change

How fast can change happen for your coaching clients?

 in Coaching  tagged business coach / business coaching / career coaching / change / client / coach / coaches / coaching / coaching content / coaching courses / coaching qualifications / coaching session / coaching skills / coaching techniques / executive coach / Free resource / instance / leadership coaching / life coach / life coaches / life coaching / performance coaching / personal development / resource

One of the things I often tell someone before I have a coaching session with them is that I believe that change can happen in an instance. This is particularly true if we have not worked together before.

One of the reasons I tell them that is because often they have completed some form of preparation questions prior to our conversation. I go on to explain that if I ask a similar questions it’s not because I don’t believe or haven’t read their answer, it’s because I don’t want to presume that they are in the same place now as they were when they first answered.

If I do ask a similar question I want their attention to be on the question that I asked and their answer at that moment – I do not want them being distracted by any thoughts such as “What does it mean that I’ve already answered that question?” or “Did I not get it right the first time?”

It’s interesting to see/hear people’s reactions when I tell them I have that belief about change. Some obviously believe that change can happen instantly and others are more sceptical. They perhaps believe that in general but in their particular instance they think change must be difficult.

Does change always happen in an instance? No, an obvious example is that whilst some people do win the lottery the most common approach to increasing your figure in a bank account is over time through different actions.

Notice that I don’t say always the wording I use is change can happen in an instance.

Particularly when it comes to a change in perception about something that just takes a new thought – A way of seeing something from a new angle, or hearing it in a new way. And that really can happen in an instance.

Often when it is fear that is getting in our way a change in perception can make a huge difference.

For example, imagine that you are alone in a dark room and are apprehensive because you can see an unknown persons shadow in the corner of the room. Only when you switch the light on and you find out what you thought was a person is just a long coat hung up.

I started this post by giving one of the reasons I share my belief about how change can happen in an instance, particularly if we haven’t yet worked together much. The one I mention is actually not the only main reason that I often include that comment. I invite you to consider other benefits of including such a statement for yourself 😉

Am I Uncoachable? Am I Unapproachable? 1

 in Guest Post  tagged Amber Fogarty / business coach / business coaching / challenge / change / charging / client / clients / coach / coaches / coaching / coaching courses / coaching qualifications / coaching skills / coaching techniques / coaching training / control / effective coach / executive coach / knolwedge / knowing / leadership coaching / learning / life coach / life coaches / life coaching / nlp coach / open / performance coaching / personal coach / personal development / possibilities / SOS Coaching Network / unapproachable / uncoachable

In this week’s Friday guest post coach Amber Fogarty shares her thoughts and experience with those who are uncoachable and unapproachable.

Am I Uncoachable? Am I Unapproachable?

by Amber Fogarty

Raise your hand if you’ve ever encountered someone who was uncoachable. How about someone who was unapproachable? Surely, you’ve encountered both types of people in your coaching business and in your community. Being both uncoachable and unapproachable is one of the worst combinations.

Take a moment to think about yourself and your interactions during the last month. Can you think of times when you’ve come across as either uncoachable or unapproachable or both?

Many blogs posted on this site have highlighted the importance of coaches having coaches. I strongly believe that one cannot be an effective coach without a coach of his or her own. One of my mentors in the coaching industry, who has been a coach for more than 25 years, once told me that “a coach without a coach is a con artist.” Strong words, but words I believe to be true. How can we sell the value of coaching to others if we don’t have a coach ourselves? We must be a “product of the product.”

But what makes someone uncoachable? There are so many factors that can contribute to “uncoachability.” Here are a few of my favorites, worded as I statements so that you can challenge yourself to think about whether or not each one applies to you.

  • I am uncoachable because I do not want to change.
  • I am uncoachable because I do not believe that I need to change.
  • I am uncoachable because I believe I know more than the coach. (Knowing is the enemy of learning.)
  • I am uncoachable because I think it’s not the right time to (fill in your excuse here).
  • I am uncoachable because I think something or someone else needs to change before I do.
  • I am uncoachable because I need to be in control 100% of the time.
  • I am uncoachable because I do not like to be challenged.
  • I am uncoachable because I am not open to feedback.

Bearing all this in mind, are you uncoachable? A very wise coach once told me that being coached is about being open to all possibilities. It is about being challenged to be a better version of yourself.

How can you strive to be more coachable? To be more open to feedback? To embrace change?

I recently was introduced to a networking expert by one of my coaching clients. I reached out to this new contact so that we could get to know each other and see if there were any opportunities for us to help each other. Her response to my request for a meeting indicated that she was really busy and was “only meeting with people who could directly impact her cash flow.” How could a networking expert be so unapproachable?

As coaches, we may at times believe that we have all the answers. We may be tempted to fall into the trap of believing that we don’t have anything to learn from a particular person or about our area of expertise. Knowing truly is the enemy of learning, and we always have more to learn. So let’s make a commitment to being approachable and coachable. Our families, our friends, and our clients deserve it.

About the Author/Further Resources

Amber Fogarty is a Partner and Coach with the SOS Coaching Network, which unites an elite group of coaches, trainers, and consultants from around the world, providing them with personalized programs, one-on-one and group coaching, and tools to help them succeed in the rapidly growing coaching industry. Learn more at www.soscoachingnetwork.com.

Who moved my cheese 1

 in books / Resource  tagged change / coaches / coaching / dr spencer johnson / resource / who moved my cheese

Who Moved My Cheese is a parable where the 4 main characters (who live in a maze) are all looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. It is written in a simple style that means that it is suitable for all and will take the average reader less than an hour to read.

You will find that the book is split into 3, a short introduction, the main parable itself and a brief discusion. It is a book that deals with change. Specifically, as the back cover states “how to anticipate change, adapt to change quickly, enjoy change and be ready to change again and again.”

It is very simple to read and, some may say, common sense approach that is about suffering less stress and enjoying more success.

[Amazon.co.uk] Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

[Amazon.com] Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life