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Greetings!
With the winter Olympics in the last half of February, not to mention my birthday, the past few weeks were a delight. I was entranced by the athletes' strength, courage, powers of concentration, and beautiful bodies in motion. Of course, all of the athletes have at least one coach.
I watched closely as the ice skating coach spoke to the skater before her skating program. I noted the ski jumper at the top of the mountain going through his personal routine of concentration with his coach by his side.
Recently, I have been helping a client prepare for a job interview for a new position she really wants. We reviewed the job announcement together, analyzed the position and discussed the skills, knowledge and attributes she would bring to the job. I asked her to think about when she has interviewed candidates for jobs and consider what would make one candidate stand out over another. We then came up with a list of questions that we thought the interview committee might ask. And then we practiced. At first, even though she is bright and talented, her interview skills were rusty. With practice, she became more confident and she spoke with clarity. Her body relaxed and she portrayed confidence. All of this preparation and practice with a coach helped her to hone her interviewing skills and feel ready.
In 1972, Timothy Gallwey, published The Inner Game of Tennis, a now classic book that describes how each game is composed of an outer game played with an opponent and an inner game within the player's mind with its obstacles of self doubt and anxiety. Gallwey revolutionized the athletes' approach by helping them get out of their own way. A clear mental approach is as important as a strong serve. Gallwey's Zen approach has relevance to business as well, and he became a major inspirational speaker for executives.
On my website, I quote John Whitmore, one of the early pioneers of business coaching, who worked with Gallwey, and wrote Coaching for Performance, among other books. "...we are more like an acorn, which contains within it all the potential to be a magnificent oak tree. We need nourishment, encouragement and the light to reach toward, but the oaktreeness is already within."
From athletes to executives of large companies, coaching has become essential. And now, coaching is being recognized as a vital resource for everyone. We all have that "oaktreeness" inside and with the help of a coach as a learning partner, we are more able to express it.
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation recognizes the value of coaching. They have funded "The Shelter Learning Community," a three year program for eight Executive Directors who lead organizations that provide services to the homeless and victims of domestic violence. During the third year of the funding, the Executive Directors are committed to transformative change in their leadership, and they are each working with an individual coach. It is indeed an honor to work with two of these Executive Directors.
These Executive Directors, like the Olympic athletes, and the woman preparing for a job interview, recognize that coaches are vital to realizing success, whether to leave a legacy, win a gold medal, or to obtain a meaningful job.
To learn more about how coaching can support you and your goals, please call me for a complimentary coaching consultation.
Best regards,
Sue Schleifer
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For Love of Doing
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Here is a one minute video in which I describe the joy of working with a coaching client and being a partner in his "oaktreeness."
And here is audio of a presentation that I did with Marianne Bridgeman, of Healthy Inner Beauty, entitled Healthy Rituals for the New Year.
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Writing Down Dementia Writing Workshops
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Kim Fowler and I are continuing to offer Writing Down Dementia Writing Workshops. These workshops are for people who would like to write, in a supportive atmosphere, about their experiences with a loved one with dementia.
You may join one workshop or come to them all. They will each be unique experiences. No writing experience is necessary.
Tuesdays, March 9, April 13, and April 27 - 7:30 - 9 pm
Sunday, March 28, 3 - 4:30 pm
Held in Oakland at the home of one of the facilitators
$20 per session
To register, please contact Sue
Sue@Oak-Communications.com
510.269.4434
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Coaching with Sue
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Have you been thinking about working with a coach?
Perhaps you are tired of feeling stressed and overwhelmed and want to feel a sense of clarity and energy.
Do you yearn to bring your creative side back into your life and not sure how to proceed?
Maybe you would like support in making a change or moving forward in your life to feel happier and more at peace.
I would love to talk with you about how I can be your partner in moving forward with your life. Call me for a complimentary half hour telephone coaching consultation.
Coaching is extremely effective via telephone. Please consider coaching even if you do not live in the Bay Area!
Sue Schleifer
www.Oak-Communications.com
Sue@Oak-Communications.com
510.269.4434
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