Claire writes: “We run Transforming Conversations in lots of organisations under the banner: Building a Coaching Culture. Often we work with two cohorts at entirely different stages on the same day. We have to hold our nerve while people tell us it won’t work.  

In the early weeks, delegates watching the coaching demonstrations say things like ‘this is brutal’, ‘I would never want someone to talk to me like that’, ‘this is all a bit cold – we are warm and fluffy round here’. What is reported by those watching is very different from what is experienced by the person who is being coached.  Coaching is hard work – because we aren’t used to thinking, and we aren’t used to facilitating others to think either!  

By the end, delegates are saying that it’s brilliant and they have learned how to have more effective and more efficient conversations at work – and that it’s beginning to change the culture of their organisation for the better. And ‘it feels great being given the space and the impetus to think and learn’, ‘whoever thought you could achieve so much in 5 minutes.’

We know this style works. We know it will change culture. And it’s interesting to notice how much we need to hold our nerve every single time. That’s when the presence we have learned in 1-1s comes into its own in groups. I wonder where you have to hold your nerve? Rudyard Kipling describes this mindset better than I do –  ‘If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too’. That’s presence!”

You can now listen to this blog through our podcast The Coaching Inn Become a regular by signing up on iTunes, Spotify or Podbean.  As well as listening to our blog posts, you’ll hear conversations with coaching authors, thought leaders and people using a coaching approach at the grass roots.

Ⓒ 3D Coaching Ltd 2022

May be distributed freely.  Please retain contact details: www.3dcoaching.com and send a copy/ link to info@3dcoaching.com If you would like to get this by email every week, you can do that here!