Coaching Quote of the Day 22nd December 2011
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
(Dr. Seuss)
Monthly Archives: December 2011
12 Days of Coaching Resources – Day 8 3
Today’s coaching resource is one that many class as a classic coaching text:
“Coaching for performance” by Sir John Whitmore
Sir John Whitmore does have a background in sport, having begun his career as a professional racing driver and founding a sport and business training company with Tim Gallwey (Author of such books as The inner game to tennis).
However, you’ll find that as you read this book the main focus is from a business perspective. This does not mean that the skills, models and ideas discussed can not be transfered into other arenas – the book just doesn’t use those examples and you will have to create your own 😉
This book has sold over 500,000 copies in at least 17 languages. It’s a book that has been popular in the corporate world for new managers as it’s presented in a user friendly manner, you’ll find that it’s written in a concise style with any “jargon” clearly explained. Presenting coaching as a method to grow people, performance and purpose.
One of the first coaching models that many coaching schools teach is GROW. You’ll find that this book provides an overview of the model and each section within it’s pages. Which is perhaps why this book is many people’s first coaching book.
Whilst earlier editions will vary in how the book is arranged, you’ll find that the latest edition is divided into 4 sections:
- The Principles of Coaching;
- The Practice of Coaching;
- Leadership for High Performance;
- Transformation through Transpersonal Coaching
The first edition of this book was published in 1992 , whilst the latest and forth edition was published in 2009. The last publication saw the inclusion of a new section on leadership and chapters such as the future focus of coaching. Adding an extra 50 pages to the third edition copy.
You can click the link to go straight to this book on Amazon UK, or Amazon.com
Did you miss Day 7’s coaching resource? You will find it here.
Coaching Quote of the Day 21st December 2011
“Little by little one walks far”
(Peruvian Proverb)
12 Days of Coaching Resources – Day 7 1
As we arrive at Day 7 of our 12 Days of coaching resources today’s is:
Time Trade
Time trade is an appointment scheduler that I personally find really easy to use. When I first started as a coach, particularly when setting up an initial chat with someone who had expressed an interest in coaching, I found that it wasn’t unusual to play email and/or phone mail tag before we could find a time that worked for us both.
I found that it has eliminated a lot of email/voice mail tag that used to go on – so I’m actually having conversations with people at a convenient time for us to both and a lot quicker than previously!
If you, like me, often talk to individuals in other parts of the world you will be familiar with working with different timezones. This scheduling system automatically detects the timezone someone is physically in and coverts the available times to show automatically in the local time for the person looking at the schedule. This cuts out either person having to manually do any maths to work out what time it will be for them – I like things that make processes easier! 🙂
Once I started using this scheduling system as opposed to manually setting up calls the conversations I’m having are with people who are showing up a lot more committed without noticeably affecting the number of conversations I’m having. This may naturally have coincided with my progression as a coach but the automatic reminder emails that go out 24 hours before an appointment certainly helps.
This system allows you to set up potential session times to offer as available times to book. If you use either outlook or google calendars this system can integrate with that so that appointments showing as an option will only appear if there is space in your schedule – if you add something else into your outlook/google calendar then time trade will adjust what is shown as available. It will also automatically add any booked appointments straight into your google/outlook calender.
This system is available as both individual, team or corporation subscriptions. My guess would be that many coaches will be interested in the individual option which at the time of writing they are offering a 30 day free trial.
Visit Time Trade’s website here.
Missed Day 6? You can visit the last coaching resource here.
Coaching Quote of the Day 20th December 2011
“I dreamed a thousand new paths. . . I woke and walked my old one.”
(Chinese Proverb)
12 Days of Coaching Resources – Day 6 1
As we reach the half way stage of our 12 days of coaching resource, day 6 is:
“The 8th Habit: From effectiveness to greatness” by Stephen R. Covey
Stephen R. Covey is perhaps best known for his international best seller originally published in 1989, “The 7 habits of highly effective people.” As you may have surmised from the title the 8th habit builds upon the foundation of the 7 habits.
It could be easy to say that this book focuses mainly on teams, leadership and business. However, the underlying message is about realising and unlocking the greatness within ourselves and others. A message that could also appeal to coaches who don’t specialise in business coaching.
The book is split into 2 sections:
- Find your voice
- Inspire others to find their voice
and also contains detailed appendices and notes section.
Personally, I think that the written style is not as conversational as some authors, yet it does include many anecdotes and examples. Given the focus of the book and the written style I suspect that the author had a managerial and business audience in mind whilst writing this book.
Some will find the style either too dry or long-winded to read from start to finish. Others will find that they discover some great insights.
It’s not the shortest book ever produced (the hardback edition on my bookshelf is around 400 pages.) It is also slightly more involved then the 7 habits book. It is possible to get editions of this book that contains a bonus dvd containing 16 inspirational companion films to illustrate points being made throughout the book.
You can find the book on Amazon UK, or Amazon.com
Missed Day 5’s coaching resource, visit here.
Coaching Quote of the Day 19th December 2011
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
(Mahatma Gandhi)
12 Days of Coaching Resources – Day 5 1
It’s day 5 of our 12 days of coaching resources, and today’s resource is:
“Effortless Success” by Michael Neill
This is a set of 6 C.D’s with a running time of 394 minutes (6 hours 34 minutes). You will find that the C.D’s also contains a 40 page “workbook” (approximately A6 in size) This isn’t a C.D. series just for coaches but it is a set that many coaches will recognise uses a coaching approach about having a wonderful life.
If you have read any of Michael’s written work you will be familiar with his conversational style of writing. This spoken form reflects this and has a relaxed chatty manner, that for many will be easy to listen to. It invits you to engage and play with the content and ideas for yourself.
Within these C.D’s you will find not only what Michael means by effortless success but also obstacles that can get in someone’s way with questions and exercises to give a nudge in such situations. You’ll find that the workbook contains many of those questions and exercises in written format.
If you prefer to see content in written format then the book “You can have what you want” by the same author would be a better fit. This audio format allows you to not only have someone explain an idea but also guide you through an exercise with the spoken word rather than the written word. An aspect that will appeal to some and make experiencing the exercises easier.
Personally, one of my favourite parts of this CD set is the “guided internal experience” on the last track. A lovely guided imagery/ meditation that compliments the ideas and exercises found on the previous 39 tracks.
To hear examples of how Michael will be your personal coach on this CD series visit here.
Missed Day 4’s coaching resource? Find it here.