MCX Vol. 1, #6, Feb 2008

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MCX Newsletter
February 2008
Vol.1 No.6

What Does Masterful Coaching Look Like on TV?
Should You Become a Coach in an Economic Downturn?
Coach 100: 4 Experts + 1 Brilliant Group of Coaches = Success
Big Fat Lies Most Coaches Cling To
SCM Announces Its New Mentor Coach Program
Mastery Coach Tip of The Month
Upcoming March SCM Modules
How Not to Coach: Danny Bonaduce: Relationships

I heard from a number of coaches after they viewed the Penn & Teller Life Coaching videos who reported feeling mildly traumatized ("skeeved" is probably a better word) by how crummy the featured coaches appeared.

So, I think after all the "How Not to Coach" videos that I've run in the Mastery Coach Exchange, it's time I showed you one that displays true masterful coaching and how it changes lives, both in an instant and for all time.

Here's the perfect video to show that…

Read full article and watch the video here.

Julia Stewart, IAC-CC
President, School of Coaching Mastery
February 2008


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Is it or isn't it? A recession, I mean? How many thousands of hours of airtime have "pundits" used up analyzing our economy and still we don't know if it's the Big R or not?

All that professional fretting can sure make a new business person nervous! And those of us who've been at it for a while are concerned, too. On the other hand, any time there is a shake up of any sort, new opportunities pop up. The fun of being in business is watching the landscape change and noticing the next big windows of opportunity before everyone else does.

Well that's nice, but what does it mean to you if you're new to coaching? Here's my advice, based on what I observed during the last recession…

Read full article here.

Last Fall, I began an exciting collaboration with three coach/marketing experts and six smart coaches called the Coach 100 Mentor Group.

The experts were Michele Caron, Mattison Grey and Andrea J Lee, each is a coach of extraordinarily high integrity and is also the recognized expert in her approach to building a thriving coaching business. This project has been so successful that all three experts have agreed to a return engagement with a new crop of savvy coaches. The new group starts soon and is already filling up. If you want to get in on it, or just find out more, go here.

Here are some cool projects/products that a few of our group members have produced as part of this group

Elizabeth Nofziger, IAC-CC, is a fabulous coach who helps folks find work that doubles as play.

A JOB YOU'LL LOVE

Are you or someone you know in the ever popular, I-hate-my-job club?

Signs include:

• A sense of dread on Sunday evenings
• Jealousy of others who love their work
• Feeling stuck but unhappy in a "good enough" job
• Responding "Fine." when asked how things are at work

If this looks or sounds familiar, it's time to quit the club! Take advantage of a fre'e Job You'll Love coaching session. Be one of the first seven people to step up in February and say "Yes! I'm ready to start my dream job!"

Email Elizabeth now to claim your session. Just put "I want to love my job" in the subject line!

Krissy Jackson, The IT Girls Coach, is savvy about the world of business!

SETTING BOUNDARIES IN THE WORKPLACE PROGRAM

Attention Female Administrative Professionals: Do you sometimes feel like you are the office mouse?

• If you worry that you are not taken seriously at work.
• Are afraid to speak out when the situation calls,
• or lie in bed at night kicking yourself for being so timid

Then this Boundary Setting Course is for you! Email Krissy here for more info.

Craig Jennings, Small Business Sherpa, is as smart and experienced as any coach I know. If he can get caught in a scam, so can you.

SCAMMING THE COACH

A scammer, who calls himself Peter Kline, sent me (Craig Jennings) a request for a one-week coaching proposal and very quickly, gave me a positive response and promised a check. I was so committed to getting the work that I couldn't hear reason until my bank manager explained it to me…

Read the full details, including the killer correspondence between scammer and scammee, here.

Gail Solish finds her brilliance when she's having fun. What could be more fun than plork?

IS PLORKING PART OF YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT?

Plervice, plelp, plerking and plorking. Funny sounding words which kind of get caught on your tongue. What do they mean? They are the intertwining of words to create new possibilities. All of these words involve bringing fun and playfulness to our work. So jump in the sandbox so you can begin to experience "plorking" the art of playing and working at the same time.

During this teleclass you will discover:

• The 7 top requirements for fun at work.
• Roadblocks that contribute to less fun.
• How plorking creates a happier, more energetic you.

You will take away:

• Clarity about your situation.
• Actions steps.
• Create supportive environments.

Join teleclass leader, Gail Solish, Executive/Life Coach, for this teleclass on Wednesday March 5th, or Wednesday March 26th, from 8 - 9 PM EST. Sign up at www.actualizeyourgoals.com. For more information email Gail here.

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Donna Steinhorn and I (along with about 100 other coaches) have been having some fun with a very serious problem.

We've noticed the "mass confusion" that stops many coaches from reaching their full potential and we've devised a crystal-clear format for revealing the truth. Coaches are calling it "refreshing", "inspiring" and a "big relief". Watch out though, it's more than a little provocative! Want to know more? Visit: www.associationforcoachingexcellence.com.

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There were two important choices that helped me become a successful coach. One was to become the best coach I could possibly be and the other was to give myself the best resources and tools that I needed to become the best.

Given the competitive nature of the coaching business, those two decisions turned out to be the "make or break" choices of my career. They led me to study coaching at two great schools and to hire some of the best coaches in the business to mentor me. I couldn't have done it without them!

So I encourage every coach/student at SCM to hire great coaches to mentor them, not just buddy coaches, which are great for a different reason, but excellent, accomplished, successful IAC Certified Coaches, who can help them navigate the thousands of choices that can make or break a coaching career. I've invited several coaches who I believe in to join the new SCM Mentor Coach Program. Each one has agreed to coach members of the SCM Full Coach Training Program and Certified Coach Training Program for up to three months at a special rate: $200-300 per month. Members of this elite group normally charge up to $700 per month!

Our SCM Mentor Coaches are: Kristi Arndt, PhD, IAC-CC; Nanci Biddle CEC, CVCC, IAC-CC; Art Gangel, IAC-CC; Robyn K. McKenzie, IAC-CC; Susan Meyers, Ed.D, IAC-CC; Catherine Miller, M.A., IAC-CC, Elizabeth Nofziger, IAC-CC; Donna Steinhorn, PCC, IAC-CC, CMC; Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, CMC.

To learn more about each coach, visit here. To learn more about SCM's Coach Training Programs, go here.

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This month's tip is one of the simplest and most powerful that I can offer to the coach who struggles to not get lost while coaching. It's from Mastery #7 Helping the client set and keep clear intentions. Want even more tips to help you stay on track with a powerful coaching session? This module is coming up in March on Thursdays from 12-2 PM Eastern/NY Time. Register here.

Class #1. Avoiding Tunnels and Wrong Turns

Given the exploratory, non-linear nature of coaching, it's not unusual for the coach and client to get a little lost at times. Occasionally, we notice that we seem to be in unproductive territory and we need to find our way back. Here are a few possibilities for avoiding getting lost and finding your way back if you do.

The simplest and most obvious approach is often overlooked by newer coaches, perhaps because they erroneously think they must know what they're doing at all times. Actually the mark of a great coach is that they often don't know what they're doing and they're fine with that. Get comfortable with not knowing and use some simple techniques, so the client gets what they need. So what's the simplest way to handle this?

• When in doubt, ask the client.

Not only is it okay to ask the client what they need now, etc., it shows an honesty and candor that relaxes the client and increases trust, which leads to greater openness, which in turn, helps us discover what's really most important. Never be afraid to look dumb in coaching; it's one of the smartest things we do!

We'll thoroughly cover how to do this well and other approaches to keeping clear intentions in this eight-hour module and you'll get demonstrations and practice to cement your learning, right away. More info and register here.

Here are the upcoming SCM Modules:

Foundation 1: Coaching Groundwork
Our Coaching Foundation 1 Module, Coaching Groundwork, is for new coaches and anyone who wants some powerful coaching skills that they can learn and use quickly.
F1, Tuesdays, March 4th-25th 2008, 11 AM-1 PM Eastern/NY Time (8 hours/4 weeks).
More info and registration here.

Mastery 7: Helping The Client Set and Keep Clear Intentions
Our Coaching Mastery Module 7 - Helping The Client Set and Keep Clear Intentions - will help coaches keep the client focused and working towards intended goals.
M7, Thursdays, March 6th-27th 2008, 12-2 PM Eastern/NY Time (8 hours/4 weeks).
More info and registration here.

Coach 100 Mentor Group * COMING SOON *
Can 4 experts help you succeed? This program has been so successful, that coaches are already asking for the next one. Email here to get on the waiting list.

Foundation 5:- Introduction to Spiral Dynamics Integral For Coaches
Spiral Dynamics Integral is a Psycho, Social, Spiritual model that clearly describes how people's values grow, develop and evolve. As such, it's an important model for coaches to understand that can explain and predict what your clients are growing through.
F5, Tuesdays, April 1st & 15th--29th 2008, 3-5 PM Eastern/NY Time (8 hours/4 weeks).
More info and registration here.

Mastery 8: Inviting Possibility
Our Coaching Mastery Module 8 - Inviting Possibility - will demonstrate how to create an environment that allows ideas, options and opportunities to emerge.
M8, Thursdays, April 3rd-24th 2008, 12-2 PM Eastern/NY Time (8 hours/4 weeks).
More info and registration here.

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Danny Bonaduce, Life Coach, has a creative approach to attracting clients and a little advice on relationships…

Watch video here here.

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