Have You Completed Your Learning Agreement? by Natalie Tucker Miller, MMC
One hallmark of our profession is the necessity to stay, as Thomas Leonard advised, a few steps ahead of our clients. How is this meant in a coaching sense? Certainly we’re not expected to study the very things our clients are studying and stay ahead of them on content. That, in fact, could limit our ability to grow with them, if all we’re focused on is the knowledge and data of their interests or professions.
It’s the commitment to one’s personal growth that opens possibilities for clients. And it’s the client’s growth through coaching that encourages the coach to discover more about themselves, which in turn inspires and benefits their clients. The broader your perspective, the more you can help your clients broaden theirs, while leveraging the opportunities that are most appropriate for them.
This is such a powerful concept to consider when designing your IAC Learning Agreements. Too often, coaches are approaching these as tasks to be checked off a list and filed away. Philosophically, this could not be further from the IAC’s intent of continued development as a coach. This is exactly one of the ways to stay a few steps ahead of your clients: by using the brilliance of the Masteries to elicit the meaning and purpose of the circumstances, relationships, and events in which you engage on a regular basis.
Your coaching sessions will only be as effective as the time you are willing to put into your own growth. However you choose to accomplish that, you’ve got this great support system called the IAC Learning Agreement.
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™.
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