Before the training was even complete, breaks, lunch and dinner conversations were full of enthusiastic cross-talk and brainstorming about the substantive changes in approach, programming and efficiency these skill sets – applied – could bring to their culture. 

One supervisor wrote to the CEO & COO of PSP:  

POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS FOR COACHING SKILLS AT PSP 

• For supervisors to use in our regular check-ins with supervisees.
• In the development and implementation of all our training programs.
• In how we conduct site visits in programs like ….
• In intake calls to try to discern what services might best benefit a potential client.
• In refining our Strategic Visioning tool.
• As we do cohort gatherings to evaluate how Phase One worked …, or for similar evaluation work in other programs.

Immediate responses from the attendees cited the program changes that were instantly undertaken:  

… I wanted to be in touch to let you know how much I appreciated the opportunity to learn from you in coaching training a few weeks ago. 

As was noted, those of us at Partners have already found places where the training will directly impact our work. For example, I’m rewriting many of the questions we use for site visits, and when I have a cohort for our … Project work later this summer, I plan to use my coaching skills with them when they are admitted into the program. 

I am still very much in the process of going through my notes from that week and taking everything in. I’ve also checked out a number of the books on your coaching resources list from the library and am looking forward to diving in.  

It is now October, and this just recently came in from yet another PSP staff member:  

… I went through my notes, typed them up and solidified the questions that really gave me the most “juice” so to speak. I went into the meeting … with an open mind to ask other things as the journey would take us but did find that the questions I had tagged were definitely right on the money… 

It turns out that they have a lot more in common with one another and there are a lot of assumptions going on from both sides… They were very open to sharing and did not hold back which was ultimately helpful…Everyone felt good about the meeting and some even said they felt “better” …it made me find connections between them which is ultimately my job in this first phase of the work.  

This is one example of the kind of positive practical difference in culture and programming that training Professional coaches can bring to an organization! 

Watch this space for more Success Stories in coming months, and please, be in touch with any question you may have at info@potentials.us. We look forward to hearing from you!  

 

Claire participated in an offering entitled “Courageous Conversations: The Challenges and Opportunities for LGBTAQ+ Coaches.

From the session description: Courageous conversations require participants to speak candidly and listen openly about topics that are often considered “undiscussable,” and call for having the courage to communicate with honesty, vulnerability, and mutual respect. These conversations contribute to building a learning culture among members of the International Coaching Federation and greater community while also leading to a better understanding of the unique needs of others.”

André Brown, ACC, facilitated this speak out session with Mesha-Gay Walker, Garry Schleifer, Victor Gonzalez-Galeano and Claire as respondents. The session was well-received and sparked a good deal of deep conversation. We are grateful to the ICF for their commitment to excellence, and for all the work that went in creating this opportunity to gather in person to collaborate and learn together for the first time in four years.