{"id":2147,"date":"2012-04-09T13:01:20","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T17:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifewithhappiness.com\/?p=2147"},"modified":"2018-10-02T13:36:46","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T17:36:46","slug":"how-do-you-keep-your-edge-as-a-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2012\/04\/how-do-you-keep-your-edge-as-a-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Keep Your Edge as a Coach?"},"content":{"rendered":"
I mentor other coaches, in addition to working directly with clients. \u00a0<\/strong>One of the coaches I’m currently mentoring wrote to ask how I keep learning. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
She wrote:<\/strong> I was noodling about learning this morning and thought of you. \u00a0I’ve been meaning to ask you about resources you’ve used to learn more about and master coaching. \u00a0We’ve talked about learning from others — and you’ve mentioned your group that has continued to meet over the years. \u00a0I also believe that working with a mentor coach can be a powerful learning experience. \u00a0And, of course, practice, practice, practice.<\/div>\n
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Beyond that, are there books, websites, articles, classes, etc. that you have found that made a significant impact in your learning process?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
My response, which I share with you:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Here are some things that I believe have made me a better coach over the years:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Ongoing conversation. \u00a0<\/strong>First, with my study group, with whom I maintain a connection six years after my initial training — we learn together. \u00a0Also with my local coaching community, always being in conversation and learning situations — we have monthly meetings, actual coaching \u201cclinics\u201d several times a year, etc. \u00a0Keep talking w\/ people from whom you can learn different perspectives and tools.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Coaching. \u00a0<\/strong>Have a coach. \u00a0I am typically working w\/ one or two different coaches, for different reasons. \u00a0Sometimes I’m hiring them as my coach, other times we barter as we hope to learn from each other (e.g. alternate who gets coached each time). \u00a0One part of me comes to the work as client, with my needs. \u00a0Always another part of me watches their style, their approach, their presence, and I will often spend some of my coaching time (every few months, maybe) speaking w\/ my coach about why they did \u201cthat move\u201d or how they learned something they just did in the prior call, etc. \u00a0Most of the time, anyway. \u00a0Last year I worked w\/ a Marketing coach, and he is not trained by any coaching school, and while he tries hard to be a \u201ccoach\u201d he is in the end a marketing consultant who occasionally has coaching conversations. \u00a0I learned a lot by watching him — the marketing stuff he REALLY knows well, and I benefitted tremendously from working with him. \u00a0He would likely be sad to know that what I learned about coaching from him was\u2026 stuff NOT to do! \u00a0You see, it\u2019s all learning.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Read:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m always reading stuff. \u00a0I subscribe to the TED newsletter and to Harvard Business\u2019 blog newsletter. \u00a0Every week I make time to watch ONE 20-minute TED talk for inspiration and ideas, and read one HBR blog post (usually long essays) just to keep sharp and on the edge, and aware of topical issues of relevance to my executive clients. \u00a0I also read other people\u2019s websites, books of fiction or non-fiction, etc. \u00a0I always look for something to add to my coaching repertoire, ESPECIALLY when the book has nothing to do with coaching (there\u2019s always a lesson if you look for one). \u00a0I read a lot of books in the realm of Happiness, of course. \u00a0Some really fabulous books that I continually return to include these:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • Language and the pursuit of happiness<\/strong>, Chalmers Brothers, which is of course a textbook for Newfield, now. \u00a0(it was not yet written when I took the course, and we had to work with a much denser, drier text)<\/li>\n
  • Building Trust<\/strong>, by Solomon and Flores. \u00a0Fernando Flores was a partner w\/ Julio at one time, and writes deep stuff. \u00a0this one is really useful for working w\/ senior leaders and teams.<\/li>\n
  • A General Theory of Love<\/strong>, by Lewis, Amini, & Lannon. \u00a0This is a very deep book that offers an emotional catalogue plus teases out the distinctions between Limbic resonance, limbic regulation, and limbic revision. \u00a0It is a wonderful book for a coach to work with, as it takes the emotional and physical realm and goes much deeper.<\/li>\n
  • I also like\u00a0Emotional Intelligence 2.0<\/strong>, Bradberry & Greaves; and any of Gallup Organization\u2019s Strengthsfinders series, the most recent being\u00a0Strengthfinder 2.0<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  • Finally, if you\u2019re not already familiar with it, read\u00a0Loving What Is<\/strong>\u00a0by Byron Katie. Foundational work, really powerful.. You can also learn much about The Work (defined in this book) on the web — just search for Byron Katie or The Work and you\u2019ll find a wealth of materials, video, etc. \u00a0The Work is a powerful tool for working with clients stuck in assessments about other people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n
    I hope this is helpful.<\/div>\n
    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I mentor other coaches, in addition to working directly with clients. One of the coaches I’m currently mentoring wrote to ask how I keep learning. It caused me to reflect, and I ended up sending her and others a list of the resources and some books that I use to keep my own edge sharp. I share them here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5789,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,58],"tags":[372,373,374,281,360],"yoast_head":"\nHow Do You Keep Your Edge as a Coach? - The Executive Happiness Coach\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2012\/04\/how-do-you-keep-your-edge-as-a-coach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Do You Keep Your Edge as a Coach? - The Executive Happiness Coach\u00ae\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I mentor other coaches, in addition to working directly with clients. 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