Foundation classes

As I get ready to move forward in my journey on the supervised coaching sessions, I would like to reflect on the various steps through which I broadened my horizon in the exciting world of coaching !!I have just completed the first supervised coaching session and have identified a client for the next 5 sessions.I am hoping to complete  my relections on the various classes that I attended and particpated in, by the time I get to the sixth and final supervised coaching session!!I have also shared some of my thoughts and observations in the Discussion Board of the ICA and found that to be a very effective communication media for reaching the ICA community.

The initial phase of the foundation classes at the ICA,posed some challenges for me in Chennai,India, as I started getting the hang of operating the VIOP systems like skype and yahoo, on my lap top computer!!The bridgelines at the ICA were also being stream lined to ensure smooth connections ,through our experiences and constant feedback during our interaction in the classes and display of comments and observtions on the Discussion Board.The gradual creation(for me) of an active network of ICA students and teleclass leaders was n exciting process and I enjoyed every bit of it!!

After completing the Foundation classes on Ideal Coach, Twenty Perspectives, Client Scenarios,Design your Life Program and development Plan, we were mentally prepared to take on peer coaching sessions!!The thing that left an impression for me,at the completion of the Foundation classes, was the warmth of student and class leaders’ participation in each of the classes and the differnce in approach to learning through such interactions!! A totally new and exciting experience for me!!I would never have imagined 6 months back that I would be comfortable coaching clients on the telephone(or by emails or IM for that matter!!)and be just as effective!!

The wheel of life tool served as an effective tool for design of your life program –to create a balanced lifestyle over a period of 2 to 3 years!!The balance between self care, home environment, relationships, friends and family, career, creative pursuits and enjoyments and a meaning/purpose for every aspect that  we target to achieve!!

The time frame in the drawing up of the Development Plan is typically as follows:

Immediate action plan    —     to work on during the next 6 months

Short term action plan —     to work on within next 2 years.

Mid term  —–                                            within 5 years.

Big picture(Future Goals)–                    beyond 10 years.

 

Supervised coaching

I completed my first supervised coaching session a few minutes back and was it exciting!!Karen Cappello was our coordinator and she is always a delighful and insightful  leader and mentor.I always feel energized in her classes!!

The class went on for more than 90 minutes and time always flies when you are excited and having fun!!One of the registered students dropped off and so we were 5 of us!! So there will be only 10 weeks of supervised coaching sessions for each one of us to have 6 coaching sessions.I volunteered today and completed the first of the six!! One down and 5 to go!! We will get the schedules for the remaining supervised coaching classes and laser sessions and I will continue to share my experiences as we move forward in this journey!!

Update on the first supervised coaching session!

We have got the assessment and feedback on the first supervised coaching and I have satisfactorily completed it!!We have also got the time slots for the oral exam and the remaining 15 minute laser sessions for each of us.My sixth session should be completed by October 4!!

We were informed that we could identify any client for our supervised coaching sessions–within or outside ICA.The main criteria in selection should be that we make sure that there is learning for us through the coaching process and we benefit through such an interaction!!The classes are conducted in such a relaxed and calm atmosphere that the whole process flows so beautifully and before we know it, it is time to bring the sessions to a close!!

Second supervised coaching session.

My second supervised coaching session was completed on August 16. An ICA student and my peer client volunteered to be my client and promptly showed up at the designated moment!! She posed her issue and we had our 15 minute laser session. It went off well and I got a good acknowledgement and feedback both from the client and Karen.

The VOIP Skype connection was not very good and so I decided to use my landline telephone for the laser session.It worked out well and since it was quite expensive, I had to switch back to the VOIP connection after that session!!

I got a mail from Karen the next morning that I had satisfactorily completed that session. The feedback indicated that I had used most of the ICF core competencies. As Karen had mentioned in the very first supervised coaching session on August 9, it is good to keep the core competencies in the back of our minds but be ourselves and give our best to the client when he os she shows up for the session with their issues.That is what I did, and the past experience with hundreds of clients made the task so simple and free flowing!!I actually hd a lot of fun, satisfaction  and excitement in the process!!

2 down and 4 to go!!

 

General Reflections

I am getting ready to return to Chennai,India,after more than 2 months in the US.This has been one of the most satisfying and productive periods in my various visits to this country.There has been plenty of learning through participation and corresponding with the ICA community.The 6 week course on Train the Trainer which I particpated in was an icing in the cake to the experience in the ICA commuity so far!! All of this has opened up a lot of opportunities for me in my future career planning, as I get ready to do a rethink on where I want to be, a better assessment of the kind of person I am, and a better appreciation of the kind of profession for which I have a passion and keen to work in!!

The other enriching experience has been the one with my children and grandchildren.This adds another dimension to my learning and feeling experiences!!I thought I had a lot of patience and resilience but as I interacted with my 4 year old grand son and 1 year old grand daughter, my level of awareness and resilience were riased to much higher levels for which I will ever be grateful to them and also my daughter who made this possible!!

As soon as I return to Chennai, my highest priority is to establish contact with my 83 year old mother and also reorient myself to taking the supervised coaching sessions, as a step towards graduation this December. The other requirements for the graduation will also be focused on as I move along in the journey towards graduation. It has been an exciting journey so far!!

Returned to Chennai

I am gradually settling down to a routine and have just participated in the first of my Supervised Coaching sessions!!More on that separately!!

Delighted to get reconnected with my mother.The unconditional love that gets showered on me when i pay her visits every day energizes and enthuses me to keep moving forward towards my goals!! She says she feels more secure and energetic too!! Is there a violation here of the Laws of Thermodynamics which says that energy is constant and cannot be created!!

The support systems here in Chennai are different than the ones I have in the US!!All my siblings, consisting of three sisters and two brothers, born to the same parents(!!)are here and though we do not get to meet often we manage to stay in touch thanks to the advent of emails and telephone connections that work!!

We have come a long way from the early 1960’s when I left the Indian soil for the first time as a graduate student, after getting admission from the Johns Hopkins University!!The only way I could afford to communicate in those days was through the US postal service using what wass once called the “aerogram”!!My mail used to take 10 days to reach my family in India and their response took another 10 days!!

As I recall those days, I remember my father whose 93 rd birthday we celebrate today!!He was very prompt in his communication and was one of the few who stayed in touch with me, making me feel connected to all “at home”!!I have come a long way since those days, since I now feel “at home”both in the US and in India these dyas.Both my children are happily settled down there with American partners!!

 

Reflections after the sixth session!!

The class turned out to be to be the “last -but- one”, and this gives us an to connect again in 2 weeks!!That class woul give me an opportunity to get the feedback from those students who have not been in a position to lead a Teleclass so far!!I know they will do extremly well since all of them has whatever it takes to instill confidence and a sense of interaction and participation in all they address!!

The warm up of the class, initiated by Karen, was energizing and brought a greater sense of integration and connectivity to the group!!My most favorite animal,my favorite color and the meanings of the 3 adjectives in relation to who I am and what others think of me, was a good learning experience.The addition of Dana to this learning experience added another dimension to my learning!!Not only that, it was also even more energizing.

Laseanda,Prabha and I shared our eperiences in leading the Teleclass!!As usual there was a lot of learning through that sharing in addition to receiving a lot of positive strokes and energy!!

Jane,Marco,Dana and Risah shared the dates and content of their Teleclass sessions and a date would be fixed after 2 weeks when we would get the opportunity to get their feedback and the reflect on our thoughts for the future!!Prabha and I will definitely be priveleged to join them in the classes and give them support in any possible way!!

All of us acknowledged the great inputs provided by our mentors–Bron,Karen and Sally–and the safe and secure environment that they created for us in forming this group.As shared in my blog, I would like to see this network grow through interaction and participation of similar minded persons and establishing a synergisitic relationship, that allows the generated positive energy to flow to all around us!!

 

Reflections as we get to the last session

While I get ready for the sixth and final session of the Train the Trainer program,I have an opportunity to reflect and share my thoughts with my fellow studenta and the organizers.

The first one that comes to mind is a sense of gratitude and enlightenment at the end of every phase of learning.This leads to the beginning of the next phase in this cycle, which gives me a mixed ,delightful ,sense of curiosity,exploration ,discovery and hope!!

As I start exploring, I see at least a few opportunities opening up.The one, which I have already shared above, is the possibility of becoming a Teleclass leader in the ICA!! The other is the possibility of leading some Teleclasses focusing on certain topics of current interest, like Anger Management, Stress Management, Self Motivation, and so on!! The other one that comes to mind is the possibility of becoming a teacher and facilitator online(a totally new experience),either in a community college framework or, in a school or college offering on line education!!The scope seemes wide open,limited only by my abilities to look ahead and make a proper assessment of what I have to offer and matching  it with what the market needs!!To add to the excitement, is the excitement of relocation from India to the US in the foreseeabl future!!That is energizing and I come to the last session with this sense of positive energy and hope!!

 

Maiden effort to lead a Teleclass!!

The process started when I was identified a mentor in the fourth class in the Train the Trainer program to lead a class as early as possible!!The idea was that if I was able to schedule  class before the last and sixth session on July 31, I would have the  benefit of feedback from the mentor,coordinator of the program and also my class mates and fellow coaches.Since it is an important part of the program,the coordiantors(Bronwyn Bowery-Ireland and Karen Cappello)agreed to explore the possibility of having one more class for students who were unable to schedule their classes before the last scheduled class on July 31.

My mentor for the Teleclass was Sheri Boone and after a warm introductory telephonic talk with her,I was given a choice and selected a class on “Creating Action, part 2” as part of the Advanced 1 module.In the second call with Sheri,I got ger feedback on the draft outline that I had prepared and also had the benefit of feedback from Karen,the Teleclass leader of the first part of the Creating Action class held earlier.I had one more review of my outline and was ready to take the class today(July 26)at noon.Sheri gave me a heart warming introduction and energized me to get started on my maiden venture!!What an excitement!!I could feel that the excitement was similar to my grand daughter’s when she took her first few steps as she was walking twoards me last week, just as she completed her first birthday!!

The class that I had the privelege of leading, was,in my view,one of the most important modules f the ICA program that I have had so far!!Why?Because,everything that we do is based on either our somebody else creating action for us!!I made a reference to 2 great books that I read recently that were very relevant to the topic covered:

1. CONNECT, by Keith Harrell & Hattie Hill, Building Success through People,Purpose and Peformance(2007)’ and

2.LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE, Discover your life’s Blueprint for Success(2002)

Affimations are such an important part of my coaching and the 6 affirmations mentioned by seemed so powerful.

Commit to win:                                                                                                       (I will)Be Accountable

Open to Opportunities:                                                                                         (I will)Be aware

Notice what’s needed and do what’s necessary:                                                (I will)Be Aware

Navigate by your purpose:                                                                                   (I will)Be Vision centered

Execute ethically.Do what’s right because it is right:                                        (I will)Be Performance and Integrity driven

Challenge your challenges:                                                                                    (I will)Be Responsible

Transcend beyond your Best:                                                                               (I will)Be the Difference

I wrapped up the class after a lot of enriched sharing by many of my fellow coaches/students, and I got enlightened through this process of learning!!My maiden venture seemed like a great success for me since I felt great at the end of the hour!!

I now look forward to the feedback from Sheri tomorrow which would further enrich my maiden experience of leading a Teleclass!!

I got the feedback from Sheri this morning and feel even greater!!I feel enriched and empowered that I have another career opportunity that might have opened up!!To train,facilitate and lead a class so that I can continue to be a perpetual learner and even get paid for it.Is,nt that nice! To do something for which you have a passion and motivation ,and  to add to it, you even get paid !!!

 

Creation of network

The fourth session of the Train the Trainer program has created another milestone for me!!Jane,one of the particpants in the program, has taken the initative to create a network of the Trainers,to start with!!A new direction in my journey in the  process of learning, through interaction and exposure,has been opened up for me!!I look forward to moving forward in this new direction!

 

Reflections after the fourth session–July 17,2007.

Karen Capelloo joined Bronwyn Ireland in leading the Teleclass.The earlier sessions were done by Sally Thompson in place of Karen.The warm up session was taken up by Ardiana and Risa and they both handled it very well.Bron commented that one needs to keep in mind that while acknowledging it was not about us but about them.That was the learning for me in this session particularly when I start conducting these classes in future!!The other point made by Bron was that we need to take full charge and own the responsibility for the class from the next session onwards.

The reflection and practice assignment for this class was to identify our role model and the characteristics of that person which were significant for me.Also what makes me a brilliant facilitator.

My role model: 

The late Dr.Harold Hoelscher, my first Life Coach and Mentor.

Characteristics of that person: 

An achiever,very personable,great teacher and facilitator with a passion for them,gave high priority to family including his aged parents,travelled extensively and had greta interest in sharing his travel experiences in different cultures with almost everyone who showed interest in them,willingness to share and give,aversion to own and hoarding anything including car and other property,highly talented(twon doctoral degrees,carpentry,design work,gem polishing,etc,etc…) with a passion to keep learning till his death in 1992.

What makes me a brilliant faciltator:

 Just following in his footsteps(even though it is totally based on how I remember him and his achievements!!),passion to keep learning,priority to family,celebrating multicultural differences and learning from them,listening rather than talking,sharing experiences and knowledge to those who show interest and the need to know and learn,joy in meeting people with similar interests and values and do whatever it takes to keep those contacts alive and plan and execute various activites that help me move forward towards my goals.

Leading a Teleclass and working with mentor

Sheri Boone has been identifed as my mentor for the leading role that I have been assigned in the Train the Trainer course.I have initiated my dialogue with Sheri and have been blessed to have a mentor who is prompt,clear and forthright in her interactions with me.

I have chosen to lead the class on Creation Action scheduled for Thursday,July 26 at noon. I was given a choice and I opted for this class. I am excited to take on this assignment because it is going to allow me to experience  another unique challenge in my life–the challenge of leading a Teleclass. Considering that I have always been reluctant to talk more than a few words in a telephone call that I had  initated or responded to, even if the person on the line was known to me for years, this step is a major milestone in my life experience!!

I am shifting my perception from “Talk less and hear more” to “Talk enough and Be more” through learning from interaction with a fellow coach.

I have worked on the outline and hope to be prepared for the class after I recieve the feedback from Sheri and internalize them!!

 

Reflections after the third session–July 10,2007

The warm up session was handled very well by La Seanda and Prabha and got the group further connected and energized.Each of us shared an incident in our lives that had a significant influence on our us and our lives.The class leader exposed us to some strategies for handling the emotional aspects that follw as a consequence of such warm ups!!

The practice assignment for us was to reflect on design of lesson planning.

My design for a lesson plan would be as follows.

Objective:To impart a Teleclass on Anger Management as a precursor for a 4 session program on the same subject.

Duration:2 hours.

First session to start on August 1, 2007 between 10.00AM and noon,EST.The Bridgeline number is ——- and the Access Code—–For further information,please refer to the website —– or call ——

Target audience: Particpants from North America,including Canada.

Number of participants: Restricted to 6 on a first come first served basis.

Requirements: Selected particpants would need to have access to a good telephone connection or a computer with VOIP connection(like skype or yahoo or any similar)to access the class.

Course Material: Will be mailed 3 days prior the start of the sessions.

Plan for the session:

10.00 to 10.20: Introductions and warm up.

10.20 to 10.45: Presentation of the topic and identification of the possible sources of anger.

10.45 to 11.30: Relaxation techniques and practice.

11.30 to 11.45AM: Laser coaching sessionfor one of the particpants.

11.45 to noon: Wrap up and signing for the next extended program.

 

Reflections after the second session-July 3,2007

Through the warm up session,which I had the privelege of conducting,the members of the group got connected.This was my first teleclass experience in taking “charge”of an activity assigned to me!!Suzannah was supposed to pair with me but could not participate since she had another pressing assignement which prevented her from attending this session and may be the rest of the sessions too!!The warm up session involved us identifying our role models and how it impacted our lives.

The practice assignment for the class  was to identify our overall and underlying competencies.In the more than 4 years of coaching that I have done,the overall competency that I have worked towards a Coaching Presence with a view to creating spontaneous relationship with my client.While I was initally concerned that my age would be a deterrant in my journey,I found out through my various experiences as a coach that this in fact turned out to an advantage for me!!The clients started feeling safe and secure while participating in the coaching process and journey!!The fact that I walk into the office with my wife,who is also a coach with a separate practice of her own,with whom I have been happily married for more than 35 years,seems to add to my coaching experience especially when I work on relationships and family coaching!!In using this competency of presence as a major vehicle,I also use intuition and empathy in building trust and openness in the relationship with the clients.The underlying competency for me has been Co-creating the relationship with the clients.Through my empathetic approach,I make a sincere effort to show genuine concern for the client’s welfare and future.