invite CHANGE

Invite CHANGE

Be the Cause…

by Janet Harvey, President

Edmonds, WA — In a recent conversation with a prospective participant attending our introductory webinar that provides an experience of the transformative coaching approach, I heard the phrase, "coaching is the antidote for yes, but..." The phrase is echoing within me like a telephone that won't stop ringing!  This month I decided to share my insight from this conversation in honor of International Coaches Week.  During the last week I have engaged in a number of celebratory activities  around the globe.  My listening hears the use of "yes, and..." as the prevailing mood, attitude and point of view. I am asking myself, what is it about the modality of professional coaching that facilitates this dramatic change for people who engage with a professional coach? 

Of course being part of a company called inviteCHANGE gives me the privilege to see into the question quite deeply.  And, I listen to our graduates and our training participants learn to be the cause of change as a professional coach every day. What is really striking to me is to hear business leaders, philanthropists, journalists and government officials who have had the benefit of a coaching relationship or exposure to the coaching approach, recognize the positive impact of this anecdote too!  Here are four insights I celebrate about the coaching approach as the anecdote for "yes, but..."

  • Being listened to is akin to unlocking the safe deposit box that holds our precious memories and keepsakes. People restore a sense of inspiration and aspiration for dreams and vision they locked away and now access again in a way that is enlivening.  Coaches create an environment for people to risk and step into that vision with more confidence and authentic presence.
  • When someone experiences a transformative moment in their life that comes from inside, from their own sense of wisdom and imagination, what some coaches call the 'ah ha' or 'light bulb moment,' there is a natural and spontaneous opening to new options or alternative solutions that seem limitless in possibility. 
  • An outcome from a coaching-style conversation is that I notice people will articulate ideas and actions that appear to come from an innate creativity of that person.  More often than not I am completely surprised by the choices discovered and certainly have learned that I cannot predict it.  
  • People who participate in coaching interactions naturally begin to adopt the same way of relating and the "yes, and" mood is contagious.   Something we call generative wholeness is restored where people are learning, producing, creating and originating through respectful interactions with each other.  The rich collaboration creates a wholeness that is larger than the sum of the parts.

Technology gives us the potential to be increasingly more accessible, however maybe not deeply connected.  Being more connected at a meaningful and satisfying level is a social change revolution that I think professional coaching encourages.  The big audacious goal of the International Coach Federation is to make coaching an integral part of society.  I am proud to report that for 2011 International Coaches Week I am witnessing a dramatic step forward toward fulfilling that goal. 

For a real life example of "yes, and..." please read the next article shared by one of our Certified Professional Coach Program participants, Brandy Bishop:

Intention in Action

"As I reflect back on the close of 2010, I am grateful for many things. One of those things is the fact that on November 17th, I was “laid-off” from a senior executive position with a company I’d dedicated 15 years of my life to.

Brandy Bishop

Brandy Bishop

It was both a shock and oddly enough, a huge relief. I felt like a 10 ton brick had been lifted from my shoulders. Don’t you just love it when life gets tired of waiting for you to do what you’re supposed to do, and instead, does it for you? I viewed it as a blessing that allows me to now put all my focus on what I love most – coaching.

However, looming ahead of me was the fact that I had to tell my family I’d been laid off, before coming home for the holidays. I even went so far as to play out a scenario where I’d tell my folks I was taking a sabbatical for a few months with the idea that I would spare them the truth until after I’d landed the security of a new job. That brief daydream caused me more distress and heartburn than the moment I found out I’d lost my job of 15 years! Why is it that family always seems to bring up so much consternation?

I thought, ‘I’m a grown woman for God’s sake – what I need to do here is OWN THE CONVERSATION’. How I show up will guide how my family reacts. So, I took a deep breath, opened up my computer and literally typed out a script for myself, including:

  1. My intended outcome for the call
  2. The facts about my situation (the truth!)
  3. What was important to me that they know and hear
  4. Specifically what kind of support I needed from them

Sitting in front of my glowing computer screen, I placed the call. Twenty minutes later I hung up in shock. It could not have gone better. While I expected them to be judgmental, scared and pummel me with questions, instead they showed up fully supportive, trusting, and loving – and confident that not only was this was the right thing for me, but that it would be the start of a new adventure that would bring me much greater success and happiness.

My lesson in all of this? I AM…works! I clearly laid out my intention, I focused my attention on specific actions on it and “poof” it manifested like magic. We often forget how truly powerful we are.

So as you look ahead to 2011, don’t forget to clearly identify your intentions because you are all powerful beyond measure and they will surely show up. Just watch."

If you want to contact Brandy her phone is 503-544-8146 and email is brandybshp@gmail.com.