"Claire thinks clearly and was very encouraging as she helped me to do the same. She knows the kind of questions to ask, is a good listener and checks that she’s really hearing what you say (by reflecting back) She didn’t do my thinking for me! She also wasn’t patronising when I was all over the place." RT Professional Musician Home
One of the most important skills in coaching is to work with your colleague/ client to help them get a new and different insight into what they bring to the conversation:
3D Juggling 476: That House Su writes: "There’s a regular journey I take with my children. Have done it many, many times. It’s a journey that is all about getting to the destination – we’re not in it to look at the scenery. So many times, I’m on automatic and we travel along discussing school, favourite colours and what would happen if you really did have eyes in the back of your head.
3D Juggling 469: Eiffel Tower Claire writes: 'At half term, Ellie and I got totally lost looking for the Picasso Museum in Paris. It turned out to be closed for 2 years. The back streets of Paris are complicated to navigate with only a very scanty tourist map. Road signs, crowds and traffic make it hard to see where you're going. What should have been a 5 minute walk to the museum turned into a fruitless 30 minute trek where we both lost energy and hope!
3D Juggling 464: Oh... something! Claire writes: "As a manager or a leader, how often do you think "Oh no... Oh Help... Oh dear... " when someone brings a tricky situation to you in a one to one? And do you ever jump into the situation with them in an attempt to help them solve the problem?
3D Juggling 446: The Moors in the morning Finding your way in the pitch dark is far easier when you are familar with the route in the light. That's what we do every day: Talk with individuals or groups and help them see their context in the light of day... so that when they return to their workplace they see it in a different way. You can learn to take a different perspective yourself...
3D Juggling 437: Spinning Coffee Jane writes: "I was working round my kitchen table a few days ago with Claire and Lynn. Two of us were reflecting on a business meeting from which we had just returned, and between us we were working on two documents that had to be completed that day that may give 3D access to some new clients. We were running on all motors.
3D Juggling 411: Helicopter View Too often we get so close to the situation that we're in that we lose perspective. Rising above a situation - like we did in the plane - can help us to see things completely differently. So next time you feel stuck, imagine rising above the situation in a helicopter. As you get above the situation, what other people can you see who are also stakeholders? What other options come into view? Try it!
3D Juggling 408: Fountains Metaphor can help us to look at old situations in a very new way. Claire came up with an image in a conversation recently, describing 3D as a chocolate shop. She told a few people and they all unwittingly asked different questions about the chocolate that helped her unlock some new and exciting ideas.
3D Juggling 386: Powerful Stories We usually are authentic (Greek root – genuine, and of undisputed origin) and speak with authority ( Latin root – powerful) when we speak as the author (Latin root – to originate).
We would be much more effective verbally if we told parts our own story much more often… and stayed authentic, without adding any spin! Such integrity adds a sure-footedness and confidence to our daily walk.'
3D Juggling 356: Reframing the Picture Imagine yourself as a character in a film. In the film you are yourself, at this moment, with the issue you are feeling you can make no progress with. Change your role. Now you are watching the film from the projectionist's booth. As you watch tell the character in the film what she should do...
3D Juggling 358: Seeing things differently In coaching it is good to come at issues from different perspectives in order to gather new insight into a perplexing situation...
3D Juggling 330: What does it look like? Some people, who are also very visual find this really helpful and can get real insight into an issue by describing what it looks like...
3D Juggling 328: Naming It I suddenly heard myself asking the question, "And what are you going to call this?" The question just popped out and I have no idea where it came from...
3D Juggling 323: Integration Part 2 Claire writes: 'S**t happens, says Tom Hanks' character in Forrest Gump. And it does. It can sometimes be helpful to sort things out by analysing a problem and being very very clear what it is. But there comes a time where we have created a large mountain of problem which can then get in the way of our being able to move forward...
3D Juggling 257: Speak Up - I can't hear me Saying something out loud gives it perspective. And it helps us to begin to see what is an impassable obstacle, and what is simply a hurdle to get round...
3D Juggling 170: World View But whether we like it or not, we are part of a bigger picture and it's important to remember that. Firstly it puts things into perspective. And secondly our actions can make a difference to other peoples lives.
3D Juggling 026: Unblocking Concepts In the end, the conversation lasted all week - and in fact is still going on. Fun and informative! Chocolates, motorways. You can use any external image to help understand what is going on in a particular situation. It's a great unblocker… and a great icebreaker with groups. Describe yourself as a newspaper or magazine!
