IAC VOICE, Volume 4, Issue 29, August 2008, Circulation: 12,546
August 29, 2008
Kerch
From the Editor
August is the end of summer here in the US and while my kids are all grown it still feels like the lull before the start of a new school year. And true to form there are big changes coming to the IAC. Check out President Angela Spaxman’s article about the Masteries and the financial stabilities of the organization. Find out how to update your own website from Tech Coach Sandra De Freitas. New this month is an audio file to teach you about Mastery 3 and information about how to use a mentor coach. There is a follow up by Marion Franklin to last month’s cell phone article.
This is my last issue as editor and while it’s not been a long association, it has certainly been a great learning experience. My best wishes for continuing success of the IAC.
Coaches who are working towards IAC Certification are like Olympic athletes striving towards excellence. This process of certification prompts coaches to reach for their best, building their muscles of acceptance, honesty, clarity and love. Those skills may not win them any medals, but they achieve good in the world by the way they lift others and the way they cherish themselves. I want to give a hearty cheer to all those champions who are pushing their own coaching abilities to the limit of greatness, and also to those teachers and mentors of coaching who are helping others to reach for excellence. You all do our profession proud. You are the soul of the IAC.
This summer we’ve been working on two major projects. The first is to complete the first ever audit of the IAC’s financial records. We intend to set a benchmark through this project for our financial professionalism that will serve as a foundation as we grow. Our thanks go to our Treasurer Jean Gran for leading this project.
Secondly, we are working on the final legal documentation for the IAC Coaching Masteries Licensing Program that will enable us to better support all those coaching schools and mentors who want to help coaches achieve IAC Certification. I’m very excited about this initiative because it will allow us to better connect coaches-in-training with the resources that can move them effectively to achieving certification. This important step for the IAC has been years in the making through hundreds of hours of volunteer effort. I expect to be able to announce the details this fall.
Updates on the Masteries: Especially for Non Members
We’re now providing more information about the IAC Coaching Masteries™ to the general public, available on-line here. Previously there was only a list of the Masteries without any description of what they mean or what they look like. Now you can see the Definitions, Effects and Key Elements of each of the Masteries. Information on the Distinctions, Effective Behaviours, Ineffective Behaviours and Measures is available in the e-book available to members here. It can also be purchased by non-members here.
Words of Wisdom for Easy Web Presence by Sandra De Freitas
Dear Tech Coach: I know I need a website so people can find out about my philosophy of coaching and get an idea of whether we might be able to work together. But my last web person was so (grumble, grumble, grumble). I don’t know who to call next. I’m tired of hunting out an über Geek to do the work. Isn’t there a way I can do all this myself? Why does it have to be so complicated? Signed, Frustrated
Dear Frustrated: You are definitely in luck. The times are changing and now you can easily manage your web presence on your own schedule AND with just about no new skills. (Maybe an hour’s help from a low level geek, and then you’re on your own.)
How, you ask? Get a Blogsite! Here’s just part of the reason:
A traditional website is created with html and contains a number of static pages that rarely change. When you want to modify or add a page you either need to know html, have expensive software to update it or have a web person who will update it when they have time. It soon becomes a painful and time consuming process, so much so that you may not update your website for months or even years.
A blogsite combines the features of a website (static pages) and the features of a blog (the ability to add articles, tips and promotions through blog posts) into one easy to maintain site. A blogsite can be updated from any computer in the world with internet access. Yes, even MACs.
More good news:
Google and other search engines are giving priorities to blogs over traditional websites for many reasons. Blogs are updated with fresh content more frequently than traditional sites and they are structured to make it easier for Google to find, index and add them to their list of results.
Make it easy for Google and you reap the vast rewards.
Just like with a regular site, with blogsites you can:
Create static pages such as “our services,” “contact us” etc.
Add to your site by posting articles, tips, promotions, etc.
Interact with web visitors and start building a relationship with them.
Promote your newsletter, services, affiliate programs and products.
But with a blogsite you can also:
Maintain your own website without a computer science degree.
Take advantage of Web 2.0 functionality.
Add media to your site easily.
Get Google to fall in love with you and your site because it’s built with search engine optimization in mind.
About the Author: Sandra De Freitas is a top tech coach, speaker, trainer and expert in internet technology. Find her on the web at www.TechCoachForCoaches.com.
Certification Gets Real… By Nina East, Lead Certifier for the IAC
This month we have a special treat!
As you may know, Coach Andrea Lee (www.AndreaJLee.com) has decided to pursue IAC certification. That fact alone may not seem noteworthy, but that she is doing so openly and publicly IS. Andrea is doing this to encourage other coaches in their certification progress. In addition, it’s a call to action for other leaders in the coaching industry who are not certified by an independent body such as the IAC.
As part of her preparation, she wanted to get as much information as possible about the Masteries and how to know when she is, or is not, using them correctly. To do so and to support other coaches, she interviewed me to pick my brain and get “the inside scoop” on what the certifiers are listening for with each of the Masteries.
We recorded the conversations and we’re sharing a snippet from the interview on Mastery #3 – Engaged Listening. The beginning of the interview also includes nuggets about the Masteries in general. Andrea described it as getting the “true gold” from my brain. Listen, enjoy, learn! (You can hear the entire interview at www.MyMentorCoach.com.)
Play file(file size: 3.42 MB, length: 14 minutes, 15 seconds)
For even more insights about IAC Certification and the 9 Coaching Masteries™ listen to all Nina’s interviews at www.MyMentorCoach.com.
Next month we’ll take a closer look at Mastery #4 – Processing In The Present.
About the Author: Nina East is the IAC’s Lead Certifier and the founder of www.PersonalGrowthProfessionals.com. As a coach, she helps personal growth professionals turn creative edge thinking into practical tools and resources, and helps coaches master the art of coaching.
Sharing the Certification Journey E-Book
Six IAC Certified Coaches talk about their journeys to certification. Here’s a chance to hear the different coaching styles of six IAC certified coaches. Each coach has included a five minute segment of a recorded call which passed Step 2 of the IAC exam—a valuable resource in itself. Discover insights, tips and patterns to inspire and support you on your own journey towards IAC certification… IAC members receive a 30% discount! Members log in here to find the link to the deal!
Another Ending to a Story Previously Told in the VOICE by Marion Franklin, MS, MCC
Last month VOICE published an article about a coach who found himself stuck in traffic and would likely not be on time for his client. Accordingly, he called the client from his cell phone to either change the time or reschedule. The client asked if the coach was driving, and he replied that in fact he was a passenger. The client then became enraged and claimed that his confidentiality had been violated and slammed down the phone. When the coach tried to contact the client to explain, the client did not respond.
[ed. It is not our intent to scold last month’s author. AND we want to know what you are thinking about previously published topics and about new ones. So we offer here an alternate ending to the story.]
When someone tells you a joke, particularly a long one, you anxiously await the punch line. When the punch line isn’t funny, you feel let down and disappointed that you listened to the whole thing for nothing.
That’s how I felt when I read last month’s VOICE article about the use and abuse of cell phones. I found myself going in a completely different direction.
The nature of a typical coaching practice is that clients come and clients go. We may work with some for longer periods of time, but overall, clients feel complete once they have accomplished their intended goals. And perhaps more importantly, when they use the tools and wisdom they gained from coaching to handle situations and challenges on their own they feel the value of their experience.
But, there are instances when clients leave abruptly. On occasion, it may be without explanation. Oftentimes, they use a convenient excuse such as the cost factor. Or like in the scenario we read about, the client fired the coach seemingly out of anger.
We could speculate forever on why this happened.
Was the car ride the real trigger for the client’s anger?
Was the client anxious to speak with the coach to share something?
Was something going on for a usually easy client that he didn’t feel his appointment time was honored? or
Was there some preexisting mistrust and this was a final straw?
What’s the learning in the story?
The client said that he felt violated, and so the lesson might really be just about confidentiality. Trust and rapport are imperative and crucial in a coaching relationship. As a professional, those are our responsibilities. Therapists are compelled not to reveal the name or identity of a client. But for coaches, it’s a matter of ethics. We don’t have any written laws but we do pledge to uphold a Code of Ethics that includes maintaining client confidentiality.
Early on in my coaching practice I offered a free month of coaching for any referred new client who hired me. I stopped quickly when I realized that it meant my current client would become aware of a new client working with me.
The client in the cell phone story might have felt disrespected around the appointment. In any relationship, especially a professional one such as coach/client, employer/employee, doctor/patient or teacher/student, there is an inherent understanding that when a meeting is arranged, it will happen.
Yes, traffic happens, and consequently, people are late for a meetings or appointments. When a doctor keeps you waiting for a scheduled appointment, you get agitated and annoyed. It feels as if you aren’t important. It’s as if your time is not valued. It feels disrespectful.
For some people, this may not have been a big deal. Clearly though, dishonoring a professional appointment can have major consequences.
Perhaps the client was feeling some of that disrespect. Conceivably, he felt as though the time set aside was not valued. It’s possible there was more going on, but we will never really know. What is important is realizing that dishonoring a time commitment can evoke a lack of trust, a sense of disregard, and at the very least a huge disappointment.
In the end, when something unexpected happens, like this client’s rage, it is important to examine the event from as many perspectives as possible. Is the reason given the obvious one? Or is it something entirely different. Getting input from the client if at all possible would be most beneficial. Then we are more likely to prevent the same thing happening again.
Questions to Ponder
How do you feel when someone keeps you waiting or cancels at the last minute?
What if you are running late or need to cancel, do you notify the person immediately, apologize, and/or offer something in return for the inconvenience?
What are the potential consequences and impact of missing an appointment?
About the Author: Marion Franklin, MCC, trains, mentors, and coaches individuals and groups focusing on honing leadership qualities, enhancing communication, and strengthening interpersonal relations. Visit her site @ www.lifecoachinggroup.com.
Working With A Mentor Coach by Nina East
If you are considering hiring a mentor coach, then you are already committed to your professional growth and to delivering outstanding service to your clients. A strong, effective working relationship is essential for you to learn and grow and ultimately it’s best for your clients as well.
The relationship you have with your mentor coach will be different from your relationship with other coaches you may hire. Your mentor coach will be helping you practice, expand, and refine your coaching skill. For this reason, a mentor coach is more like a trainer or teacher, providing clear, specific supervision and instruction on coaching methods and style.
Selecting a mentor coach can be an exciting and daunting project. Not only do you have to identify the right person(s) to work with based on your specific needs, you also have to build an effective relationship. For many coaches, this is the first time they have hired another coach, and it is important to know what to expect. This will help you make the right hiring decision.
So what should you expect from a mentor coach?
A good mentor coach gives direct feedback with specific examples and clear alternatives. You may need to prepare for this. Mentor coaches, while kind and compassionate, are there to help you improve your skills and the results you are getting with clients. If you tend toward the sensitive side, discuss this with the prospective mentor and get a feel for their style.
A good mentor coach tells it like it is. It is imperative that a mentor coach is comfortable giving you the tough feedback and doing so in a way that is helpful and productive. You should expect your mentor coach to support their points with clear, specific examples. They should be able to tell you what is working—and why it is working. Likewise, they need to be able to tell you what is not working and why. If they can’t do this concisely and directly, they may not be the best mentor coach.
A good mentor coaching relationship is a clearly defined relationship. Without clear definition, there is too much room for misunderstanding and unmet expectations. The experienced mentor coach will initiate this discussion at the beginning. You’ll need to know at least: How often will you meet? How often can you contact your mentor between sessions? How will you receive feedback (written, oral, or a combination)? Be sure the mentor you select makes defining the relationship an early priority.
Good mentor coaches hold themselves to high standards. The best ones continue to work on their skill development, as well as personal and professional development. Ask your prospective mentors what they do for their own professional development. They should be able to answer this easily. Hopefully their answer will inspire you as well. Most of them will have mentors or a highly accountable mastermind peer group.
A good mentor coach helps you choose what to focus on during a coaching session. A mentor coach is what I like to call an “intimate outsider.” They are outside your business, but have an intimate knowledge of your coaching and its effectiveness. They are committed to your success, and so collaborate with you in designing the mentor sessions. While you should always arrive prepared, your mentor should as well.
A good mentor coach has the ability to transition the relationship when appropriate. At some point, you and your mentor coach will stop being mentor and protégé, and the relationship will transform into something else. Often mentors and protégés become peers or collaborators on projects. Sometimes the goals of the relationship are met and it is time to find a new mentor. Either way, you should expect your mentor coach to handle this with grace and ease. The best mentor coaches will talk about this at the beginning of the relationship. They won’t be making any promises, but they will talk about the possible “exit scenarios,” which will give you an even greater sense of their integrity and style.
Be clear about your goals. Establish bench marks for the process. Be prepared for your sessions, and take advantage of the process. The right mentor coaching relationship can make your business blossom.
About the author: Nina East is the founder of MyMentorCoach.com and the Lead Certifier for the International Association of Coaching. To hear tips on preparing for coach certification using IAC Coaching Masteries™ and get tips on certification, visit http://www.MyMentorCoach.com.
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