It's amazing how things progress over time, especially new business ventures.
As many of you know I started to work in relationship coaching and counselling quite a while ago, building on the teamwork knowledge and experience I had from coaching high performance teams of just two people in sailing. These are truly compared to 'marriages without love' and have proved a valuable learning arena for what I now do for the general population.
Then I teamed up with Neil Wilkie to work with him on a new offering - that of two relationship counsellors working with a couple at the same time. We both knew that the service provided by traditional relationship therapists working with one counsellor to a couple, while good and certainly well-meaning, has its limitations when it comes to effectiveness. Our aim was (and still is) to provide couples counselling where the two of us honour both individuals as well as their relationship at the same time. It means we work 'live' with problems and issues as they occur in ways that give dedicated time and space to both parties - one person is not side-lined or left out just because the other is more verbal or more needy at that moment.
We've spent some time and research working things out - especially how to work at our best together so that our clients get to resolution quickly - and built up a good little business over a number of years.
Recently we decided to formalise things somewhat and dip our toes into making our presence known on the internet. Have a look at our new website - www.duocoaching.co.uk We have a blog there too, focussing on relationship issues.
As you will see we leant on our mutual interest of of sailing to provide the metaphor for the site, and we like the effect - and I welcome feedback on your impressions too!
I still do sailing, sports, life and executive coaching, (because I enjoy them) and find that things I learn from these different arenas all feed into a better product - see www.cathyfoster.co.uk and of course, this is my major blog page for all things ecletic.
It's all rewarding stuff.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
A Postman's Job.....
We have had a crazy time weather wise in the UK over the last week. All sorts of public transport services have broken down, but then its not surprising - how do you balance the risk of occasional severe weather disruption with the spend on machinery & services that other countries (for whom big winter weather is normal) invest in.
A friend works for the Royal Mail in one of the area offices. Yesterday, Christmas Eve, she got to her local sorting office at 6am to take a post bag and go delivering letters so people could get the cards that had made it through the transport system to their homes in time. Now that’s what I call service!
All the more impressive from a work force in unhappy circumstances.
Go To
www.cathyfoster.co.uk for more posts.
A friend works for the Royal Mail in one of the area offices. Yesterday, Christmas Eve, she got to her local sorting office at 6am to take a post bag and go delivering letters so people could get the cards that had made it through the transport system to their homes in time. Now that’s what I call service!
All the more impressive from a work force in unhappy circumstances.
Go To
www.cathyfoster.co.uk for more posts.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Cowes Week
Cowes week is here again. Amongst the changeable winds and weather of this year’s British Summer, this traditional week is going through one of those times of change as it flexes to meet the challenges of no title sponsor. This is definitely an opportunity to do a shake-out and gain efficiencies in areas previously thought untouchable.
Last year I was a guest of the Cowes Week organisation by dint of the RYA to look at the Race Officer functions, and I was impressed. The sheer size of the operation is incredible. In the past I worked as part of the back-room operations for the America’s Cup Jubilee, and was amazed then at the willingness of the administrators, especially Stuart Quarrie to embrace new technology. Nowadays with the use of mobile phone and SMS, the whole thing just flows - truly wicked.
For those stuck at work, home, elsewhere but Cowes - listen into Cowes Week Radio to stay up with the action.
(For the correct links visit the blog on my website www.cathyfoster.co.uk)
Last year I was a guest of the Cowes Week organisation by dint of the RYA to look at the Race Officer functions, and I was impressed. The sheer size of the operation is incredible. In the past I worked as part of the back-room operations for the America’s Cup Jubilee, and was amazed then at the willingness of the administrators, especially Stuart Quarrie to embrace new technology. Nowadays with the use of mobile phone and SMS, the whole thing just flows - truly wicked.
For those stuck at work, home, elsewhere but Cowes - listen into Cowes Week Radio to stay up with the action.
(For the correct links visit the blog on my website www.cathyfoster.co.uk)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Buddies and Co-Coaching
I’ve just read the latest ‘Outside the lines’ newsletter which is on finding Buddies to be with and this has struck a chord with me, as I am enjoying working with seven other people in exactly this way. We have a company called ‘Resolve’, which provides relationship coaching, counselling and mediation to those with relationship problems and issues across the UK. Its all very exciting. Normally as a coach I work on my own, and now, with the values that we share, it is so much easier to work with others too.
Working with people to sort out their relationships has been a constant thread through my coaching career. In sailing and sport, its building teams and dealing with issues so that the performance of the team is not compromised. In life coaching, I often work with clients helping them to deal with their life partner relationships. The similarities and differences between sport and life help provide me with the insights needed to cut through to the basic issues in ways my clients then build on.
When dealing with two people, life or sport, its always been tricky to give each partner equal attention. So often, one person’s issues are more immediate, and resolving these will help move situations forward, which tends to be the expedient solution. However, finding time to listen to the concerns of the other partner is imperative to get a balanced resolution. Within Resolve we are promoting Co-Coaching as an optional service, where there are two coaches to two people, and boy, does this work well! A balanced outcome is so much more reliable at the end of a session, with the needs of both parties attended to by using of the complementary skills of the two coaches.
Its a real pleasure to be working with my Buddies.
For the active links to website mentioned in this articles, sign up to my blog on my website www.cathyfoster.co.uk
Working with people to sort out their relationships has been a constant thread through my coaching career. In sailing and sport, its building teams and dealing with issues so that the performance of the team is not compromised. In life coaching, I often work with clients helping them to deal with their life partner relationships. The similarities and differences between sport and life help provide me with the insights needed to cut through to the basic issues in ways my clients then build on.
When dealing with two people, life or sport, its always been tricky to give each partner equal attention. So often, one person’s issues are more immediate, and resolving these will help move situations forward, which tends to be the expedient solution. However, finding time to listen to the concerns of the other partner is imperative to get a balanced resolution. Within Resolve we are promoting Co-Coaching as an optional service, where there are two coaches to two people, and boy, does this work well! A balanced outcome is so much more reliable at the end of a session, with the needs of both parties attended to by using of the complementary skills of the two coaches.
Its a real pleasure to be working with my Buddies.
For the active links to website mentioned in this articles, sign up to my blog on my website www.cathyfoster.co.uk
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Good Work Done
I’ve just had an invitation to ‘sign’ the retirement card for one of my professors from University days - Brian Short. I was really glad to do so - a really enthusiastic lecturer, he helped open my eyes to the landscape in ways that continue to delight me.
On reading his profile, I discover he’s made a real name for himself in the 30 years since I knew him - I’m very glad.
On reading his profile, I discover he’s made a real name for himself in the 30 years since I knew him - I’m very glad.
Bookmark my new website
My new website, cathyfoster.co.uk, has been created using iWeb, the Mac website software. I have really enjoyed making the most of the software to produce the very visual effects, but there is one downside. The software is a ‘cut & paste’ type, and incredibly easy to use as I haven’t had to learn to write in code. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone creating a personal website. However, as each page gets published as a .jpeg picture onto the web, individual words cannot be identified and so the site content cannot be picked up by search engines searching for key identifiers. This means I will have difficulty getting my site to the first page of a Google search - unless you help me.
Please increase the traffic to this site by both bookmarking this site AND by using the links on the Bits and Bobs page. In return, if you have anything interesting you’d like me to comment on, I’ll do what I can to help you out. Also, pass on my website address to others if you find it interesting.
Please do this - the more traffic I can attract, the better it is for me. This new website has been created using iWeb, the Mac website software. I have really enjoyed making the most of the software to produce the very visual effects, but there is one downside. The software is a ‘cut & paste’ type, and incredibly easy to use as I haven’t had to learn to write in code. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone creating a personal website. However, as each page gets published as a .jpeg picture onto the web, individual words cannot be identified and so the site content cannot be picked up by search engines searching for key identifiers. This means I will have difficulty getting my site to the first page of a Google search - unless you help me.
Please increase the traffic to this site by both bookmarking this site AND by using the links on the Bits and Bobs page. In return, if you have anything interesting you’d like me to comment on, I’ll do what I can to help you out. Also, pass on my website address to others if you find it interesting.
Please do this - the more traffic I can attract, the better it is for me.
Please increase the traffic to this site by both bookmarking this site AND by using the links on the Bits and Bobs page. In return, if you have anything interesting you’d like me to comment on, I’ll do what I can to help you out. Also, pass on my website address to others if you find it interesting.
Please do this - the more traffic I can attract, the better it is for me. This new website has been created using iWeb, the Mac website software. I have really enjoyed making the most of the software to produce the very visual effects, but there is one downside. The software is a ‘cut & paste’ type, and incredibly easy to use as I haven’t had to learn to write in code. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone creating a personal website. However, as each page gets published as a .jpeg picture onto the web, individual words cannot be identified and so the site content cannot be picked up by search engines searching for key identifiers. This means I will have difficulty getting my site to the first page of a Google search - unless you help me.
Please increase the traffic to this site by both bookmarking this site AND by using the links on the Bits and Bobs page. In return, if you have anything interesting you’d like me to comment on, I’ll do what I can to help you out. Also, pass on my website address to others if you find it interesting.
Please do this - the more traffic I can attract, the better it is for me.
The Galaxy Zoo
I came across an extraordinary endeavour the other day - the Galaxy Zoo is the biggest citizen-science experiment on the web, dedicated to helping scientists classify 1,000,000 photographs collected from various telescopes (on earth and in space) for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
The project was started in July 2007 by Dr. Chris Lintott, a science researcher from the University of Oxford, as a solution to this huge task. By asking the public to help, the manpower resources increased enormously. The participation rate is measured by ‘clicks’ on the website, and has now topped 70 million clicks. Initially people were asked to identify galaxies as being spiral, elliptical or merging categories, and the success is such that Lintott says “ You can have confidence, as we say, ‘100% of people think that that’s a spiral galaxy, so its really, really spirally’.”
Such is the success of the operation, participants have now been asked to apply a far more extensive range of criteria for classifying the galaxies they see in the photos in a new project - Galaxy Zoo 2.
Stories abound. Try out the ‘The Voorwerp’ for a discovery in the making.
For a fully linked up version of this article, go to cathyFoster.co.uk and sign up for the Blog RSS feed.
The project was started in July 2007 by Dr. Chris Lintott, a science researcher from the University of Oxford, as a solution to this huge task. By asking the public to help, the manpower resources increased enormously. The participation rate is measured by ‘clicks’ on the website, and has now topped 70 million clicks. Initially people were asked to identify galaxies as being spiral, elliptical or merging categories, and the success is such that Lintott says “ You can have confidence, as we say, ‘100% of people think that that’s a spiral galaxy, so its really, really spirally’.”
Such is the success of the operation, participants have now been asked to apply a far more extensive range of criteria for classifying the galaxies they see in the photos in a new project - Galaxy Zoo 2.
Stories abound. Try out the ‘The Voorwerp’ for a discovery in the making.
For a fully linked up version of this article, go to cathyFoster.co.uk and sign up for the Blog RSS feed.
Spiral Dynamics
I’ve just been to a fascinating presentation on Spiral Dynamics at the NLP Wessex Practice Group. A fascinating presentation on world viewpoints, it was particularly well presented by Roger Terry of Evolution Training. Not just the personal and corporate viewpoints but the stage of world politics as well. My thoughts keep turning to what I have learnt, testing it out. Roger was right - it has changed my view of the world.
For a fully linked up version of this article, go to cathyfoster.co.uk and sign up for my Blog.
For a fully linked up version of this article, go to cathyfoster.co.uk and sign up for my Blog.
Monday, April 27, 2009
New Blog and website
My blog now forms a part of my new website, www.cathyfoster.co.uk. I will continue to keep this cathy-coach blogspot going for a while, but if you want to stay completely up to date, then visit and bookmark new my website blog.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Eden Project
I’ve just been (yet again) to see the Eden Project in Cornwall. For those that don’t know, this is a very professionally presented educational charity.
Their vision is:
“Overall we believe the world we live in is facing radical change – and our aim is to help find positive futures in the face of that change. To get in shape for the challenges of the future we need a culture that knows how to sustain the things that sustain us and at the same time nurtures creativity, imagination and adaptability.
We are an organisation that believes in "learning by doing" and we try to run our operations in ways that help address some big questions. Questions like: How do we ensure the economic benefits of our work go back into the local economy? How do we manage food supply and waste? Or how do we construct buildings in a way that reflect the needs of the 21st Century?”
They welcome a million visitors a year to their award-winning site in a disused china clay pit. Its a great place to visit at any time of the year. The joy of multiple visits over the years is that you see real change. This is NOT a static stuck-in-a-time-warp site.
I think what impressed me most this time was how happy the kids were. It was half term, and there were many families with children of all ages. Yet I never heard a child cry without a real reason - like falling down. It was a pleasure to visit an major public exhibit without hearing whine and screeches of boredom and attention seeking. My congratulations to the Eden Project for both what they have set out to do and for making the facilities so child-friendly.
Their vision is:
“Overall we believe the world we live in is facing radical change – and our aim is to help find positive futures in the face of that change. To get in shape for the challenges of the future we need a culture that knows how to sustain the things that sustain us and at the same time nurtures creativity, imagination and adaptability.
We are an organisation that believes in "learning by doing" and we try to run our operations in ways that help address some big questions. Questions like: How do we ensure the economic benefits of our work go back into the local economy? How do we manage food supply and waste? Or how do we construct buildings in a way that reflect the needs of the 21st Century?”
They welcome a million visitors a year to their award-winning site in a disused china clay pit. Its a great place to visit at any time of the year. The joy of multiple visits over the years is that you see real change. This is NOT a static stuck-in-a-time-warp site.
I think what impressed me most this time was how happy the kids were. It was half term, and there were many families with children of all ages. Yet I never heard a child cry without a real reason - like falling down. It was a pleasure to visit an major public exhibit without hearing whine and screeches of boredom and attention seeking. My congratulations to the Eden Project for both what they have set out to do and for making the facilities so child-friendly.
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