Now you’ve read about action learning as individualised leadership development and seen what action learning looks like in practice, let’s explore some case studies of how people have used the opportunity to step up as a leader. Bear in mind that these have been anonymised for confidentiality as specific details cannot be shared. These are representative of hundreds
For leaders
Where’s the Human-Centred Outplacement Coaching?
I’ve had several conversations over the past months about the effectiveness of outplacement support. It seems that organisations are paying for something rather transactional, rather than using the opportunity for transformation of their outgoing employees. This feels very process-driven, rather than being human-centred outplacement coaching. My own experience of human-centred outplacement coaching It all started with
Coaching in the eye of the storm
Sending you a link today of a post I wrote in the very talented and grounded William Buist’s blog, all about coaching when you most need it – when you don’t have the time: Coaching in the Eye of the Storm (https://xtenclub.com/2016/09/coaching-in-the-eye-of-the-storm/#.V-vcH4WcFjo) I’m off on holiday now for some well earned rest, so toodaloo. See
1-1 Coaching in Action
I hope you enjoyed listening to the 1-1 coaching in action session with Kelly, and that it gave you a flavour for what coaching is and is not. Today you get to see a very different flavour of session, with James. I admire James for his deep thinking and desire to do his best by everyone
1-1 Coaching in Action
Ever wondered what coaching really sounds like? Perhaps you have been thinking about coaching for yourself, but you don’t quite know whether it will meet your needs? Well you can see coaching in action right here. Click on the picture below to listen to a 30 minute session between me and Kelly, helping her to figure
Coaching: time and space to percolate
You might have noticed I’ve been a bit slack lately. Writer’s block! Nine years (or maybe more, I’ve lost count) of blogging every week and I suddenly get writer’s block. I sat on it for a bit, thinking that inspiration would strike. But I didn’t really give it any proper reflection time. I kept going with other
The Alchemy of Conflict
Today, I welcome Penny Gundry, a good friend and colleague. Penny writes: I have worked for many years in companies who are experiencing conflict. When I met a man who also works in this area, I was particularly struck by how he described his work. He used the analogy of the alchemist. Historically the term
Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business: Book-club joy I love my book-club! It’s a work book-club, where we read work books. It really helps me to see a book from different perspectives, relative to my fellow book clubbers’ lives and work. We each read the book in relation to our own lives, so we each take something different out
The surprising truth about virtual coaching
Many people assume that face-to-face coaching must be better than virtual coaching (by telephone coaching or skype). But a 2011 research study* featured in Consulting Psychology Journal shows that coaching at a distance is just as effective as face-to-face. Coaching by telephone is more effective than face-to-face In my experience, coaching by telephone is actually
The power of Walking Coaching
Last week’s post on virtual coaching got me thinking about the similarities to walking coaching. I live in the New Forest, in Hampshire, which is the perfect place for walking in nature – and therefore for walking coaching. What’s different about walking coaching? Walking coaching creates forward motion, physically and mentally Henry David Thoreau who
Coaching, training or mentoring?
I often have to explain that coaching is not the same as mentoring, training or counselling. I thought it might be useful to take a step back and reflect on the differences between various forms of capability development options, and their different uses.
Drama Triangle to Winner’s Triangle
The Drama Triangle Like the parent, adult, child model that we looked at on Friday, this is from the Transactional Analysis world. I use it on myself all the time, to work out where I am operating and whether there is a more useful place to be in the Winner’s Triangle. The triangle has three roles,
Developing Individuals through Action learning
Peer to peer coaching for Individualised Leader Development, using action learning Everyone is unique – and so are their leadership development needs. So ‘one size fits all’ leadership development programmes often fail to hit the mark. Coaching and action learning both provide more individualised support and challenge. Participants in an Individualised Leadership Programme (ILP) bring their
How to tell that you are ready for a change?
“Where in your life and work are you experiencing something that is dying? Where do you see something beginning or wanting to be born?” These are questions posed by Otto Scharmer in his book Leading from the Emerging Future, and are similar to the questions that William Bridges asks in his book Transitions. The answers
Transitions – transformational vs transactional
I’ve noticed something about transition coaching (especially outplacement coaching). Some outplacement companies support their clients through the transactional side of finding a new job. Things like writing their CV, applying for roles, composing a cover letter, interview skills. That’s good – as far as it goes. But there is something missing from that equation. Change provides
Endings and Beginnings
Endings and Beginnings I am fascinated by making good endings in order to make great new beginnings whenever we go through some kind of change. Well in the past couple of months, I’ve been pondering the ultimate ending – the end of life. It’s not a topic we talk about much, but it feels really important to
