I often get asked ‘what is Life Coaching? The answer – ‘coaching on any issue in life’. The variety is endless. I have coached people through change of life directions, relationship break-ups, weight loss programmes, phobias, careers choices, grief, work situations and a host of others.
What do people get from Life Coaching rather than advice from friends and family? I find that advice is usually given by starting ‘Well…… If I was you I’d…….and this sums up it up for me. Someone giving advice does it from their experience of life, and they are giving you what their reaction would be if they were standing in your shoes. While getting another point of view often helps, it doesn’t always. One client said to me recently ‘Long standing friends keep telling me what to do, but they aren’t me, and what they tell me isn’t right for me right now.’
My job is to establish where my client wants to go, and helping them set a realistic plan to get there. Then, when checking progress along the way, either praising or re-setting the immediate goals to something more appropriate. I provide questions that stretch and challenge old patterns of thinking and assumptions.
A set of six sessions will last between six weeks and 3-4 months, and can be face-to-face or on the telephone. Its all about providing a structure for development that allows time for new patterns of behaviour to establish. Its very different from ‘Giving Advice’.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Peripheral Vision
Over this winter I have been playing with the implications of habitual use of various ranges of vision, in life as well as in sport. Part of my NLP training includes the widening use of the senses, and there I really learnt about peripheral vision from Tara Dominick, NLP Trainer http://www.flipsidetraining.co.uk/ and www.livingcreatively.co.uk (I thought I knew what she meant when she first described it - after all, wasn’t I a top sportsperson? But no – she really opened my eyes – literally).
The first fascination was sparked by the information that people use peripheral vision when driving, and those who do this a lot do not find themselves growing sleepy at the wheel – which is a big problem for me on any journey over 90 minutes. So I’ve been trying it out. Not only do I find it easier to stay awake, but the constant absorption of more data seems to keep me more alert and less tired at the end of the journey. I am also able to resist snacking – which I normally do to try and keep awake.
The second revelation has been using it in groups when I am in coaching or lecture mode. I can pick up people’s reactions all over the room, and my sense of timing of appropriate interventions is more accurate now.
The third discovery has been the enhanced ability to observe a group of people in action and be able to pick up either patterns or breaks in the flow of behaviours. And I thought this was skill that was closed to me.
The fourth thought that I am still exploring is that a sailors’ starting preference depends on their sight preference – peripheral or tight focus.
I have been guided by a colleague to website for training visual ability and flexibility – http://www.eyethinksport.com/ . Developed for team sports where knowledge of the positioning of either team-mates or competition is a key part of a player’s proficiency, the tasks, especially undertaken daily, create a training package well worth exploring. The ‘mind gym for the eye’ is really good and certainly expands anyone’s visual capacity.
The first fascination was sparked by the information that people use peripheral vision when driving, and those who do this a lot do not find themselves growing sleepy at the wheel – which is a big problem for me on any journey over 90 minutes. So I’ve been trying it out. Not only do I find it easier to stay awake, but the constant absorption of more data seems to keep me more alert and less tired at the end of the journey. I am also able to resist snacking – which I normally do to try and keep awake.
The second revelation has been using it in groups when I am in coaching or lecture mode. I can pick up people’s reactions all over the room, and my sense of timing of appropriate interventions is more accurate now.
The third discovery has been the enhanced ability to observe a group of people in action and be able to pick up either patterns or breaks in the flow of behaviours. And I thought this was skill that was closed to me.
The fourth thought that I am still exploring is that a sailors’ starting preference depends on their sight preference – peripheral or tight focus.
I have been guided by a colleague to website for training visual ability and flexibility – http://www.eyethinksport.com/ . Developed for team sports where knowledge of the positioning of either team-mates or competition is a key part of a player’s proficiency, the tasks, especially undertaken daily, create a training package well worth exploring. The ‘mind gym for the eye’ is really good and certainly expands anyone’s visual capacity.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Evening Social Groups
I did a talk last night for the Hamble Ladies Group – a social group that meets monthly. It was a really nice evening – a touch base with the camaraderie that makes with world go round from day to day. I met a friend from 35-40 years ago from when I was crewing for my Father in GP14s www.gp14class.org.uk It really took me back.
I chose to start the talk by sharing the experience of walking into the Olympic Stadium in 1984 for the Opening Ceremony. What a special moment that was – riding high on all the hopes before the toughness of the competition itself.
One of the biggest impacts of that moment was the unfamiliarity of being in front of a huge crowd – in sailing we rarely perform in front of an audience. That was the first of the ‘party’ type ceremonies that have become the trademark of such occasions now. The most recent Games parties I attended were in Sydney for the Paralympics, where I was Team Leader and Coach for the British sailors – and they were amazing – fireworks and colour everywhere. I hear that Qing Dao, the host city for sailing in 2008, did the Sailing Test Event in 2006 proud with a true performance – and of course fireworks originated in China so they were splendid. I wonder what 2012 will bring?
I chose to start the talk by sharing the experience of walking into the Olympic Stadium in 1984 for the Opening Ceremony. What a special moment that was – riding high on all the hopes before the toughness of the competition itself.
One of the biggest impacts of that moment was the unfamiliarity of being in front of a huge crowd – in sailing we rarely perform in front of an audience. That was the first of the ‘party’ type ceremonies that have become the trademark of such occasions now. The most recent Games parties I attended were in Sydney for the Paralympics, where I was Team Leader and Coach for the British sailors – and they were amazing – fireworks and colour everywhere. I hear that Qing Dao, the host city for sailing in 2008, did the Sailing Test Event in 2006 proud with a true performance – and of course fireworks originated in China so they were splendid. I wonder what 2012 will bring?
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