1) Believe in people.
With all your heart. See them better than they see themselves.
2) You are no better than the people you coach.
Be their equal, not their boss. Walk with them shoulder by shoulder. You’re both on the same path.
3) Skill doesn’t change people. Love changes people.
All the skills in the world aren’t worth a dime if you don’t have good intent. Your clients can sense it a mile away.
4) You still need skill.
Good life coaching is not an accident.
5) You still don’t change people. People change themselves.
You don’t have a magical wand that makes people do what you want them to do. When you take credit for someone’s change, you rob them of their personal power. You only show them the door, they’re the ones that walk through it.
6) The most important person you coach is you.
You can’t teach what you don’t know, you can’t lead where you don’t go. Be the best person you can be. Do your best to walk the talk and lead the way. ‘Nuff said.
Inspired by Gaping Void’s mini-manifestos, and last Wednesday’s talk with Tim and Yezhong when we had the reunion with Paiboon. Any further suggestions, fellow life coaches?
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:52 am
A good friend practices a very powerful saying: “Everybody likes to learn, but no one likes to be taught”.
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Here’s my personal rule - “I am a fantastic coach!”
All I have to do is know my goal is to have the person feel happy … and my communication will bring out the best in him/her.
After my initial training, I don’t need scripts, procedures … just the faith in my ability to support, and their ability to grow.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Like the content of your blog
February 4th, 2007 at 1:42 am
How about “Be Real” & “Get Real”?
February 4th, 2007 at 3:00 am
Hmm interesting guys! More more
What else would be in your personal coaching manifesto?
Yezhong, I love it! Why does that sound so familiar?
February 4th, 2007 at 7:30 am
I commend you for your life coach Manifesto. I am especially drawn to: # “2) You are no better than the people you coach.
Be their equal, not their boss. Walk with them shoulder by shoulder. You’re both on the same path.”
I believe this is the most critical issue of coaching, and where so many so called coaches stray and lose their ability to assist clients to succeed. When a coach takes the superior position with their client, their ability to continue being an effective coach is diminished dramatically, and extremely difficult to recapture. The comment made about how “Everybody likes to learn, but no one likes to be taught” illustrates my point.
I hope more coaches read your Manifesto.
February 4th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the well-thought out comment. I’ve seen coaches go off point too when they start to feel that because they coach their clients with their problems, somehow they end up better than they are.
It’s a definite ego-trip, and for someone without a strong centered-core, the allure of a false self-esteem boost can be quite alluring. I should know, I’ve been there.
But it’s when a coach can recognize the equal humanity in another person, that’s when real work, helpful for both parties, begins.
I suppose that could be point 7) Your client is a magnificent being, and so are you.
You could always help me spread the word
February 17th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
i LOVE your manifesto. it’s great for anyone. i am going to print this out and post on my wall. it’s so simple yet so brilliant.
cheers,
cindy
February 18th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Hey, thanks Cindy! That’s a wonderful compliment
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:05 am
love it! thanks for sharing. very fluffy
looking forward to version 2.0 and beyond.
~C