

A combination of coaching and training; a chemistry between me and the coach.

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1, 4 or 5: 1

“Tell us a bit about your coaching”:

I offer three different types of coaching:

  1. career coaching;
  2. executive coaching
  3. a blended solution which offers life coaching.

There is no hard-and-fast rule to stick with one when I coach people, we deviate according to the needs of the client. Career coaching is my passion.

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 4 or 5: 5

“What is your favourite way that a client has found out about your work?”:

I coached the husband of one of my clients when he changed from his long-term permanent career to contracting, because she was enjoying my service and liked that I might help her whole family rather than just her.

.

What question would you like to add to the Chatterbox for another coach to answer?:

What’s the most difficult situation you have faced as a coach and what advice would you give other coaches if they face the same?

.

How would you answer that question?:

It’s sometimes hard with existing relationships in your network to take things from a supportive conversation to a monetised consulting service, especially when you’re starting out.

In order to understand why someone should employ you as a coach, you need to value the service you are giving (and your time) and appreciate the significant positive impact your work will have on the person, in order to explain to a potential client why a relationship should transition to being a paid service (of course using discretion with friends!)

Thanks for playing Emma, if you want to find out more about her work visit www.FreeYourCareer.com.

If you are a coach and want to play with the Coaching Confidence Chatterbox send an email via this page.


Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with Jen Waller

Chatterbox

Coaching Confidence Chatterbox with

Jen Waller

The Coaching Confidence Chatterbox is an interview feature with coaches where the questions are generated based on the origami fortune teller/chatterbox game.

As this is the first week, I thought as this is my site I’d join in and play first. 🙂

Name: Jen Waller

Website: www.CoachingConfidence.co.uk (this one!)

Jen Waller

.

(The answers to the above questions are then used to generate a choice of numbers)

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1, 4 or 5: 5

What is your favourite way that a client has found out about your work?“:

A lot of the clients I work with have either come to me as a referral or because they have already have experience/contact with my work – either through the written word or in person.

For example, I have had clients approach me to become their coach who I initially met at someone elses event and we did a coaching exercise together.

.

Select one of the following numbers 7, 2, 3 or 6: 6

“If you could travel back in time to give a message to yourself either at the start of your coaching journey, or earlier, what would that message be?”

For a long time I let fear and that voice of doubt and self criticism get in the way of actually coaching and being present with the other person.

So the first thing that springs to mind is to actually give her a big hug and tell her that everything will be OK. One day you will really see that the voice inside your head, the one that wants to give a running critique (the one you think is getting in the way), really doesn’t have to be important!

I know that at the time I was all about the destination and not so much about the journey – I doubt I’d have let myself get away without giving what I’d have viewed as a more practical answer.

So I’ll also add that you really don’t need to know all the questions you’re going to ask before the session – it works so much better if you respond to what your client actually says in that moment. Not what you imagined they may say or even where they were before the session!

Not knowing before the session what you are going to ask really does not reflect on your coaching skills – it just means that you’ve not learnt to time travel yet!

.

Select one of the following numbers 8, 1 or 4: 4

“What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a coach?”

Oh so many to choose from – both from a coaching and a business perspective. I suspect that this is one of those questions where my answer will change from one week to the next!

If I had to just pick one today I would pick a coaching related one. It’s one where the language may get a bit more messy as it describes an experience – different people may use the same words in different contexts and to describe different experiences.

I think being totally present, focused and just “with” the other person is so powerful. It’s about listening without the purpose of fixing them, or using a specific pre-determined “technique” etc. It’s that space where if that voice of self doubt and criticism appears in my head it can go as quickly as it came – ‘cos it’s not about me in that moment, it’s about the other person.

When I’m in that flow it’s almost as if the questions, stories, quotes etc I share are coming from elsewhere. I’m not consciously having to think about any of that. Sometimes there’s a relaxed choice to make about a direction to head in but there’s an ease and naturalness about it all.

I love learning new things and I think certainly when I started out I would focus loads on the techniques, do lots and lots of language based drills, study different models and theories etc. I certainly undervalued the impact that being present environment can make – it seemed so simple and yet makes such a big difference.

.

What question would you like to add to the Chatterbox for another coach to answer?

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a coaching business?

.

How would you answer that question?

Two aspects immediately spring to mind:

  • Firstly the easiest way is to get some practical experience both as a coach and as a client. See how you enjoy this before jumping headlong into setting up a full time business and then potentially discovering that what you thought in theory is nothing like the actual experience!
  • Secondly, if you are wanting to “make a living” from coaching with your own business then there is the business aspects – it’s not just about coaching every working hour. That may seem obvious and it’s worth stating you don’t have to do all that single handed.

Having a support structure in place helps. How that support structure looks will vary from person to person – some will want support from an admin perspective, others with accounting, many love having someone to bounce ideas off or to talk about how to find clients etc.

It also really helps if you can make a difference with your clients so depending on your existing knowledge and background it may be that part of that support plan involves training and skill development.

One of the questions I’ve been known to ask people is to consider what their “dream” support would be? So if you had unlimited money/ time/ resources what would you put in place to make this easier and more fun?

Logistically unlimited money/ time / resources may not be your reality but I find that question often highlights surprising answers that many hadn’t considered exploring previously.

I’m on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from Non-Coach to Coach and Beyond, to find out more about me and my work visit here.

If you are a coach and want to play with the Coaching Confidence Chatterbox send an email via this page.


New Year, New Feature 3

A Chatterbox/ fortune teller

Did you used to play with one of these as a child?

It’s a origami “toy” that appears to have many different names but fortune teller and chatterbox appears to be the most common.

If you’ve either forgotten how this worked or have not come across this before this YouTube video will demonstrate how to play and make one.

I’ve had the idea to have a small interview type feature for a while and thought that I’d take one of these origami games as inspiration.

It’s not a feature about predicting the future so fortune teller would be a slightly misleading title. However it is a feature about finding out more about some of our readers who are coaches – so chatterbox seems a much better title to keep.

Who will be playing?

Coaches

How will it work?

Any coach can volunteer to be featured by filling in their contact details below.

You will then get sent an Excel file that will ask you to enter some basic details initially (ie your name)

It will then ask you to select a number from the ones offered, your selection will reveal a question that you can then answer.

Once you have answered you will be able to select another number and another question will be revealed.

Once you have answered all available questions save the file and email your answers back, complete with any photo you want to include.

Along with your name, coaching business name (if you have one/ it’s different from your name) and links to your website – you’re welcome to provide a brief bio.

The Chatterbox feature will run on a Monday and I’ll confirm the publishing date with you beforehand.

What are the questions about?

Generally they are about you and your coaching “journey”

How long will it take?

That really does depend on how long your answers are and how much you like to reflect on such things!

Over half the information you are asked for is taken up by entering things like your name, website address and selecting a number to generate a question!

It’s there as something a little fun with and to feature some of our readers. – As a coach you’ll know the power of questions so it’s also possible that a question may pop up that will prompt you to think about something for a moment or two! In which case it may take a bit longer than an answer you already have formulated! 😉

Want to be involved?

Fantastic – add your contact details below, click submit and we can stake it from there

[si-contact-form form=’16’]