Research Paper By Michelle Eiland
(Transitional Coaching, UNITED STATES)
Self Reflection
Regularity – 6
As part of one of our leadership initiatives at my place of employment we learned about journaling and how it could help us reflect on life, the job, family, etc. I have to admit when introduced, and by the way I help teach this as well as one of our Pathfinder leaders for this development course, I was excited about the process. By the end of the learning however, I changed by view. Not because I did not find it beneficial or useful but because it is not practical. When juggling the day-to-day stuff I just could not seem to find the time.
I take lots of notes and do find it beneficial to do brainstorming activities to help me stimulate the thought process. This has led me to help breakdown many walls in my coaching conversations as well. When I cannot seem to get someone engaged I move to a whiteboard and before you know it…it is on!
I am trying to get back into the concept of journaling but it is on a more wide spread process verses in a notebook.
Connection – 15
I am an extremely private person and because of this fear rejection. I find this comical as I reflect and think about that though when I think about my results from the analysis done when I read Strengths Finder 2.0. Anyway, posting on blogs, boards, and other similar avenues is not my style. I have worked hard however to verbally share my thoughts with my classmates I have had the opportunity to engage with. Share our learning’s and thoughts around the classes and processes we have discovered. My biggest learning’s has been from my coachees and coaches. What an amazing opportunity and dialog to bring clarity and build knowledge.
Reflection – 18
Coaching was somewhat forced on my. My most recent boss came to my organization from UBS where he had been a part of and orchestrator of implementing a coaching program. When he moved to my organization he mentioned the concepts to the executives who eventually bought into the idea. He needed someone to help him manage and get this going and offered it to me. I agreed and all I can say is WOW what a ride this has been. He has since left the organization and I have taken over the entire program. Through this I had to learn to be a coach to help with the Pilot program and this is where I knew this was for me. I have been with my organization for almost 20 years and getting people to see me as a coach has not been easy. Discussing this with a peer I wondered what I could do to help me be seen as a “coach” and that is when we heard about ICA. I am pleased that I enrolled in this program and have had the opportunities I have because of the help and learning’s from ICA. I have learned and grown to the point that many are seeing the change and starting to look at me as a coach because of these classes and relationships.
I am like a sponge at this point because coaching brings me so much joy and satisfaction.
In the financial services industry many expect certain levels of and sometimes we forget that our advisors are trying to run a business too. My ability to help coach our advisors has helped each of them find “their business” and move into new growth levels. We are seeing amazing results and the classes have helped me ensure I am staying the course and providing well rounded coaching to them. The ability to come to sessions without judgement is not always easy. Between what I have learned from my coach and what I have learned from ICA I am much better at staying mission neutral and helping coach my clients to their own conclusions and success.