Most people baulk at the idea of being “political”, yet being politically aware is a critical skill in career management. Coaches and mentors need to be able to use their own political awareness to help the learner make astute decisions and judgements; and to help the learner develop both political awareness and the ability to (more…)
Coaching textbooks are full of advice for coaches to develop their skills of empathy. It might seem to make common sense, but this advice doesn’t seem to based on any credible evidence. In fact, the contrary may be true — empathy may be a dangerous and unhealthy addiction for the coach and an unhelpful distraction...
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Read More How empathetic do you need to be as a coach or mentor?
Using a professional mentor creates a different dynamic to the developmental relationship. A contract is essential for several reasons: What should the contract specify? Essential elements include: 1. Purpose of the assignment 2. Expected outcomes and how these will be measured 3. Frequency, duration and location of meetings 4. Amount of ad hoc (eg telephone...
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This is a practical tool which helps people understand the complexity of their own thinking. It is a creative technique which helps people understand their own motivations and decision processes. It is based on the recognition that we make decisions and view the world through a mixture of often contradictory assumptions and perspectives; and that...
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SWISH is a technique used in NLP to help people replace unwanted or unhelpful thoughts and responses with helpful ones. It is a visualisation and reframing, thought to be particularly useful in dealing with situations where the client experiences stress that prevents them performing at their best. The basic steps are: This is primarily a...
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Stories are a great way of exploring the past, the present and the future. Good stories have a plot, sub-plots, characters, choices, dilemmas and drama. Stories can be factual, fictional or both. Stories, like anecdotes can be used by coaches or mentors to help illuminate situations and experiences. Stories and anecdotes can help strengthen the (more…)
Personal disclosure is an important part of an open, trusting relationship. It allows us to build multiple points of connection, in terms of shared experiences, shared values and shared hopes and fears. Overused, it can have the opposite effect — as anyone will testify, if they find themselves on a train or plane sitting next...
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Visioning is a technique used in many coaching / mentoring situations, it is often used to help the learner clarify goals. The technique if future focused and can be a very powerful tool. Visioning is best used when the learner is relaxed. It requires real focus and engagement in order for someone to place themselves...
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You may never have really thought about the values you hold, but they will exert a strong influence on how you behave, the choices you make, who you feel comfortable being around and many other aspects of your daily life. Some (perhaps most) of these values you will have absorbed from family, friends and work (more…)
Using humour in a coaching or mentoring dialogue can be beneficial in a number of ways. Firstly, it helps to rebuild rapport at the beginning of a session. You might say, for example, “Tell me what has amused you most since we last met”. This helps to the client to relax and to switch on...
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