IAC VOICE, Volume 4, Issue 5, August 2006



Barbra

From the Editor

What makes an elite performer? Do elite performers differ
across professions?
And can elite performance be developed?

These are some of the questions that intrigued Dr. Ray
Metcalfe, a psychological researcher and elite performer
consultant. To find the answers, he undertook a
comprehensive nine year study of over 15,000 elite
performers throughout North America. We’re pleased to
present a summary of his research results in the article
“What Coaches Need to Know About Elite Performers” below.

Starting this month, our President Natalie Tucker Miller,
IAC-CC will devote her “Ask the President” column to
introducing some of the folks who make the IAC such a
great organization. This month Natalie profiles M. Parker
Anderson, a dynamic and committed member of our Board of
Governors.

Many of you
have written asking about IAC Member Benefits.  Be
sure to check out the article in this issue that addresses
member benefits.

And you’ll be happy to know that Janice Hunter is back
with a lovely Coaching Moments column called “My Life is
the Session I Want to Get a Passing Grade For”. I must say
that this is my favorite Coaching Moments column to date.

Until next month, enjoy!

Warmly,

Barbra Sundquist, IAC-CC
Editor, IAC Voice
Email: 

voice@certifiedcoach.org

Web:   www.becomeacertifiedcoach.com


 




Natalie

Ask the
President

president@certifiedcoach.org


As mentioned last month, we’ll spend the next several issues
of the VOICE meeting the people who contribute to the care
and growth of the IAC.


M. Parker Anderson has served on the Board of Governors for
the past two years, and has offered her time and talents on
several committees and special projects. I have the pleasure
of working closely with Parker, and am continuously reminded
of her dedication not just to the profession, but to the
individual professionals who comprise coaching.



I had the opportunity to ask Parker to explain a bit of her
role at the IAC, and this is what she had to say:


I am delighted to serve on the Board of Governors for the
International Association of Coaching (IAC).


My personal and professional interests on the Board are in
the area of International Programs and Projects and in
furthering the development and growth of coaches and the
coaching profession worldwide.


However, serving on a volunteer board requires each member
to step out beyond their levels of comfort and interests, as
part of their commitment to get the work of the organization
done and moving forward. So I have also served as the Chair
for the Bylaws Committee and as an active member of the
Strategic Planning Committee. The work of these two
committees has resulted in countless hours of conversation,
debate, and negotiation. I must say, however, that these
seemingly long and arduous hours have been balanced by
intense laughter, shared joy, and focused inspiration.


In looking forward, what I would like to see in the field of
coaching and as a directed, focused component for this
Board, is:


1) a continued emphasis on strengthening the field of
coaching through the skills and abilities of highly
qualified and capable coaches;


2) an increased awareness of the unique needs and
differences of those in the global coaching community;


3) an expanded interest in serving those with limited
resources and access to coaching;


4) meeting and serving the needs of our current and future
members in growing their practices into thriving and
prosperous entities.


For us to achieve these goals by the year 2010 we must
remain focused on our purpose. We need your help and your
genuine commitment to the work that lies ahead. For an
organization to stay alive and even more so, for the
profession and field to thrive requires the ongoing and
active involvement of its members.


I truly encourage others to find their place of service to
the profession. I invite you to volunteer your skills and
talents, and to share your best thinking. Consider
volunteering at the local level, write articles that can be
broadly disseminated, engage in structured dialogues that
move the profession forward, or step into leadership at
national or international level.


The people to people connections, that have emerged for me,
over the course of my weeks and months in service to the IAC
Board, will continue to nurture me long after my tenure on
the Board has come and gone. I know that I will truly enjoy
reflecting on the value of being a part of this powerful
organization and the professional world of coaching.


On the personal side, I am the President and Founder of
The
Anderson Advantage Group
, an international coaching
organization based in Washington, D.C. Having lived and
worked internationally, I am fortunate to use my
multi-lingual skills in Spanish and French within my
coaching practice.


Known to speak the “caring truth”, with humor, sharp
observations, and unconditional honesty, I continue to
persevere and support my clients as a leadership coach and
life strategist. My personal commitment is to be a “voice
for the voiceless” and to “inspire leaders to rise from
within, to achieve their own unforgettable legacy”.

Meet the
Board of Governors:

www.certifiedcoach.org/mission/governors.html


And as always, don’t hesitate to
contact us and
initiate a conversation.



What Coaches
Need to Know About Elite Performers


by Dr. Ray Metcalfe


Between 1987 and 1996 my team conducted an analysis
of over 15,000 elite performers throughout North America.
Over 200 professional groups and vocations were analyzed.
(Elite performers were defined as those in the top 5% of
their group.)


As our research data came in, and we did the proverbial
“number crunching”, a distinct pattern began to develop. No
matter where we tested our elite performers, no matter what
industry they were in, or what profession they represented,
there was a consistent, and common cluster of 6 common
performance strengths that emerged. Of the 15,000 elite
performers that we assessed, we did not find one exception!


Furthermore, there was a specific and predictable range of
strength possessed in each area. For instance, one area was
Self-Control. All elite performers, on a scale of 1-10, fell
within a predictable range of 6-8.


Six Common Strengths of Elite Performers


1. Elite performers think well.
While they may not necessarily be high-I.Q.
individuals, they all tend to be high-average, and their
reasoning abilities are sharp and clear. The issue here,
when working with your clients, is to evaluate their clarity
of thought, and level of focus. It is not so much “how much
you have”, in terms of intelligence, but is your client
using, to the best of his/her ability, what he in fact has.


2. Elite performers are bold.
Elite performers tend to be confident, persuasive, and
display a higher than average level of energy. Complementary
to this, is a natural “Social Boldness”, which allows them
to venture out, where others may tend to hesitate.


3. Elite performers bounce back
Critical to success, is the ability to persevere during
difficult times, and the ability to “get up off of the
floor” after major setbacks. This emotional resilience
relates to overall emotional integration and the ability
to“get it together” emotionally. Of interest to coaches and
consultants, is that regular cardiovascular exercise
elevates emotional resilience, typically within three months
of starting a program of exercise.


4. Elite performers are disciplined
It is often taught, especially among motivational speakers,
that self discipline or self control leads to frustration,
and that good habits are to be preferred. On the contrary,
elite performers are all high in the area of self control.
They plan their activities carefully, follow their detailed
plan, and display exceptional impulse control.


5. Elite performers have strong interpersonal skills
It is often said that “Business is Relationships”. This is
especially true of elite performers. While they aren’t all
“people people”, they are all approachable, and show a
genuine interest in others. They are not soft, however, and
are not reserved in speaking their mind. They do connect
well with others, and contrary to popular belief, hold their
friendships for long periods of time.


6. Elite performers are practical
Elite performers know how to take their ideas and make them
practical. Included in this strength, is the willingness to
try new ideas and approaches, and the ability to let go of
that which is not working out. This is not to be confused
with pragmatism, as we found that elite performers tend to
work from a personal belief and value system, to which they
adhere.


An important point


All six strengths must be present: five out of six won’t do
it. When all six are present we have an elite performance
mindset. This mindset is a particular way of thinking,
processing, and behaving that produces a balanced mind,
clarity of vision, and high-end results. And yes, an Elite
Performance mindset can be identified and developed.


*******
About the author: Dr. Ray Metcalfe is an elite performer
researcher, consultant and speaking. He is currently rolling
out the Elite Performer Selection Report, designed to assist
coaches who want to develop maximum performance with their
clients. Ray can be reached at
metcalfeassociates@sympatico.ca
or 416-223-4451.


"Coaching Moments" takes a
thoughtful, and sometimes lighthearted, look at how coaching
can be interwoven into our daily lives. 

My Life
is the Session I Want to Get a Passing Score On


by Janice Hunter

Yesterday as I
was driving home from the supermarket, winding my way
through the hills listening to Jose Gonzales’ haunting voice
and guitar chords, I felt more at peace than I have for
months. I’d finally allowed myself to envision our summer
holidays in Greece – far away from IAC certification,
recorded sessions, triads, teleclasses, marketing emails and
coaching sites.

My kids hate
shopping for clothes, so into the supermarket trolley
alongside the broccoli and bananas went bargain T shirts,
suntan cream, mosquito spray, antiseptic wipes, books and
some beaded, jewelled sandals for my daughter, who’s caught
in the tweenage years between pretty pastels and peer
pressure. I even surprised myself and bought a black and
white polkadot dress – with frills.

As I
contemplated some crime thrillers to read on the balcony in
those peaceful hours when the children are asleep and the
crickets are singing, I remembered in amazement how I’d
studied coaching every day of our holidays in Greece last
year. It’s been a roller coaster of a year.

I thought back
to the past few frazzled weeks of unsuccessful recordings,
studying, buddy coaching, email correspondence, doing
critiques and writing feedback. I’d burned meals, fed the
kids junk food, watched the house get grubby and struggled
to remember all of their after school arrangements. My days
grew wearier and I looked on sadly as my husband kept the
family together while I drank too much coffee at my
computer.

The day in
late May when I stunned my Sensible Self and recklessly sent
in the only two recorded coaching sessions I’d done
unselfconsciously, I bought myself ninety days of peace.
Ninety days of enjoying my children. Time to relax in our
garden and take trips to haunted Scottish castles and dark
lochs; time to make memories in the local park; time to fall
over in turquoise waves and drink Greek coffee in seafront
cafes. Ninety days of salads and wine, jasmine scented
evenings and candles.

What I realize
now is: My life’s the session I want to get a passing
score for and when I’m not grounded in my daily rituals, the
simple, joyful details of my life – a jug of freesias on a
scrubbed wooden table, a hearty meal served on a mismatched
collection of crockery, a new book, a furtive kiss on a
teddy bear’s nose as I make beds – my intuition withers and
I struggle to create anything at all. Bad news for a coach,
especially one who loves to write.

Driving home
from the supermarket, windows down, savouring the smell of
drenched earth in the rain, I turned up the music and
decided pass or fail, I’d wear my polkadot dress on the day
I get my exam results back.


IAC
Membership Benefits

Join
the IAC to access these membership benefits:


As a member
of the IAC, you are automatically eligible to use your unique member number
for discount tickets to Broadway Shows, Movies, Gifts, Shopping
and more! Visit the
Working Advantage
website for more
information.

Liability Insurance for Coaches
No
matter how cautious your approach to coaching, no matter how careful
you perform your job, the activities you are involved in on a daily
basis can put your career and financial stability on the line. The
International Association of Coaching (IAC) endorsed professional
liability insurance program is specifically designed to protect its
members from the ever
increasing risks of malpractice lawsuits.


Specal Assessment.com Discount for IAC Members
MAPP is a terrific job transition and career interest assessment. If
Career Coaching, Executive Coaching or Life Coaching are areas you
specialize in – this is a tool for you to seriously consider. The
system is easy to use and is all on-line for both the client and you.

Visit

http://certifiedcoach.org/members/members.html
for more
information on the joining the IAC.

 



IAC Certified Coaches


We would like to congratulate the following coach who has
recently passed the IAC certification exam and achieved IAC-CC designation!


Maura da Cruz, IAC-CC (Canada)



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