Silence: Business Coaching Training, Career Coach Certification, Executive Coaching Certification and Life Coach Training Teachings at the Center for Coaching Certification

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, silence is an important tool in conversations generally and in coaching it is essential.

Think about it this way: how often have you asked a question and then been uncomfortable with the silence while waiting for an answer? The natural tendency is to then jump in and fill that silence by further explaining the question or giving possible answers. Explaining the question is unnecessary and actually indicates that perhaps the person asked is unable to figure it out for them self. Giving possible answers negates asking a question in the first place.

Alternatively, consider the other side: how often have you wanted to say something or answer a question and been unable to either because there was no silence to jump in on or because before you could answer a question more was being said? Chances are you lost track of what you did want to say or simply gave up on saying anything.

Consider who is uncomfortable with the silence – the person asking or the person thinking about the question and their answer? Bottom line: ask and be silent because this is respectful. It gives the person asked an opportunity to respond.

Approximately 70% of the time people will think inside their head first and approximately 30% of the time people will think out loud. What does this mean? As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification most often silence is important and powerful because it provides the space for people to think and respond effectively.

Self-Care For Coaching Readiness as Taught in Business Coaching Training, Career Coach Certification, Executive Coaching Certification and Life Coach Training at The Center for Coaching Certification

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification, and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, coaches are in the business of coaching because we want to make a difference for others. Coaches are passionate about helping people improve and achieve. In our enthusiasm for other people, how well do we coaches take care of ourselves? While we recognize the importance of balance, how often – in our motivation for coaching and our willingness to work hard – does our own balance go by the wayside?

Interestingly, the Code of Ethics for coaches, as published by the ICF, includes recognizing personal issues that may impair ability to coach effectively. As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, The obvious personal issues include experience, training, and expertise. The less obvious issues include mental, physical, and emotional energy levels – all connected to self-care. This means that self-care for coaches is an ethical responsibility — so that we are at our best when working.

Specific Tips for Self-care:

• Exercise at an appropriate level.
• Eat right.
• Schedule a minimum of one day a week for being off-line.
• Plan a fun time out at least every other week.
• Know yourself for maximum hours to work and your relaxation time requirements.

Summer is coming and ideally plans include a vacation or staycation – this supports balance and is part of self-care too, so enjoy knowing having fun and relaxing is doing the right thing!

Coaching Program Assessment and Adjustment Business Coaching Training, Career Coach Certification, Executive Coaching Certification and Life Coach Training at The Center for Coaching Certification

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification, and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, effective planning and engagement are an excellent foundation for a coaching program. To support ongoing success and sustainability, plan to assess the coaching program process and outcomes on a regular basis. One simple check is to survey the people involved. What follows are examples of questions for coaching program assessment surveys.

Assessment survey for program administrators:

• What have you learned through the coaching program?
• What feedback is coming in?
• What is the level of support for the program?
• Which policies are working well?
• Which policy changes do you recommend?
• Which coaching tools are working well?
• What changes to coaching tools do you recommend?
• What additional coaching tools do you recommend?
• Which resources are used often?
• What changes to resources do you recommend?
• What additional resources do you recommend?
• How can the coaching program be enhanced?

Assessment survey for the coaches and coachees:

• What are your thoughts on the coaching process?
• What is working well?
• What do you recommend be changed?
• What additional coaching tools do you want?
• What additional resources do you want?
• How is the coaching making a difference?

Assessment survey for the bosses, peers, and direct reports of the coachees:

• What changes are you noticing since the coaching began?
• What are the benefits of the coaching program?
• What are your recommendations to improve the coaching program?

Based on your organization and culture, change, add, or delete questions.

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, when you survey people involved in the coaching program, it is best to share a report on the responses and to share the plan for changes as a result of their input.

Brand Your Coaching Niche As Taught in Business Coaching Training, Career Coach Certification, Executive Coaching Certification, and Life Coach Training at The Center for Coaching Certification

Branding is the one thing that, with all other factors being equal, makes your product stand distinct from the rest. With completion of the business coaching training, career coach certification, life coach training, or executive coaching certification at the Center for Coaching Certification, each participant is given access to the coach login page. One of the tools there is a road map or process for creating a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement so you tailor it for your coaching niche. Keep in mind that the statement without branding is incomplete, the Ying is missing its Yang.

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, it is in many cases as simple as having walked-the-walk yourself. For example, if your niche area is “Transition Coaching” and in addition to the formal coach training, you have also been through the transition process yourself at any time in your life, that is a significant thing that you bring to your niche; that supports you branding yourself in a way that is unique from other coaches.

The good news is that if your own transition was wrought with missteps and faux pas, you have the best hook in your niche – you know what NOT to do as well as learning through experience options that work. Think of all the things you bring to your brand just by that one fact! You have (1) Experience – “I know what to expect and how to handle it” (2) Authenticity – “I can truly empathize at every step” and (3) Clout – “I know it can be done because I have done it” so reflect on your learning and how you now support others exploring and learning.

Answers to a few simple questions help you brand your niche (Hint: They are all centered around your innate passion):

1. What was it that motivated you to select your niche?
2. What is the one thing about your niche area that excites you the most?
3. What about it appeals to you to the extent of exciting you?

Use the answers to these questions as a launching pad for developing your message.

As taught in business coaching training, career coach certification, executive coaching certification, and life coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, above all, make sure your brand is one you are passionate about, get excited discussing, and engage in because you enjoy the work. That is basic brand sustainability.