Archive for category Coaching others
You may be teaching and not know it
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others on March 9th, 2010
Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes
On Saturday my family and I spoke via Skype video to our dear friends in the UK. They’re visiting next month and we thought it would be good for the children to all speak and see each other first as they have never met.
I was shepherding the conversation with phrases such as, “Ask about X”, “Tell them about Y” and so on. It was a little frustrating at the time that my girls weren’t saying much. At first I thought they were shy but now I’m not so sure. Rather, it was such a new situation for them they had to be taught how to converse. My prompts were as much about teaching them what could be said as they were to get them to speak on the day.
As a parent we have responsibilities in all areas of life. I’ve been aware of the need to introduce my girls to new social situations but it has ended there. I’ve never known the responsibility I then had to help them through it or noted when I’ve done so until Saturday. I hope to be more effective next time around and believe the lesson learnt here is broadly applicable in life. The fine distinction between telling and educating.
How to conduct performance reviews simply
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Community knowledge management, Self improvement on February 19th, 2010
Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes
Michael Carter and I were chatting this morning about conversations in the workplace and we came around to the topic of performance review as a series of conversations. This is how I prefer to conduct performance reviews.
For managers and supervisors
Pre-interview questionnaires? Bin them.
Competency models? Bin them too.
Forms to fill out during the interview? You guessed it. Right to the bin.
Complicated meeting arrangements? Just pick a time.
Now you have the space for the following questions.
- Where is the business/department/team now? As a manager or team leader this is where you describe where you think the company is going. It sets the context for the remaining questions.
- What are your priorities? Your employee now knows where you’re going and you can openly discuss where they want to go within that plan. Heaven forbid you might find there is a mis-match of priorities here but in all my experience I’ve always been able to find something that aligns the two.
- What do you think you’ve done well? Allow the employee to discuss what they’ve done well since the last review (which, by the way was no more than three months ago was it?). You will be able to confirm and add more observations.
- What would you like to improve upon? Gather ideas for further education and find out, then agree, on how you can support your charge.
- How can I be a better manager for you? Now listen. DO NOT ARGUE. Any remaining dissatisfaction will surface. Come to agreement on how you can be a better manager. It may require the employee changing their behaviour as well.
For employees
If you are an employee, the process is even easier.
- What am I doing that you want me to keep doing?
- What am I doing that you want me to stop doing?
- What am I not doing that you need me to do?
Timing?
Whenever needed. Nothing in a performance review should ever be a surprise to the employee. At Arthur Andersen I was guaranteed an appraisal of some sort every three months or sooner if I had completed a project within that time frame. I find three months is a good timeframe. It gives time for behaviours to change but not so much that you need days to cover it all and so end up covering nothing.
Alan Sieler recognised as world’s leading authority on Ontological Coaching
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others on November 26th, 2009
Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes
Alan Sieler, my coaching mentor and trainer, has been recognised by publishers Sage as the world’s leading authority on Ontological Coaching as reported in the November 2009 Newfield Institute newsletter.
In the midst of a very busy work and travel schedule, I am pleased to report that Alan Sieler continues to find time to write! Alan is making steady progress on Volume III of Coaching to the Human Soul, which is on track for publication in two years time. Alan was recently recognised by the prestigious academic publishers Sage as the world’s leading authority on Ontological Coaching and has been commissioned to contribute a chapter on Ontological Coaching for The Complete Handbook of Coaching. Keep an eye out for this publication in 2010.
To learn more about the valuable approach that is Ontological Coaching, I suggest you read Alan’s paper Ontology: A Theoretical Basis for Professional Coaching or visit the Newfield Institute website.
World Class Moderator and mentor
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Inspiration and motivation, Networking, Self improvement on June 24th, 2009
Reading time: < 1 minute
Mentors play such an important part in our lives. Today I was blessed to hear that someone who I’ve been working alongside for several years now has been describing me to her friends as her mentor. I trust it is no coincidence I just heard from one of my mentors — Roy Sheppard, World Class Moderator — the very person who showed me there was such a thing as personal development and to whom I ultimately owe the identification of my calling to guide people to the path of self improvement and walk beside them on their journey.
Roy has just launced the World Class Moderator site to showcase his speaking work. Take a moment to have a look. You never know what may come from it.
The Anatomy of Peace
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Inspiration and motivation, Self improvement on May 19th, 2009
Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes
The Anatomy of Peace is the Arbinger Institute’s followup to the groundbreaking book Leadership and Self Deception which I reviewed earlier. It is written in a similar narrative style and follows Lou Herbert from the first book, and a number of other parents across two days of learning about themselves and their relationships with their children. Left craving for deeper understanding and practical methods I found The Anatomy of Peace one of those rare things in today’s world — a sequel that delivers.
The book does stand on its own and yet is much stronger when approached with the ideas from Leadership and Self Deception. I thoroughly recommend them both to all.
Leadership and Self Deception
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Inspiration and motivation, Self improvement on May 19th, 2009
Reading time: < 1 minute
I have already listened to the audiobook of Leadership and Self Deception twice so far this year. I found the content of this book extremely humbling each time and whereas the first exposure to the material was a challenge, the second time it was challenging of me.
Unable to source a paperback copy quickly I purchased the audio version from iTunes. The ideas of self-deception, self-betrayal and how they affect our daily lives unfold as a conversation between Tom and his employers so the acting of the audio added immensely to the feeling of the book and set a nice pace.
Leadership and Self-Deception adds a level of understanding to workplace interactions which is deep yet clear and sensible.
Coaching reflects the needs of all parties
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Self improvement on July 5th, 2006
Reading time: < 1 minute
I was sitting with a client this afternoon thinking, “If he did this he’d be far more effective”. Then I thought, “Hey, if I did that (again) I’d be far more effective (again) as well”.
Funny how coaching’s like that.
The Coaching Forums
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Community knowledge management on February 23rd, 2006
Reading time: < 1 minute
The Coaching Forums have been created as a public space for coaches to develop the coaching profession. If you are a coach, are interested in becoming a coach, or even want to share your experiences as a past client of a coach, then The Coaching Forums are the place to do it. I post there regularly and moderate (meaning I looks after) a forum on Ontological Coaching, which is coaching with with a practical understanding of language, moods and conversations for powerful change.
Ontological Coach certification completed
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Quantum Gardener on November 25th, 2005
Reading time: < 1 minute
After 2.5 years, I am now a certified Ontological Coach after completing a Diploma of Ontological Coaching. The journey has been a long one as the departure point (the person I was) is quite different from the person I have arrived at. This is just a waypoint. The next destination is somewhere ahead of me.
Listening Habits
Posted by David C. Buchan in Coaching others, Self improvement on September 23rd, 2005
Reading time: < 1 minute
I just took the Listening Habits Profile assessment on ListeningLeaders.com. When in coach mode my listening is very good, yet as a listening leader I score a measly 62%. Pretty average I’m to understand. It’s not that I don’t know what to do, more that I forget to do it all the time. That’s why it’s a test for habits. I took this test because I’ve listened to myself closely over the past few weeks and haven’t been happy with the results. What has happened is the identification of specific areas in which I need to improve. Primarily questioning for understanding.
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Charter for Compassion
