SECTION: WHAT TO READ
The Slow Coach Approach
by Judy Barber (United Kingdom)
The Slow Coach Approach is a book written for good-hearted leaders but, as I say on page 5: “You don’t need to be a coach in order to use it – but I have a sneaky feeling coaches might like it!” Why do I say that? Well, as a coach myself I know how handy it is going to be to have this book as a resource for me with my clients. I am looking forward to using the book and the Stars Model with them. For example, when I am working with a client, on or offline, they could be filling in their stars and I could be keeping a copy filled in with their stars for reference too. It is intended to be a good, shared reference resource, a very positive user-friendly one.
The nine-pointed stars on the cover of The Slow Coach Approach echo the ‘Stars Model’ for increasing your Interpersonal Return On Investment, your IROI. As you can see, there’s a ray for each of the nine approaches in the book, starting with ‘Heartfelt Listening’ and ‘Powerful Communication’. I came up with this when I was thinkinglong and hard about a way of recording progress in each part that would be quick, easy and rewarding. This is not because this work is easy, frilly or fluffy but because it’s incredibly important that you do this work even when you are incredibly busy and actually don’t have time for anything that feels like yet another demanding recording task.
All you need to do is to download and print off a copy of the ‘Stars Model’ on page 8 and fill in a star each time you feel you have had a success from putting into practice something you have chosen from the book. Once you buy the book you can access the download from my website, www.theslowcoachapproach.com. Recording successes in this way makes perfect sense because you are affirming the positive changes you are able to create, even when there is rather a lot going with work on that is not so positive.
This is in tune with Chapter 3, Intentional Wellbeing, which puts the focus on improving wellbeing for yourself and others. We know from our own life experiences, especially after our recent world-wide health issues, that it is much easier to be comfortable enough to think straight and get things done when we are feeling well, both physically and emotionally. Here is a quote from chapter3: “Physical illness can be created or exacerbated by stress, but we don’t need to be victims of stress. Increasing our sense of wellbeing makes it less likely we will get trapped in downward spirals of stress.” The point there is that by placing focus on increasing a sense of wellness, rather than just on what is stressful, things can change. You can get off your own case and get on with being productive in a more comfortable way.
Source: iCN Issue 39 (Career Coaching); pages 47-49
About Judy Barber
Judy’s best clients call her the Slow Coach – and not because things can’t change more quickly than you might imagine! Since 2003 she has been coaching business leaders through big decisions, on the complexities of managing many roles and in solving the apparently unsolvable.
Judy is a coach, author and facilitator known for good questions, empathy, natural creativity and imagination. Her first coaching book is ‘Good Question, the Art of Asking Questions to Bring About Positive Change’.
