Posted by Marki on October 29, 2009 under CoachVille Member News, Top Story | 
Hey Coach,
On Monday 11/2/09 I will host Coach / Speaker Sarano Kelley author of “The Game.”
Coach Sarano will be featured in a VH1 Television show pilot on Thursday November 5th called: Broke and Famous.
Please join us on Monday as we talk with Sarano about the show, coaching celebrities, coaching the financial game and a host of other exciting topics.
And then please tune into VH1 on Thursday Nov. 5th at 10PM to help boost the ratings for the show! Read more of this article »
Posted by Dave Buck on July 6, 2009 under Top Story |
A truly amazing and exciting thing has happened. I am hosting a series of summer rants and dialogues about the ICF (International Coach Federation) definition of coaching and how outdated and industry defeating it is - In particular the concept that the client has all of their own answers and that coaches should not use their expertise while coaching.
I was writing the next article of the series and I had an inkling – rather than paste in the language from my copy of the ICF Code of Ethics I should go to the new ICF website and get an updated version.
Lo and behold!!!! Their definition of coaching has changed! A new definition was written into the updated code of ethics that was approved by the ICF Board in December 2008.
It was…
The International Coach Federation adheres to a form of coaching that honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work, believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach’s responsibility is to:
Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
Encourage client self-discovery
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
Hold the client responsible and accountable
Now it is…
Part One: Definition of Coaching
Section 1: Definitions
- Coaching: Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
- A professional coaching relationship: A professional coaching relationship exists when coaching includes a business agreement or contract that defines the responsibilities of each party.
- An ICF Professional Coach: An ICF Professional Coach also agrees to practice the ICF Professional Core Competencies and pledges accountability to the ICF Code of Ethics.
Not that the ICF has the final word on the definition of coaching! But…
WOW! What a difference.
This bodes well for the ICF that the Board – with many members trained by dogma-based schools – was able to approve a new “official” definition with the dogma removed. Remember: the ICF Ethics document is the one you have to sign in order to accept your certification! So this is the document that really matters.
The expertise embargo
has been lifted!
Now we can deliver TRUE COACHING, using our expertise the way we have always known was best, without worrying about violating the code!
Now… The old definition – loaded with industry defeating dogma - is still on the marketing pages of the site on a page called “What is Coaching“. If you want to turn your stomach, give it a read.
The good news: the marketing document is NOT an “official document” and you don’t have to sign it in order to obtain or maintain your certification.
Now that expertise is no longer dismissed in the official definition, the ICF will be able to attract and include thousands of talented and experienced coaches who would not go for certification because their expertise-oriented approach – TRUE COACHING – was not accepted.
This is a very good thing if you are a TRUE COACH. As an Ambassador for Professional Coaching in the Personal Growth world, I am thrilled to be able to welcome YOU!
A TRUE COACH will
teach you how to play a game better
and win on your own terms
It is unfortunate that the ICF continues to misinform the public about coaching on the marketing page. However, we will take this “official” change as a huge step forward and it is my STRONG HOPE that as more TRUE COACHES join the ICF we will see a change in the marketing documents as well.
Toward that end… WE Continue.
Stick with me, the ride is going
to be VERY exciting.
Expert: Having, involving, or demonstrating great skill, dexterity, or knowledge as the result of experience or training.
(American Heritage Dictionary)
The Positive Impact of This New “Official” Definition!
This change has major positive implications for coaching excellence, certification and especially the business of coaching.
Coaching Excellence
From the perspective of coaching excellence this is so big because the old definition was so stifling.
Here is what we at CoachVille stand for about coaching:
Coaching is a blend of
sharing your expertise in a way that
is personalized to the player AND challenging
your player to figure things out for themselves.
As Thomas said in the coaching frameworks…
The Answer is Somewhere!
I have often said that masterful coaching is only possible when the Coach knows the game the player is playing.
As you will see below I have amended this to include expertise in an approach that applies to all games. When you know the game and you know your player you can read the situation and know exactly what to do.
When your player is overwhelmed or truly does not know what to do or how to do it, it is best to share your expertise. But when your player is avoiding a tough decision and looking to you for advice, you have to challenge them to figure it out for themselves.
Masterful coaching always rides in the
dynamic balance between support and challenge.
|
Key Point
Knowing WHAT to do and HOW to do it (expertise) is an essential ingredient of masterful coaching.
As is knowing how and when to challenge your player to think for themselves.
While having expertise in the game is essential to preparing your player for the best results…
the ultimate truth is that
the player has to play the game. |
Coaching Certification
This change in definition is so good for our profession. It has been extremely troubling to me that what I would call imitation Rogerian Therapy (where the practitioner only asks questions and mirrors) has not only passed for Coaching BUT was the only way to PASS the certification process if you were unlucky and had a dogma-based certifier. UGH!!!
If you read this brief Wikipedia overview of Rogerian (Person-Centered) Therapy and compare it to the ICF Marketing definition of coaching you will see that they are hauntingly similar. I am sure that this form of therapy has great value, but it is NOT coaching and should not be confused with coaching.
Passing knowledge, experience and wisdom from one person to the next is the engine of human evolution AND a core element of TRUE COACHING! If you KNOW that your expertise has tremendous value when shared skillfully and responsibly, then you are in the right place in the Coaching Industry!
Asking questions is definitely essential to coaching. BUT, ONLY ASKING QUESTIONS is NOT good coaching. Yet this was the only way to pass our industry leading certification.
Since many of the certifiers were trained in schools dogmatically positioned against sharing expertise, I wonder how long it will take before expertise is respected in the certification process. Of course a 30 minute “tip session” should not pass but neither should a 30 minute Rogerian Therapy session.
I believe that the Core Competencies are an excellent measure for the certification process. My hope is that well-timed and delivered Direct Communication (Core Competency #7) will be REQUIRED to pass rather than a cause for a point deduction as it has been by the dogma-based certifiers.
Raising the Bar
I also like that this change significantly raises the bar for what it means to be a professional coach. It puts more responsibility on the coach to continually develop, expand and refine your expertise AND you must be able to use it wisely in a way that develops others rather than over powers them. This will create a higher standard for our profession which is a very good thing.
Coaching Business
Here we have the biggest impact of all. The old definition was self-defeating. A major element of the value of a coach is expertise; Or as I call it: knowledge of the game or approach.
Most people hire a coach in order to expand their own expertise (play the game better) by learning from the coach. But if the client is already an expert and the coach is not supposed to share expertise then…
There was nowhere to go.
|
With the expertise embargo lifted…
professional coaching is primed for
massive public appreciation and respect.
Very good for business! |
The value of a Coach has three major elements:
1) Expertise
Your knowledge, talent and experience are probably the first thing a new player wants from you as their Coach. Now you can share it with them – it will greatly expand your credibility and build trust.
Knowledge – information you have studied and inegrated
Talent - natural ability that you have refined through practice and application
Experience – Living life while keenly observing and learning
Another key point here is that when you are new to Coaching, this is your main drawing card. The edict against expertise gave new coaches almost NO chance to get started. No wonder most of them fail!
2) Who you are as a person
Who you are as a person is a pretty BIG deal (an understatement I know) and challenging to quantify in just a few words. I like these three C’s: character, community and connection.
Character – your values and who you have become.
Community – your relationships with others as a reflection of you
Connection – your connection to a higher purpose or greater calling.
The Who You Are is the key to your overall attraction.
3) Coaching ability
You coaching ability is your ability to guide another to play better and get better results.
Practices – Your ways of identifying essential skills and playing toward mastery.
Principles – Your understanding of the essentials of improving human performance
Approaches – Your overarching theory about how to play well.
And there are three powerful byproducts that are essential to your value as a Professional Coach.
A) Resources
Everything you bring to the table to support your player
B) Results
Your track record with others actually adds value
C) Methods
The way you do what you do consistently so that the basics are covered and creativity becomes possible.
Two out of three ain’t bad
Until now, to stand as an ICF accredited Coach you could only use two out of three! (Expertise was forbidden!)
I am reminded of the old Meatloaf song: “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad”
Remember the line: I want you. I need you. But there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you, but don’t be sad ’cause two out of three ain’t bad.
It’s been like that for coaches who didn’t have or didn’t feel they could use their valuable expertise!
Client to a Coach who won’t share their expertise: “I want you. I need you. But there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna hire you, but don’t be sad…
You get the picture. It was bad.
But now the opportunity is very, very good.
NEXT…
IT IS SOOOOO OBVIOUS that people are NOT experts in their own lives, how is it that anyone can continue to promote this nonsensical notion? Or worse, make it the cornerstone of the public awareness efforts of our Industry Association?
Are you a TRUE COACH? A coach who teaches the game by weaving together expertise, a great life and coaching ability?
To join us for this provocative conversation…
Tune into CoachVille Caffeine.
Or comment here. I love to hear your thoughts so we can learn together.
Posted by Dave Buck on May 8, 2009 under CoachVille Caffeine, Top Story |
Tune in as we open the coaching dialogue of the year
The next three minutes could change your life as a coach forever. I have been thinking about this topic for a long, long time. I have ranted. I have perturbed. I have also engaged in some wonderful and thoughtful conversations with great coaches who have very different views than my own.
Somewhere between rant and reason
lies the best approach to this
IMPORTANT Exploration.
The one thing I know absolutely is that we – as a community - have to talk about it.
We can’t just carry on with this big elephant in the Coaching room as if it wasn’t there.
A few important things…
1) I respect the ICF. I think the ICF is a good thing. And I am very proud of our ICF Accredited School – The Center for Coaching Mastery. I KNOW we teach the ICF basics as well as any other accredited Coach Training School even though I personally disagree with several of the points.
2) I don’t expect the ICF to alter its definition of Coaching based on these conversations – but I hope they do.
3) I will RANT on a few of these topics AND I want to hear what you have to say whether it is the in alignment or contrary.
4) We are going to talk about it every week on CV Caffeine Show for the next little while..
My plan is to thoroughly explore
this topic from many points of view
and I can ONLY do that if YOU JOIN IN.
Conversation Starters
1) The statement: “The client has all of their own answers” does not appear anywhere in the ICF lexicon.
I know where the phrase came from because I was very close to the source. But how did it become such a mythical concept?
It is soooo obviously NOT true!
How do I know? Because I don’t have my own answers half the time. And the older and wiser I become – I hope – the more I realize how often the answers I do have are wrong. By listening to other wise people I find better answers a LOT of the time.
At the same time, I can see that this myth has served a purpose or two. Let’s talk about them and see if they still serve.
2) The client is the expert in his/her own life.
OK. That is good from the perspective that every human has the right to choose his/her own path in life.
However…
Given that soooo few people consider themselves happy and fulfilled in life and work, that expertise is seriously in question in my book.
3) Expert in the GAME!
Coaches help players play a game better. That IS what we do. The player may or may NOT be expert in life but they DEFINITELY are not expert in the new game they want to play better. That is why they hire a coach in the first place.
This notion of coaches not having or needing expertise ignores the truth that Coaches TEACH players how to play the game; OR how to play the game at a higher level.
This is true whether the game is personal leadership, business, loving family, soccer, vibrant health, financial freedom or trombone.
4) The client chooses the focus / agenda for each session.
OK. There is a partial truth here because of course the player chooses what they want to accomplish.
But after that, my experience is that the players’ agenda is off purpose 50% of the time. And if you simply go down the bunny trail of whatever they want to talk about on a given day, you end up getting fired for lack of results.
The truth is that a LOT of the time what the player MUST address lies outside of their comfort zone and it is the coaches job to push – gently – the agenda in that direction because the players agenda for a given session is a complete distraction.
As a player, I have done this with my Coach and always ended the call relieved and disappointed that we didn’t get to what really mattered.
I am just warming up.
Be sure to tune in.
Monday 05-11-09, 1 PM ET – CoachVille Caffeine Radio Show
JOIN IN AND share your thoughts
We will open the exploration of the myth and concept: The Client has all of their own answers.
Bring your experiences and opinions to the call and be sure to volunteer to share when we open up the lines.
To participate in this call AND to gain immediate access to the complete CV Caffeine Archives:
Visit CV Caffeine Community for phone and web access details.
Show time: 1 PM ET by phone and blogtalkradio; Followed by a podcast.
There you will find the phone and web access details for the call.
Posted by Dave Buck on February 12, 2009 under Top Story |
February 11, 2003 was the day thomas (the small t is intentional) moved on to a bigger game in another realm of consciousness. I suppose at some point in the remembrance of a man who made history you stop honoring the day he moved on and start honoring the day of his birth.
But we are not there yet. At least, I am not.
That day – Feb. 11th 2003 – is moving into a twilight period for me; it seems like a lifetime ago and it seems like yesterday at the same time. Thomas called me pretty much every day from the day we made our big connection in the Spring of 1997 until that fateful day. But on that day, for a reason that I did not understand at the time but became abundantly clear soon thereafter, I called him.
Taking care of the baby
We had just completed the Atlanta Full Practice event. It was the second of two “passing of the torch events” that we had planned. We had been co-leading the Certified Coach Intensive and the Full Practice Intensive for a year. And he was ready to turn them over to me as was our practice. We had co-lead our last Certified Coach Intensive in Miami in December 2002 so that baby was mine now.
He couldn’t watch so he left the room
Now in Atlanta in early February 2003 we would co-lead our last Full Practice intensive and then that baby would be mine too. So he could move on to his next creations.
Part of the plan in Atlanta was for me to lead part of the event solo. He was supposed to watch and give me feedback But he couldn’t do it. When I was on the stage alone, he left the room- which I actually didn’t mind. For some reason he couldn’t watch as he let it go.
The amazing thing about that weekend was our connection. It had always been powerful, but it had reached a new height of enjoyment and depth of respect. He had always been a Coach and like a big brother for me – at that event we felt more like partners.
The Phone Call
So two days later I was going for a walk and for some reason I grabbed my cell phone and called him. Like I said, it was something I rarely did. We talked for an hour with incredible enthusiasm about what we had accomplished with CoachVille and the impact we were having on the lives of Coaches. And what we were planning to create in 2003. It was magic. A few hours later, he was gone.
Six years later, there are a few things I can say with certainty.
The Bumpy Road
The first is to acknowledge that it has been a VERY BUMPY ROAD. One truth I have learned about business is that the business is always a reflection of the consciousness of the owner. While thomas and I were great partners we were also very different. So to make CV and Dave a match, both had to go through some major transformation. Transformation is not always pretty and sometimes it is downright messy – but the end result is always a thing of beauty. (think caterpillar and butterfly)
After six years of great effort the good news is that CV is now on very solid ground and is growing again. That feels good.
Gratitude for My Coach
The second thing I know is that thomas was a GREAT Coach. He always saw my potential and challenged me to live into his vision. He left me with a BIG FAT CHALLENGE and I have grown so much in the past 6 years as a result. And since support always matches challenge, I have received support from LOTS of amazing people along the path. As painful as it has been – I know you know about growing pains! – I would not trade it for anything. I am so grateful for all of it.
LOVE and Honor
The third thing I can say for sure is that I LOVE CoachVille. I love what I am doing. I love what we are doing. I love who I’ve become. I love who WE are becoming. I love Coaches and I LOVE Coaching. YES! A LOT of love.
The next 10 years are going to be a BIG Challenge and a BIG opportunity for the Coaching Profession as we enter the global economic winter. We can lead as we coach the people of the world into the next Spring; And if we play our cards right make Coaching a mainstream profession.
I KNOW I am strong and resilient and ready for winter based on my last six years! I am not sure that I would be if not for this whole thomas and CV adventure. I am ready to lead.
CV was thomas’ baby and of course he couldn’t watch as he turned it over to me. So he left the room.
I have loved this child like it was my own and… now it is. I think this is the best way to honor thomas.
I am happy. Every CV Member has a been a part of this adventure, so thanks for helping me raise this amazing child. Let me know when you want your turn for baby sitting!
Coach Dave
Please share your thoughts! I would love to know how you feel about this article.
Posted by Dave Buck on December 17, 2008 under Top Story |
Hey there! Coach Dave Buck here.
Business is a game and the best way to learn is by playing. I am having a wonderful week here in Kitty Hawk, NC on my writing retreat; thoroughly enjoying the balmy ocean air. In this letter I am going to share with you one of the BIG ideas behind our new Business Academy for Professional Coaches.
You’ve heard me talk about this before – and when you look the experiential learning model it becomes very clear what an important idea this is for ANYONE teaching or training.
So the big question for you is….
Do YOU want to learn how to play and win at business?
If your answer is yes, I think you will find this very powerful.
The BIG Idea:
Business is a game
It is no secret that building a profitable business is one of the most challenging things you will ever do – and one of the most rewarding. In my opinion, business is one of the best games in town for demanding personal growth. Either you step into your greatness, or you don’t win.
With the right information and some inspiration you will succeed… WRONG
Most business programs are based on the theory that with the right information you will succeed. They tell you EVERYTHING you need to know. They share great stories. They are often quite entertaining. You get so excited. Then…
NOT MUCH HAPPENS
Why? Because information is not enough. It is important, but not enough for most people to get a business off the ground. And motivation is great but it does not last. If information was the key to success in business all the librarians and college professors would be entrepreneurial millionaires. They are not.
Business is a game – You can win!
We will show you how.
When you look at business as a game, everything changes. First of all, your approach will change dramatically because YOU already know that the only way to master a game is by PLAYING; you would not attempt to get good at basketball solely by reading a lot of basketball books would you?
The Business Academy Approach…
Since we KNOW that business is a game – rather than an exam – instead of filling you up with lots of information and ideas that you may never use we create an environment where you will learn something essential to your success and then use it right away. We know that the best way to learn a game is to observe others, practice and then play. Adding a little friendly competition also adds A LOT of juice to the learning process.
Here is how it will work…
1) Weekly 2-hour phone based training session
Each week we will have a two-hour phone meeting that will be more like a team practice and training session than a class.
- We will share wins and learning from the previous weeks game to spark your desire
- We will talk about a fundamental business theory, method or skill
- Your Coach will demonstrate the skill so that you can observe it in action
- Then we will break out into groups of two (tele-dyad) so that you can practice the skill with a colleague in a safe space. Often we will have a few more experienced coaches who will call into your tele-dyad and listen in and offer immediate feedback.
2) Play a weekly game that challenges you, engages you and teaches you
Each week you will play a game that puts your new skills and understanding into ACTION in the BIG GAME, the REAL GAME
-> YOU building your coaching business.
As you play you will accumulate points for your actions and even more points for your positive results. For example in the early phases of the game you will accumulate points for talking to people about what you do as a Coach, even more for booking an exploratory session, and even more for signing paying clients to your Coaching business.
Playing your business game each week
as a part of a team is WAAAAYYYYY
more risky, more fun AND more
effective than struggling
at home alone!
3) You will be a part of a team of four players
- The entire group will be organized into teams of four that will play together for the entire 12 week program (or season as we refer to it)
- You and your team mates will support and challenge each other to take actions, get results and accumulate points in the game each week
- Each week, one of the teams will be declared the winner and prizes will be awarded.
YES! There will be prizes.
Engaging in a friendly competition
Adds A LOT of juice to the experience
4) You will learn what it REALLY takes to win
Each week we will go deeper into the game and how to play it. You know that there is more to the game than simply taking skillful action – A LOT MORE!
- We will talk about strategies that work in the Coaching Business game
- We will explore the techniques for Super Conductivity so that you can power up your game and your results with ENERGY FLOW.
- We will talk about winning environments so that you can design your world for business success.
5) End of season review – play again or play bigger
Games have levels. And it is best when you play with other players that are at your level. Then when you master a level you should move up to play in bigger more challenging games with better players. This is how you continue to grow in mastery.
- At the end of the season we will review your financial results – the ultimate scoreboard
- If you have reached the financial results for the level you are playing, we will recommend that you move up.
- If you have not reached the financial results for the level you are playing, we will recommend that you play the game again at the same level next season
- Here is the BIG thing: You can play the game for your level as many times as you need to without paying any more.
When you purchase a Business Academy level,
you keep playing until you have mastered it
at no additional financial investment.
Next Steps…
The Business Academy is a complete environment that is designed with everything you need to win. If you have the desire to play the business game then this will be the best investment in yourself that you will ever make.
I have been a part of creating several great business building programs over the past 8 years. I am more certain about this one than anything that has come before. It is VERY exciting.
Three possibilities for next action…
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Read about it
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Talk about it |
Do IT! |
