Supporting Each Other
Friday 11 May, 2012
This post is inspired by an entry from my training journal in which I was challenged to provide support to another member of the group. The entry itself doesn’t appear in this blog although I did comment on it in another post (‘Be Firm With People & Contribute’). The following paragraph is an extract from the unpublished entry:
There’s a Choice to Be Made
Saturday 7 April, 2012
Without awareness much of our behaviour occurs automatically, unconsciously. When that happens we surrender control of our lives to our conditioning and to the patterns of behaviour which have been our companions for so long. There is, however, an alternative. In the everyday situations in which we find ourselves – whether real or assumed – we always have a choice of how to act, react, behave, think and speak. We are able to choose how to be.
Consistency
Thursday 15 March, 2012
The word consistency has come up again and again over the last few weeks. In discussions with clients, with athletes and also with my teacher, Karaj. In every conversation there was talk of obstacles impeding progress: the capricious nature of some people, or our own thoughts threatening to affect our performance or journey. Everyday hindrances which so easily distract us, taking our focus away from whatever we are striving for.
Better Strategies
Wednesday 29 February, 2012
The first time I complimented her she said, ‘Thank you‘. I asked her where she had learnt to react in such a way. She told me her father had taught her. I was impressed. Especially because there are others who negate or deny compliments. When that occurs neither person benefits. But here was someone who knew how to create a win-win situation in which both the giver and the receiver of the compliment walk away with a smile. A most effective strategy.
You Are in Everything You Do
Tuesday 14 February, 2012
We are present in every movement, every task and every interaction. In the same way, we are contained in whatever we create. In this post I offer two examples which highlight firstly how much information is available about ourselves (and others), and secondly how important it is to carry out everything to the best of our ability. Both stories relate to my own personal development training in the UK.
The Slightest Change
Monday 6 February, 2012
A small shift is sometimes all it takes to move forward. The slightest change of any aspect connected with the whole (be that your goal, the group, the situation, or your future) can be enough. It can be a straightforward commitment to make a difference, a sharpening of focus, a moment of clarity, an intention expressed in a conversation, or simply a note written on a piece of paper. Any one of those can be enough to effect a transformation, move you out of a rut, contribute to those around you, or set in motion a chain of events which will lead to an improved pattern of behaviour.
What is Coaching?
Monday 30 January, 2012
Coaching means supporting someone in reaching their goals. The coach may or may not help define those goals but once they are set, it is the coach’s job to support, empower, encourage and challenge their client to fulfill those goals and to be the best they can possibly be.
One Simple Observation
Tuesday 24 January, 2012
This entry is as brief as the observation it describes. It shows how, if we just observe, we can discover a wealth of information about behaviour and its affects on those around us.
Surrendering to Your Process
Monday 16 January, 2012
This post emphasises how important it is to surrender to whatever process we find ourselves in, whilst all the time maintaining a belief in ourselves and trusting that everything will work out well in the end. None of which, however, is an excuse to sit back and do nothing. We have to generate and sustain a certain amount of momentum in order to create the possibility of success. And if we do that, then a turnaround in our fortunes can happen in an instant.
The Essence of Coaching
Friday 6 January, 2012
I received an email last month asking me to shed light on the subject of coaching for someone who had little experience of the subject. I replied, explaining the general framework of the coaching relationship and outlining some of the basic requirements. In this post I talk about the more experiential characteristics of the coaching process; what happens and what the coaching client can expect.