There are always a lot of questions when thinking about working with a consultant, coach, trainer, or facilitator. Here are some answers to common queries. If you do not find what you are looking for here, please contact us.
What’s the Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching?
People often use these two terms interchangeably, but they are distinctly different. Here’s an easy way to differentiate: a Mentor helps you learn from their insights and experiences, while a Coach helps you learn from your insights and experiences. If someone is giving you advice, making suggestions, and/or telling you what they did in a situation similar to yours; that is Mentoring. When someone is actively listening to you, asking powerful questions, and reflecting back to you what they are hearing you say – then you have found a Coach!
What trainings do you offer?
Benefit from skilled facilitation for deliveries already designed that you’ve chosen or get the advantage of customized offerings designed and delivered to meet your unique needs. Offerings can be delivered virtually using Skype to cover every audience across all time zones using interactive tools to keep participants engaged. In person deliveries present concepts and practice activities in a lively, direct, and humorous way that increases retention and satisfaction ratings. Areas of specialization include; Leadership, Coaching, Managing Up, Career Progress, Effective Feedback, Conflict Resolution, Diversity and Inclusion, Effective Feedback, Change Management, Unconscious Bias, Communication, Moving from Survive to Thrive, Team Dynamics and more.
How does Coaching differ from Therapy?
I love this question, I finished all of the coursework for a Master’s in Counseling and while having that perspective is helpful, coaching differs from therapy significantly. Typically, coaching addresses issues that live in the present or the future, while therapy tends to focus on problems that have deep roots in the past. Coaching topics are best delved into with questions that begin with ‘What’ and ‘How’, while therapeutic questions often begin with ‘Why’. Occasionally during work with a client, we might bump up against a roadblock that would best be resolved by a therapist. When that happens, we discuss how to proceed – some clients keep coaching while they also work with a therapist, some decide to put coaching on hold to prioritize dismantling a limiting impediment with a therapist, and some consider starting therapy after we complete our coaching work.
What's the difference between a Curious Investigator versus a Critical Judge?
It is in our nature to respond to ideas, thoughts, or even people who are different than we are with some hesitation, discomfort and even fear. We all have unconscious biases shaped by our cumulative life experiences. The key is to increase your awareness so you can have a better response than a gut reaction. When someone disagrees with your approach, you have a choice – decide they are dumb and wrong and set about showing them the error of their ways, OR consider the possibility that they may know something you don’t – or can see things you can’t see – I know, it’s hard! If you go through your work and life as a Critical Judge, you are going to miss out on a lot, it is a limiting view. If you can shift to Compassionate Curiosity and take some time to investigate, a whole new perspective can open up and you could even learn something – imagine the possibilities!
Have the same Conversation with your Mouth that you are Having in your Head
After much work in conflict resolution, investigating complaints of discrimination, and helping leaders and managers communicate more effectively, I believe the majority of conflicts, complaints, and contention grow out of initial miscommunications and misunderstandings that are not clarified and cleared up in the moment. Most of us have a good gut instinct that tells us when something doesn’t feel right or seem smart. Too many times, we ignore that useful intuition and keep silent. Silence is deadly! Or we’re all in a hurry and it seems silly to slow everything down to address a little issue. Speed kills! If we can train ourselves to have the same conversations with our mouths that we are having in our heads, we can address issues when they are small, prevent them from becoming bigger resentments, and improve effectiveness in the long run. It’s like at the airport – if you see something, say something.
If you Want Different, you need to Be Different and Do Different
So many of my conversations with clients begin with ‘What do you want?’ and invariably lead to ‘What are you willing to do to get it?’ When you long for another way in your career or life, you are getting ready to say you want something different. And when you want something different, then a different way of being and doing is required. It begins with your thoughts, then moves to your words, and then finally shifts to your actions – then real change is possible. So when we work together, I will ask you what you need to reframe in your thinking, how do you need to change your self-talk, and which new actions you will take. Because when you want different, you need to do different and you need to be different.
Can you help me find a new job or a different career?
Working with people in career transitions is some of my most rewarding work. Even though it is one of the top stressors in life along with moving, divorce, illness or death – it can be an amazing journey to fulfillment and prosperity. My experiences in headhunting and career counseling at a university helped me create a Ten Point Plan that includes analysis of what you want and what you’re hard-wired for, an approach to networking to discover unknown possibilities, designing a killer resume, and prepping your for interviews in a way that builds your confidence and skills. We can work together to get you ready for the next chapter of your life with a lot less stress and a lot more fun than you think possible.
What tools and assessments do you use?
I use a number of internationally recognized assessments and tools, designed to drill down deeper into who you are and how you approach the world. How do you find your strengths? How can you approach conflict constructively and recognize your own patterns? How can you lead better, develop you career path, or work with others more effectively? Combinations of these assessments and tools can add breadth and depth to any coaching or training environment. You can find out more in AMPLIO NEWS.
Suggested Reading
Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (2002)
In this analytical take on managerial success, the psychologist credited with popularizing the concept of “emotional intelligence” looks at its application to leadership. Through dozens of case studies, Goleman builds a convincing argument that the best leaders are, for lack of a better term, in touch with their feelings. Individuals with what he calls “resonance,” the ability to channel emotions in a positive direction, are by and large the most effective and inspiring.
On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis (1989)
Professor Bennis conducts hundereds of interviews with thought leaders to answer the question: What is a good leader? Bennis didn’t just limit his interviews to executives (like many leadership books), he included entrepreneurs, psychologists, philosophers, etc… Due to his broad research and definition of leadership, this hits the top of my list.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink (2011)
The ability to motivate is central to leadership. That’s what makes Pink’s book so valuable. Packed with the secrets of motivation, Pink suggests we move away from rewards and punishment, opting for meaningful work, mastery, and autonomy instead.
The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner (2010)
There are some things that will always play a role in effective leadership. Trust, credibility, and ethics are among those things. Kouzes and Posner reveal 30 years of research that support these and other core principles.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t by Jim Collins (1994)
Some companies succeed, but most fail. Jim Collins evaluated thousands of articles and interview transcripts to figure out why exactly that is. Then he packaged it all into this book to show you what traits you’ll need to build a great company.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu (5th century B.C.)
Who hasn’t heard of this book, right? It’s amazing to think it was written in 5th century B.C. Many generals, Presidents and CEOs have pulled knowledge from this book over hundreds of years. This book is an Ancient Chinese was manual made up of 13 sections, each highlighting a different aspect of battle strategy. This timeless classic leadership book is full of insights into how not only to set goals but also achieve them. The basic premise is to take action swiftly as a strategy versus making lists. How many of us spend much of our day preparing to prepare? Sun Tzu says “ACT!
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2006)
If Abe Lincoln can unite his cabinet and the country around abolishing slavery amidst war, you can probably reconcile conflicting personalities in your company. Meshing people of divergent ideologies into a team or group is an admirable leadership trait. In Team of Rivals Kearns Goodwin recounts the story of how Lincoln surrounded himself with the best people, despite their differences. He was humble and unafraid to be challenged: two traits that will serve every leader.
Tribes by Seth Godin (2008)
Start by reading Tribes and then continue on reading everything Godin has written. From his blog to his books and everything in between, Godin is sharing a winning formula for stepping outside of the status quo to do meaningful work. It’s this kind of work that will inspire others to follow, help you get noticed, and leave a legacy long after you’re gone.
Questions of Character: Illuminating the Heart of Leadership Through Literature by Joseph L. Badaracco Jr. (2006)
What can literature’s greatest characters teach us about leadership? An infinite amount, according to Badaracco, whose literature course, “The Moral Leader,” is a popular draw at Harvard Business School. Common among nearly all the great works of literature is a central character facing a grave challenge. Think Antigone, Death of a Salesman’s Willy Loman or Things Fall Apart’s Okonkwo. Badaracco segments his book into eight different questions leaders commonly face and illustrates each one with a literary example. The result is a wise, and never pedantic, reflection on the challenges of leading and the perils of failing to do it well.
A Manager’s Guide to Coaching: Simple and Effective Ways to Get the Best From Your Employees, by Brian Emerson and Anne Loehr, (2008)
To stay on top, companies need to do more than just tread water—they need to grow. And that means that their employees need to develop and improve their skills at the same pace. Brian Emerson and Ann Loehr have spent years showing some of the country’s top companies how to develop their most promising employees. Now in this book they guide managers through every step of the coaching process, from problem solving to developing accountability. Readers will discover: the top 10 tips every manager should know before he/she starts to coach. These include: How to handle difficult conversations, conflicting priorities, and problem team members, How to hold follow-up meetings after goals and priorities have been set, Sample questions they can adapt to various situations, Examples of common problems and how they can use coaching to address them.
The Tao of Coaching: Boost Your Effectiveness at Work by Inspiring and Developing Those Around You, by Max Landsberg, (2009)
A bestselling business title on how to unlock the potential of people by applying the techniques of coaching. Coaching is the key to realizing the potential of your employees, your organization and yourself. The good news is that becoming a great coach requires nurturing just a few simple skills and habits. This edition of the book has been fully revised, and takes readers through the stages needed to implement coaching to maximum effect. Easy to read and apply, the book provides the techniques and tools of coaching that are vital for anyone who wants to develop a team of people who will perform effectively and who will relish working with you.
The Heart of Coaching: Using Transformational Coaching to Create a High-Performance Coaching Culture, by Thomas G. Crane, (2012)
More and more leaders and their organizations are becoming convinced in the business case for creating a “coaching culture”. This 4th edition book provides the tools for leaders and teams to develop a common language and shared protocol and a learning and development orientation towards people. These critical dynamics support the entire culture becoming a “feedback-rich, high-performance” organization. The premise of “The Heart of Coaching” is “As coaching becomes a predominant cultural practice…it will create a performance-focused, feedback-rich organization capable of creating and sustaining a competitive advantage.”
Leadership Team Coaching: Developing Collective Transformational Leadership, by Peter Hawkins (2011)
Organizations are most effective when the teams accountable for the organization’s success are performing to the best of their abilities. Leadership Team Coaching is aimed at managers whose role it is to encourage and develop a team. Author Peter Hawkins provides the practical tools and techniques to facilitate effective team performance. He also includes guidance on all the key areas of team coaching, including coaching the board and supervising team coaching and how a team as a whole can engage effectively with key stake holders.
The Extraordinary Coach: How the Best Leaders Help Others Grow, by John Zenger and Kathleen Stinnett, (2009)
A boss manages and a leader coaches. We need to do both. But most people in supervisory, manager, or executive roles over-boss and under-lead. The results are lower performance, weaker people, disengaged frontline staff, and stressed out managers. Developing people is at the heart of strong leadership and this book is essentially a guide to developing this critical skill set. In this book, the authors consequently offer a complete system for the practice of coaching. Whether you are coaching subordinates or clients, this book offers a comprehensive look at the value of coaching inside the organization, complete with a process, tools, and supports for getting started.
The Five Minute Coach: Coaching Others to High Performance in As Little As Five Minutes, by Lynne Cooper and Mariette Castellino, (2012)
Designed for leaders, managers and supervisors, in any setting, this approach to coaching has been developed by the authors and used in organizations across the board large and small, private and public, with adults and teens, and across a variety of voluntary and community groups. Professional coaches have also adopted this system in their work. The book leads the reader through a simple process which changes thinking about how to work with others. Leaders no longer need to have all the answers. They benefit from true delegation. They uncover the talent and resources of others. They free up time for themselves-time to think strategically and to be more proactive, creative and innovative.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays translation)
Although Aurelius was writing for himself, the surviving text is a road map to living a better life. By removing the excess, Aurelius shows us all how to rise above distractions to maintain our principles. Rooted in Stoic philosophy, Meditations is practical advice for controlling your thoughts, emotions, and actions to remove stress from your life.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel
This book recounts Viktor Frankel’s experience in Auschwitz, the Nazi prison camp, during the Holocaust. Through all the pain and suffering Frankel was able to maintain perspective and conclude that there “must be meaning in suffering.” He reminds us that the meaning of life is to define that meaning for ourselves through action.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
An easy to read, highly descriptive, story that teaches a powerful metaphor – how to pursue your dreams. Learn the obstacles that will arise, and learn how to channel your courage on the path of what you value most.
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
Thoughts are things. We are what we repeatedly think about. Learn to first create in your mind the life that you want, then manifest its reality through your hard work and actions. A classic – short simple and powerful.
Flow: The Psychology Of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
What are the optimal experiences in our life? The vacations? Laying on the beach? No. World renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his landmark book proves that optimal experience is actually the moments in our life when we are giving our very best in pursuit of self-directed meaningful goals. Through this book learn how to channel flow, and your life will forever change.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Being vulnerable doesn’t have to be a weakness. Fear and shame shouldn’t prevent us from daring to do big things. Instead, Brown tells us that it’s most important to show up; to try and to fail. Because coming up short is better than never having tried at all.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch,
A professor at Carnegie Mellon, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away in 2008. The book reiterates the idea of living life to the fullest in an extremely personal way, as the author takes readers into his life and shares his thoughts and feelings on dealing with his terminal diagnosis.
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