We just completed the first coach training weekend of Fundamentals of Performance Coaching in Tempe and I am always excited to see the new coach training students come in with wide eyes and open minds to learn all the ways of BEING a Professional Performance Coach.   Of course, this was the perfect arena to use some of my favorite metaphors. This year's faculty is keeping a record of each one with a translation page to assist in completing my book on metaphors.

 

So, here is one that I used this weekend and seemed applicable to where the students were and where you may find yourself anytime you are stepping into new learning.   

 

Any time we are in a learning mode, it can feel overwhelming.  Our brains are conditioned to let us know what we know and where to store the new information. That is done by association.  However, when we take in new information and have no place to store it - it does not connect with anything we know - then we can go into overwhelm.  I always start each new coach training class by letting our new student coaches know that they will be introduced to many new concepts and principles that will challenge the way that they see, think and respond to life, and that they will not know what to do with all of the information.  

 

I invite them to use the metaphor to consider themselves a giant refrigerator - where they have many different compartments to store different types of food and for this weekend there may be times that they will not know where to pack all the food they are getting into their refrigerator.  I invite them to just let it sit out on the counter and not be in a hurry to store it away.  I let them know that it will NOT spoil and that they will find a place to put it soon enough.  

 

As they leave the weekend, many comment to me, "I still have stuff out on the counter" or "My refrigerator is STUFFED and I think I need to DEFROST".  It is all good and the goal is not to do a meltdown. 

 

That's it for this week from the Metaphor Corner.