The Coach Approach

The Coach Approach to Legal Issues

I was excited this morning to find the following blog article by Philip Daunt in my Google news alert, The Power of Clear Communication.  Daunt publishes a blog on bringing coaching concepts to the often contentious process of legal disputes.  What a GREAT concept!  I can't think of a better place to apply coaching skills.

It seems almost counter intuitive because we so often are in a win/lose and blame game state of mind by the time someone resorts to legal action. Whether we are initiating or responding to a legal action, the important thing to remember is that we always, and I mean ALWAYS, have a choice.  We choose our intent, our language, our tactics, our feelings, and most importantly the energy we bring to the dispute or conflict.  Are we here to resolve or to punish?  Are we attached to being right or ready to move forward?  Is our energy being put to its highest and best use in engaging or settling?

Check out Durant's recent post as well as The Ten Distinctions of a Coach Approach Lawyer and The Eight Possibilities.  He is truly in ground breaking territory here. 

I shared some of my personal experiences on this topic in a previous post.  And I would love to hear your thoughts and/or experiences on this topic.

With gratitude,

Lora

Lora Banks, CPCC

lora@TheCoachApproach.net

The Coach Approach, LLC

Success Tip: Small Steps Lead to Big Accomplishments

"Step by step.  I can't see any other way of accomplishing anything."  - Michael Jordan

Would you rather play and always lose or never play?  This question was posed last night in our family game of "Would You Rather?" which requires one person to guess what the rest of the group will decide after a short discussion.  The idea of the game is to stimulate thought-provoking discussion which indeed it did.

My husband was surprised by my answer - play!  Not that I enjoy losing but, I do enjoy learning and if you are not even trying, you can't lose and...you can't win either. This brought to mind a little book my husband  purchased some time ago by basketball great, Michael  Jordan, called, "I Can't Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence."

Jordan's first chapter on goal setting parallels the coaching concept of "the early win." 

Leadership Tip: Is Your Organization Awake?

That is the question asked by Nancy Spears in her latest business book, Buddha: 9 to 5: The Eightfold Path to Enlightening Your Workplace and Improving Your Bottom Line  Regardless of your spiritual orientation, you will find this book packed with leadership tools, workplace wisdom, and professional development tips. 

Spears overlays ancient teachings upon today's corporate environments providing a road map for healthy change which is people, profit and ethics centric - all at the same time. She brings deeper meaning to the classic terms, "mission" and "vision."  Through a series of self-coaching exercises, she points the reader toward accountability, discipline in communication, passion and patience at work.  Short case studies populate the book both from the author's own professional experience as well as popular media.  While educating on Buddhist principles of thought, each chapter is organized in business like fashion into strategies, tactics, and operations.

I love the book, like most of those recommended by my good friend Nicki Marcellino at Prudential California Realty.  The company has their entire management staff reading the book!  Spears and I are on the same page here.  You can read my take on business and the eightfold path on my old blog, Thoughts on Leadership over at blogger.com.  What do you think?

Enjoy,

Lora

Lora Banks, CPCC

lora@TheCoachApproach.net

The Coach Approach, LLC

Coaching Tip: Performance Reviews for High Performers

There was an interesting query on one of my networks recently that is worth sharing.  Someone asked, how do you give a performance review to a top performer when part of your job is to identify areas for growth when the employee is at the top of his/her game?

What a great challenge to have!  First of all, there is ALWAYS room for growth of some kind.  Secondly, you don't have to have all the answers.  Trust me.  Most people have an idea where they could improve and grow.  Let them provide the seeds for the conversation.  Here is a format that works:

1) Ask if they would be willing to look together at areas for continued growth so they are prepared for the direction of the conversation.
2) Ask what areas they have identified for themselves.
3) Ask permission to brainstorm and/or to add your suggestions to their own self-awareness and targeted areas for growth.
4) Coach and offer yourself as a resource to their success. Find out specifically how you can assume the role of ally in their areas of growth.
5) Look for the opportunity to end this portion of the performance review with a sincere acknowledgment.

Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of this challenge?  What did you learn about what works and what doesn't?  I would love to hear about your experiences.

All the best,

Lora

Lora Banks, CPCC

lora@TheCoachApproach.net

The Coach Approach, LLC

Success Tool: Mental Journey to Millions Live!

I was able to jump on a plane at the last minute Thursday night to accept the invitation I received from Thach Nguyen to attend his program Mental Journey to Millions Live! in Irvine, California.  While I was grateful to receive the invitation a couple of weeks ago, it didn't appear that I would be able to attend because of a previous commitment AND I had an intuition that I would be going.  My intuition was correct.  There were some changes to the program I was delivering at San Jose State University and I just said, "Yes" to the opportunity to hear and support Thach and his co-leader Matthew Ferry.  Not surprisingly, when I saw Thach Friday night what did he say?  "I always knew you would be here."  Sometimes when I am creating and connecting with others, it feels a little magical.  This was one of those times.

So the program - this is a great jump start if you have been putting off creating, living, and/or working from your vision and values.  Ferry's energy and entertainment value are over the top.  Thach is a humble, funny, fountain of wisdom and experience.  The two put on an energizing performance complete with giant visual graphics and inspirational music.  Here is a short summary of the highlights.