Introduction: The Context

Let’s start with the basics. We’ll talk about client’s “story” and its three dimensions. About the traditional life-success model… and why it’s a trap. Finally, we’ll dive into concepts of transformation and mindfulness — and what’s their place in the coaching practice.

Chapter 1: What Is Coaching

The world today is moving and changing too fast for our legacy models of leadership and followership to sustain our organizations a — or us. Our worlds are becoming increasingly multidimensional and interrelated. As a consequence, many who have managed to segregate parts of themselves into a work persona, a social persona, a family persona and so on, are feeling increasingly ill-equipped to cope.

The experience becomes increasingly like trying to catch a ball with only one eye open — because closing one eye eliminates your depth perception, it’s almost impossible to do with any consistency. Coaching is a process designed to metaphorically open both eyes and bring depth to life. In this chapter you’ll learn more about coaching’s place, types of coaching applications and your role in the coaching process. Last, but not least — you’ll learn why PASSION (and what we mean by that) is critical in the coaching process.

Chapter 2: Three Dimensional Coaching

This is the juicy stuff — here you’ll discover how to access your client’s “story” through the major coaching models and how they build the Three Dimensional Coaching™ Model. You’ll start with The Seasons Model — with emphasis on The Cycle of Renewal.

Then, you’ll proceed to The Performance Focus Coaching Model — with emphasis on the core coaching skills (AIRAD), the process of creating the coaching environment/climate, the premise of possibility AND coaching conversation. Finally, you’ll move to The Somatic Coaching Model — with emphasis on moving and engaging techniques, “ground of being”, methods for requests and declines, contraction and expansion… and more! Yes, this chapter is action-packed.

To lead a meaningful and powerful Coaching Conversation, you’ll have to learn about Bodhimanda – The Place of Awakening. Bodhimanda is a Sanskrit word that means, literally, a place where we come together to wake up. It’s from this concept that the idea of a dojo—a place of practice — was born. All martial artists practice in a dojo. It’s a place to be a learner; it’s a place to practice to develop mastery; it’s a place that connects the “artist” to the ideal of the particular martial art being practiced. The notion that we are waking up as we practice makes a dojo a special place.
You’ll also learn the CFEEB (Center, Face, Extend, Enter and Blend) technique and its special guided meditation.

Chapter 4: The Meaning Field

All that we do is governed by the meaning we have assigned and are assigning to the events in our lives. This simple statement is profound in its impact on the coaching process. The not so simple implication of the statement is that everything your client is doing and feeling involves his or her, often unconscious, choice. The meaning of anything is assigned or chosen by the client and does not inherently exist.

This chapter will explore the ways in which the coach and client will together discover the subtle decisions the client makes and has made… what influences these decisions, and how the client can change it. You’ll learn about concepts such as: “Mood and meaning”, “Leading from behind”, “The Nature of purpose” and “The power of vision”.

Chapter 5: The Challenges

What are the challenges for the manager/coach? How does the manager/coach advocate her/his need for a shift or change on the part of her client when “true” coaching is a client-led process? What is a “shape”, and how do you build it?

Learn how to allow the future to “find” your client and the center to “find” you. Finally, we’ll dive deeper into concept of Enmeshment (the consequence of losing the perspective that, in the coaching transaction, you are a unique individual that is acting out a role). We’ll also discuss what are its dangers and how to move beyond it.

Chapter 6: Designing The Future

Although it may seem so for many people, the future is not an accident waiting to happen. Frustratingly for many, however, the future cannot be guaranteed. But it can be designed. The wondrous thing about design is that the concept lends itself to flexibility. When designing the future with your client, you’ll help them keep their focus on function rather than form; on the experience of success, rather than symbols of that success. You’ll design to include problems not to avoid them.

By designing your future, you leverage the foundational activity of leadership (creating vision) and you put yourself in position to lead your life rather, than be at effect of the vicissitudes of life. You’ll also learn the rules of dealing with resistance (though the Contraction and Expansion technique) as well as why, instead of aiming for perfection, you should target excellence.

Chapter 7: Coaching Tools

Here you’ll explore some of the most effective and powerful coaching tools in the industry. Blaine prepared for you a toolkit of suggested meditations, Vision and Values Clarification Tools, Lifeline, personal vision exercises, “Five Other Lives” exercise, discovering your calling, Personal Management Interview (PMI). You’ll also receive a sample of a coaching contract to work with in the future.