| From the Editor
Have you already looked at the calendar and wondered where the year has gone? I certainly have. As I approach the end of my first year in graduate school, I can hardly believe how quickly time has gone by and how much can change in a matter of months. Here in New England we’re witnessing sure signs of Spring after a long winter and I am embracing the change of season with open arms. This month our contributors discuss the various paths you can take when navigating the Masteries, how to keep up with this ever-changing economy, and ways to smooth out the “cultural bumps” in the road when working internationally. Great wisdom from diverse perspectives – let us know your thoughts! A big thank you to Jan O’Brien for her beautiful insight in the Intercultural Corner these past several months. We love her insight and openness to the many things our various cultures have to offer! Is there something you’d like to see here in the VOICE? A particular subject you’d like us the tackle? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at voice@certifiedcoach.org with comments, questions, event notices, or article contributions. We are always looking for unique perspectives and look forward to hearing from you! Best,
Contents From the President – Vicki Zanini The “Who” of the Client – Natalie Tucker Miller How to Counsel for the “New Normal” Economy – James M. Kerr Intercultural Corner: The Masteries as our Support System – Jan O’Brien Inside the IAC Licensing Committee – Charlie Boyer Open Chat Calls From the President Greetings, Ah, the sweet month of May is finally here. This is the time of year when my family begins to move our life outdoors as much as possible. I even conduct my business from my backyard deck when the weather allows. The weather is still a bit unpredictable so there is always an undercurrent of spontaneity and flexibility built into my daily schedule and I enjoy a more relaxed routine. It’s an environment that naturally invites possibility. My husband and I just returned from a three day road trip to Winter Park, Colorado. We stayed at the Wild Horse Inn in nearby Fraser, Colorado, which is the coldest incorporated town in the lower 48 states (according to Wikipedia), but we enjoyed beautiful weather and astounding scenery. The best part of the trip was the people we met along the way. We enjoyed the company of our travel companions, and we also made many new friends. April was a productive month at the IAC. We officially began working with consultant Nina East to assist us in updating our website. Nina is an experienced coach and IAC certifier and we are thrilled to partner with her on this important project. I am very excited to announce that the professional development portfolio, chaired by Dr. Kristi Arndt, is in the process of formalizing a research agreement to collaboratively design and conduct research investigating the effects of coaching using the IAC Masteries®. Kristi and her committee will be sharing more information with us soon. The IAC is thrilled to once again be a sponsor of the 2014 World Business and Executive Coach Summit happening in June. We are fortunate to have Dr. Susan Meyer, Natalie Tucker Miller, Krishna Kumar and Aileen Gibbs presenting on behalf of the IAC this year. Have you noticed the jump in IAC VOICE subscribers over the past couple of months? I’d like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to our dedicated and talented editor, Beth Ann Miller, and to the many contributors who so generously share their wisdom and expertise with us each month. As we embark on a new month together, let’s invite possibility to accompany us, shall we? With joy and gratitude,
Vicki Zanini is founder of Vicki Zanini Coaching & Training. As a certified holistic life coach, she works with individuals and groups who are ready to create new possibilities, boost personal effectiveness, and experience a deeper sense of meaning and inner peace. She has been leading coaching groups and workshops for over 15 years in personal development, self-care, creativity, and intuition. Visit her website at www.vickizanini.com.
This piece of wisdom resides in the Masteries E-book under the heading “Indicators the Coach Understands the Mastery” for Mastery #4. Although this is specific to Mastery #4, it also provides great insight into the way a coaching conversation moves away from the “what” of the client into the “who” of the client. That design is part of many of the Masteries. I’m often asked the best way to practice the Masteries. There is no single answer to that question, as it will depend on what works best for the individual coach. This coincides with the underlying foundation and philosophy of the IAC Certification, whereby there is not a prescribed path, rather several routes from which you can choose. With that in mind, here are several suggestions to consider. I’ve indicated there is more than one place in which “the coach helps the client move from talking about what happened, to identifying the present meaning…” shows up. For instance, “The coach recognizes and helps the client to acknowledge and appreciate his or her strengths and potential” is the definition of Mastery #2. By staying with the “who” of the client, and not making “what happened” the focus, it can help the client identify how it applies to their potential and strengths. Patterns of thought, or recurring situations that previous problem solving methods did not rectify, or commonalities with the emotions the client experiences in a particular situation will then provide many clues with which the coach and client can explore. When you begin to see the connections within the Masteries, using the material from the IAC Masteries Ebook, the bigger picture of the coaching relationship emerges. You’re more able to ease into your coaching approach and provide an environment of powerful awareness for your client. Some of the ways you might consider implementing this exercise are:
This is just a sampling of the ways you can approach your coaching development. Whether you’re a seasoned certified coach, or the new kid on the block, let the Masteries be your guide. Do you have a question that you’d like to ask the certifiers? Submit your questions here: http://certifiedcoachblog.typepad.com/blog/ask-the-certifiers.html.
Natalie Tucker Miller, MMC, is the Lead Certifier and a certifying examiner at the IAC, as well as Past-President. Natalie is founder of Ageless-Sages.com Publishing (www.ageless-sages.com), and creator of the literary genre, Picture Books for Elders™. Please send your questions on the IAC Coaching Masteries® and the certification process to certification@certifiedcoach.org.
How to Counsel for the “New Normal” Economy The changing economic times of the past few years have dictated changes in the way work is done. Businesses can ill afford to adopt a “more of the same” philosophy. Staffing levels have declined to a new equilibrium that is above the point of diminishing returns. Vacancies are refilled on a limited basis and only with good justification. Budget and expenditure scrutiny have become standard occurrences. Nearly every enterprise has had to tighten its belt. Generation Y has entered the workforce and are encouraging new ways of thinking and doing. As a result a “New Normal” is being established – one marked by efficient execution, customer-friendly service delivery and timely decision-making. 1. We will embrace an “Outside-In” perspective A paradigm shift of brilliant proportions is upon us and our organizations. By placing needed emphasis on the service delivery aspects of enterprises, we can begin to realize that the best results are achieved by embracing an “outside-in” point of view – one that considers the impact of the organization policy and procedural changes on the customer and other outside constituents before implementation. In this way, many mistakes can be avoided and rework can be minimized. 2. We will enthusiastically implement an “In It Together” management style The old ways of running an enterprise must give way to a new style of business management. The new style should be characterized as one where “we’re in it together.” Leaders and management are there to set direction and enable success. It welcomes rigor and discipline and encourages calculated risk-taking, as long as all of the issues are well understood and the actions are consistent with the way the senior leadership wants to conduct business. 3. We will seek outside perspectives as an essential business practice Prior to the adoption of the “outside-in” perspective, many leaders have, perhaps unknowingly, fostered a closed operation – one that rarely seeks advice from the outside. This philosophy must change. Outside viewpoints need to be routinely solicited in order for the enterprise of the future to better service its business community. From the engagement of management consultants and trusted advisors to use of ad-hoc external client advisory boards the petitioning of outside counsel should become an essential business practice within every organization. To Close Every organization is, now, in a period of great transition as they navigate down the road towards the New Normal economy. We can help to make that trip a little less arduous for our clients by counseling them to embrace these three simple principles – without a doubt, they can serve as essential guideposts into the future.
Intercultural Corner Developing intercultural competence enables us to open our minds to new possibilities, improved relationships and reciprocal goodwill with our clients, and as we become aware of our “cultural self” we gain a greater sense of security and confidence when we interact across cultures. An awareness of our culturally-based values, communication styles and perspectives, is a significant step towards cultural competence, but the “road” can also have its challenges and “culture bumps” and it is not unusual for us to feel resistance or discomfort when dealing with cultural differences. This discomfort can also be described as “culture shock”. It takes us through an adjustment cycle that can be filled with excitement, judgment and confusion. In situations such as these, the Masteries can serve as our support system. They offer us an environment in which to process the disorientation and uncertainty that we experience.
By using the Masteries to support us as we explore our reactions to unfamiliar situations, we gain a deeper awareness of our thoughts, emotions and judgments. Processing in the Present (Mastery #4) in particular, is a powerful skill with which to process our reactions holistically. The more we operate from a state of “presence”, the more we are able to listen to what our body, mind and heart are telling us and we are guided to a place where new perspectives emerge. As coaches, our role is to focus 100% on our clients, but when interacting in the global arena, the moments of confusion or resistance that we experience in ourselves can serve to inform us on the road to intercultural competence. Ultimately we learn from and leverage both the differences and similarities that we encounter.
Licensing Committee Corner The Licensing Committee continued to review and refine wordings to clarify the various licensing options. The nuances of language continue to challenge us! Basically, Option A licenses are granted to individuals. Option B licenses are granted to individuals and organizations who have coaching schools or deliver programs or workshops. The new Option C license is intended for universities and post-secondary institutions. These options are listed in more detail on the IAC website. The Licensing Committee wishes to make it clear to all applicants that beginning January 2015, all license applications must have at least one coach certified at the Masteries Practitioner level. We are pleased to announce that our first application for an Option C license was approved by the Committee: a well-respected university, one of the largest in Mexico. The name of the institution will be included in the next listing of approved licensees. Our next meeting will include a discussion with IAC Certifiers about the growing need for translations of application and membership information into languages other than English. Committee members Pepe del Rio, Deb Chisholm, and Charlie Boyer welcome your suggestions and comments. Contact the Licensure Committee at licensing@certifiedcoach.org.
Join the IAC Open Chat in May to share your thoughts, ask your questions and get to know more about the IAC. This month, we’ll be talking about how Living the Masteries™ can be part of your Learning Agreement, expanding what you already know by way of awareness and clarity. This call is open to everyone and anyone interested in expanding the path to coaching mastery. Date: May 13th, 2014 Congratutlations to Joan Lonnemann from Indianapolis, IN, United States who recently earned the Certified Masteries Coach designation! Your Feedback We’d love to get your feedback on any issue related to the IAC. Do you have any questions, concerns, encouragement or ideas for improvement regarding membership benefits, certification, the VOICE, the direction of the organization or anything else at all? Please send an email to voice@certifiedcoach.org. Please help us improve. |
Hello!
Jan O’Brien IAC-MCC 
