Tell me and I forget.Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn. – Benjamin Franklin Can you think of someone who has made a positive impact in your life; perhaps a teacher? A sport coach? A mentor? A music instructor? A parent, relative, or friend? Someone able to influence you in ways that no one else can. Someone who always has the right words to say to you when you’re feeling down, or knows the right ways to encourage you, or how to listen so that you feel important, loved, and significant. Maybe their simple presence is all that you need to get through the day, knowing that they have your back. Perhaps you’ve experienced tough times without someone to lean on; and perhaps you’ve felt alone, powerless, and afraid. Challenges were overbearing and you felt like giving up. You may have given up at times along the way and felt discouraged, exhausted, and defeated. But somehow, you decided to pick yourself up, carry on, and overcome your challenge with undeniable grit. You never gave up and continued onward; you influenced yourself to do whatever it took to accomplish your goal. Qi Creative believes that every person can achieve success by creating meaningful learning through coaching, whether that coaching comes from another person or an internal determined voice of inspiration. Success is a journey and not a destination and we must acknowledge that failure is part of that journey. A coach of mine once told me that the best thing to do is the right thing, the second best thing to do is the wrong thing, and the worst thing to do is nothing. A good coach recognizes the importance of action, even when the light at the end of the tunnel cannot be seen. A good coach will uncover a person’s potential not by simply helping them reach milestones, but by revealing their character along their journey, one step at a time. Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. – John Wooden WOOSH! Jonathan Rivero BScOT, OT (C), Certified Trauma Specialist CEO & Founder Qi Creative Inc.
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Sam Pathirana BScOT, OT (C) Practice Coordinator & Coach
As a coach for Qi Creative, I have had the opportunity to coach and connect with professionals, parents, and children. This year, I’ve had the privilege of sharing some amazing wins with our clients, and I’ve also been there for some low points. Beyond any goal or objective, it is the personal relationships that resonate with me the most. I want to thank my special friend Ben for allowing me to coach him, and for the amazing gift of his friendship. I am humbled by his resilience, and I will never forget him. Rest in peace my friend.
Meghan Harris BScHK, MScOT, OT(C) Occupational Therapist & Coach
In my life I’ve had many coaches. The one thing that all of my coaches have had in common, is that in knowing them I was gifted opportunities to learn and grow. For that I am grateful. I wouldn’t be where I am today with out many of these people. They didn’t just tell me what I needed to do or teach me arbitrary facts and skills, they involved me in a process of learning. This is what I strive for as a coach at Qi Creative. I want my relationships with the clients I serve to be a carefully choreographed give and take centred around their unique strengths and talents to address challenges and cultivate growth. As a coach and occupational therapist, my ultimate goal is to fully involve the families, children, teachers and stakeholders I work with in a creative, and innovative problem-solving process to facilitate meaningful learning and long-lasting success. 2
Paula Audrey Rivero BBA, MSW, RSW, CTS Creator of Outstanding Opportunity (COO)
:Be genuine in hearing her story, and empathetic in relating to her pain and frustration. Empower her ability. Do not be judgmental of her feelings. Believe she has the answer she needs to overcome the challenge.
Michael Schwake BSc, BEd Technical Director & Coach
My Name is Mike I am a coach. I coach myself to be strong, to be awesome, and great. Through collaborating and creativity, my coaching helps me celebrate. Be your own coach and coach each other. Love and own your journey of awesome.
Lucero Vargas-Almeida R. SLP Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist & Coach
I was not born a leader, but I am persistent, and my efforts to provide my best to families and teams have made me a great Coach. The following quote inspires me to continue working hard in my professional and personal life: Stay focused. Your start does not determine how you’re going to finish. – Herm Edwards
Crystal Baines MSc.SLP. R. SLP, SLP(C) Speech Language Pathologist & Coach
I absolutely love that the word coach is beside our professional titles at Qi Creative. Before I even knew what a Speech and Language Pathologist was, I knew I wanted to pursue a field where I could help and coach people. I feel that being part of a team of coaches sends a supportive and collaborative message; a message that all team 3
members share a common motive and goal; a message that is true of the Qi Creative team. Coaching is the universal language of change and learning. – CNN
Luis Ballester BScOT, OT (C) Occupational Therapist & Coach
I fell in love with coaching as a therapy tool when I realized that I would never have to come up with amazing answers to the challenges others experience. One of my favourite coaching principles is that the answers necessary to overcome any problem are contained within the actual problem. When I stopped my happy dance, I also noticed that my job was not that easy anyway because now I would have to concentrate on finding the right questions!
Bronwen Black BA, MScOT (C) Occupational Therapist & Coach
I’m Bronwen, known as Coach B by some. I love the coaching C because it ties all the other C’s together, and because I believe my role as a coach validates and complements all of the awesome that is already within the people and situations I am working with. I am so grateful to the families, children and schools that I work with, for your trust to walk alongside you and together explore what it means to be, do and have our best. Woosh!
Corrie Effa BScKin Kinesiologist & Qi Adventure Club Captain
I am quickly learning that being the captain of Qi AC is almost the same thing as being a cheerleader. A good coach needs to be very encouraging and positive. Someone once told me that in order to be a good leader, you must bring the same enthusiasm and positive energy as you would want or expect your participants to have.
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Robyn VanEtten MScSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C) Speech Language Pathologist & Coach
I think what’s really cool about joining a team of coaches is that we are also all learners, and that we’re always wearing both hats! In a typical sports analogy, the coach is the teacher and the team is there to learn from that coach. In my short time being part of the Qi team of coaches, it is apparent that we are here to learn from each other, our families, our experiences, and often that means being a coach and learner at the same time. Our heads are snug and happy carrying both of these awesome hats.
Fatema Jivanjee BScKin, MScOT, OT (C) Occupational Therapist & Coach
At Qi Creative we are considered coaches. What I love most about being called a coach is that we get to work closely with each of our families to educate, model, support, and motivate them to reach their individual goals. We help enable our families to be the best they can and to support their journey to finding their awesome-self. To me, the idea of being a coach is best expressed by the quote: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Heather Sherwood MScSLP, R.SLP, S-LP (C) Speech Language Pathologist & Coach
I feel lucky to be a coach to many people in my life, but I am also lucky to be coached by people in my life too!
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I love the fall. I love the colors of the changing leaves, the crisp cool air, and those last few heat waves that rebel against the oncoming cold. Like many other avid sports fans however, September signals the return of sports, and that is what makes fall so special for me. This is my favourite time of year. Don’t get me wrong, I wish it stayed warm all year long, but the return of football, hockey and basketball offset any minor inconvenience caused by the drop in the average temperature. Growing up, I always admired the athletes in sport, but never paid much attention to the coaches. More recently, I’ve begun to realize the power that coaches have, and how difficult of a job coaching truly is. As a coach, you don’t get to play the game, but are just as invested in the outcome. The more I think about it, this is really quite similar to what we do as coaches with Qi Creative. We have the privilege of working with some amazingly talented, and driven kids and families. In addition, we also have the opportunity to positively impact their lives. Much like our sports-coaching counterparts however, we are often on the sidelines. As invested as we are, we are at an arms length, and ultimately we have very little direct control. But I take heed in the fact that as a coach I can make my presence felt in very powerful ways. As I discuss with all of our coaches and families, occupational performance is not simply determined by the individual, but by the combination of the individual, the environment and the occupation. As coaches our influence can extend into each one of those areas. Just like a hockey coach can break down the opponent by examining the game tape of another team to see what they do well and where their weaknesses are, we get to break down the obstacles and challenges our clients face, and find a way to adapt, and create a game plan that sets them up for success. As a coach with Qi Creative I also have influence on the person and the environment. As a member of the social environment I have the opportunity to motivate and inspire! 6
Sometimes this is through being a cheerleader and at other times it means employing tough love. Either way, the path to motivation is different for everyone, which is what makes it so challenging. In our roles as leaders of our teams, and coaches to our clients, we also get an opportunity to work with the individual and help them break down their performance. We can choose to look at skill-building and what strategies might help to build the skills and knowledge to succeed. With the right coaching and enough practice, everyone can grow to be more successful in their chosen sport or occupation. We can also help people find adaptations so they can be successful right away. This is one of my favourite things to do, as it allows me to think outside the box, and to set people up for success in ways that I sometimes never thought possible. Technology can be a huge advantage in such cases. Some of the most valuable adaptations, however, are simple and easy. Spending hours playing catch is a surefire way to help a football player improve at catching the ball, but what if a good set of gloves helped make just as much of a difference. If not, a little ‘stickum’ can help even the best be better! In the same way, things like low-tech sock aides and high tech communication devices help us adapt things for our clients, so they can be successful right away.
Skill building, game planning, adapting; coaching is powerful. I will always have a special place in my heart for the athletes that inspire me, but upon further reflection, I will start paying closer attention to the schemes, and game plans that put those athletes in a position to succeed. After all, a team is made up of many different players who each have an invaluable role to play in achieving success.
Sam Pathirana 7
Two years ago in Woosh 1.3, I shared an article related to my personal journey: A case for labels: beyond. I wrote about my experience as someone living with multiple learning disabilities and how labels help me to understand and celebrate who I am. I was overwhelmed by feedback I received, explaining how my article was helpful to clients, families, friends, and the community at large. An important aspect of coaching is re-framing the familiar. Looking at strengths and challenges, celebrating the journey, and creating meaningful learning through collaboration. What this requires is opening your mind to possibilities, instead of mitigating expectations: finding the exceptions to discover the exceptional. Too often, people narrow-mindedly look at a diagnosis as a dread-sentence. If my parents had looked at my labels as limiting factors, I highly doubt I would be where I am today. They accepted that I learn differently and looked toward helping me achieve, and supersede, my potential. Today people are often surprised when they learn of my labels: ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia‌the list goes on. Reason being, I have owned the strategies I have been coached with: they are as much a part of me as my labels are. My labels are incredibly important to understand who I am, but, I understand that they are not limiting factors. Labels help me understand the unknown, and how I coach myself determines how they affect me. I am my own coach, motivator, leader, organizer, among my many other labels. These labels require constant upkeep to regulate my functionality. There are challenges, but such is life. We find resilience and excellence by facing these head on. What can inhibit this journey to discovering your own or someone else’s Awesome is treating a label as a title. Titles are meant for books, and as the old adage says: never judge a book by its cover. Too often in our journey to classify and understand our world we look to minimize and compartmentalize all of what we experience instead of understanding our world as an organic and living experience where things exist in a state of flux, on a 8
spectrum. One day our appropriate labels may be: strong, powerful, and motivated, whereas another day we may be vulnerable, cautious, and mindful. When we treat a label as a title, we are minimizing the individual, taking away their strengths and individuality, removing their personal sense of self. But that label is no less important in helping someone understand what makes up who they are that day, and every other day. Beyond that, taking something at a title’s distance can also injure how we work toward a goal. If you assume someone is a leader, an expert or coach, you can miss or minimize your own ability to fill those roles. One thing I love about Qi Creative’s coaching model is that through collaboration and creativity, we help you discover you are your own coach: an expert in yourself and your child and move towards celebrating your Awesome. Titles are the hands-off approach and those who cannot move beyond that can have difficulty working beyond an immediate reality. We should look to see the labels that make up the strengths of someone’s title, and assess whether or not the title is truly earned. Titles don’t have to be negative. Sometimes they can be the affirmation we coach ourselves with, until we achieve that label. In the same way that we can title something as negative–call ourselves down–we can also lift ourselves up. A title can fill the role of an affirmation of strength. Telling yourself I am strong as a title, before we take that title and turn in into our own awesome label. I have to thank my coaches, my family, my Qi family, and my friends for playing a big part in my journey to realize my own ability to be more than a title and using titles as strengths when needed. I have to thank those who challenge me by treating me as nothing more that a title, as I am motivated to prove those who make assumptions wrong, I am always more. If we treat ourselves as static, purely a title, we are too rigid and no better than a stick in the mud. We exist as organic, fluid, beings, with unlimited potential. If we choose to judge ourselves as anything less we are truly judging a book by it’s cover. Coach yourself to know your labels and move beyond titles. Never let someone minimize your awesome by simply judging your cover.
Michael Schwake 9
Thank you to the coaches in my life. I have been fortunate to have a lot of coaches throughout my life: softball coaches, volleyball coaches, gymnastics coaches, and curling coaches. These are some of the more traditional coaches that I have interacted with, the type that most people will imagine when they hear the word coach. I have also had others help me grow into the woman I am today, such as my parents and family members, as well as teachers and supervisors; they have supported me to be better than I was before we crossed paths. When I reflect on these teachers and coaches I remember the ones that I loved. Logically, I know that there are a lot of different abilities and skills these people needed to be a good coach, like a gentle touch to push forward, patience and perseverance, and the ability to keep coming back despite the challenge. To be honest, when I search through my memories of thousands of hours spent with people trying to help me learn or grow or change my ways, what I remember most about those who touched my life is the fun we had. The coaches that made learning fun by being enthusiastic about it themselves and who honestly seemed interested in being with me as a student (not just because they were being paid by the Buffalo Trail School Division or the University of Alberta to be there) are the ones seared into my memory and who make me want to be like them. Now, I know that not every moment was sunshine and rainbows with these coaches and teachers and there were days that it was not fun and it was just hard work, however, that was always overshadowed by their enthusiasm and ability to engage me in the task. So. I have to say thank you to the wonderful men and women who have coached me over the years. Thank you for being interested in me as a student. You helped me grow and learn. Thank you for showing me your true selves. You helped me see how to use my own strengths to help others. Thank you for bringing your own interests and joys to the table. You helped me understand how important it is to never lose the joy of learning.
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Thank you for your enthusiasm. You helped me by making me feel special to you. Thank you for the laughs. These I will remember for my entire life. Thank you to all of my coaches and teachers and loved ones who have helped me along my path of life. It is your example that I look to when I am being a coach to those in my life and I am so grateful that I have such awesome people to look up to and emulate in my own practice. And, an apology, to my piano teacher in grade 3, Neil, who really tried his best, but I just really didn't like piano.
Heather Sherwood
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The most magical thing about coaching is that it brings the other three C’s – Collaborate, Create and Celebrate – together and unites them all! I’m celebrating the amazing creative and collaborative coaching I have done with Ethan and his family. They have truly embraced Qi Creative’s coaching model and approach and I thank and honour them for sharing how this has supported meaningful learning and growth for Ethan. 1) Tell us a little bit about your family. Hi! I’m Ethan and I’m in Kindergarten. I have autism and ADHD. I live with my mom and dad and my little brother, Jeffrey. 2) What does coach mean to you? My parents love Qi’s creative coaching approach. Bronwen looks at me as a whole person, with interests, thoughts and feelings. When I was having difficulty regulating my emotions, or completing fine and gross motor tasks, Bronwen collaborated with me and my parents to create strategies and activities that were meaningful to me. Bronwen also respected my home life and environment and created activities that were possible and manageable for my parents to facilitate on a daily basis. My parents truly believe that I significantly grew these past two years because the activities we collaboratively created with Bronwen were just right for me (and not prescriptive or overwhelming.) 3) What are some ways that your family and Qi team have created success for Ethan? i) When I was four years old, I had a difficult time self regulating and often had temper tantrums. Bronwen met with us and together we created a self-regulating template that was personally significant and meaningful to me. ii) Bronwen, Mom and I created short videos about “Rock Brain” and how I can use Superflex strategies to defeat him in situations that I have faced. iii) My ability to use scissors and fine-motor skills are delayed. I have a strong interest in mythical creatures. I am now making a “Mythical Lab” book where I have to create different cage sizes and shapes. Next, I cut the cages out, paste them in my “Mythical Lab” book and draw different mythical creatures. It is a lot of fun and a great way to practice my skills.
Bronwen Black 12
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To be a coach is openness, Teaching, Mentoring, Passing Knowledge, Patience. Not unlike being a parent. The best coaches, the best parents take time to learn, pause To take care of themselves. To relax. So‌Give yourself a break Not just physically, but mentally too. We are all coaches. We are all doing our best. We are all here to help. When you need help, more information, knowledge, please feel free to call your Qi coach, look us up at Qicreative.com, or check out these other awesome websites I’ve discovered on parenting: parentsmatter.ca sbparentingnews.wordpress.com the-family-centre.com humanservices.alberta.ca/family-community/15576.html Triple P (Positive) Parenting is a popular parenting approach being offered in many locations throughout Alberta, including here at Qi Creative! Our very own Coach Jon Jon, Coach Mike and Coach Sam are all Triple P Coaches as well! Check it out to learn more: triplep-parenting.net/alb-en/home/ 14
Kim Gilbert
The first time I heard the phrase therapeutic use of self was my first day working at Qi Creative. It resonated with my beliefs about what it means to be a coach, what it means to be a therapist, and what it means to help others. Me. Myself. I am the one who wants to make a difference working with children, schools, and families living with special needs. My education, my research, my knowledge and experience all stem from a trait that I have possessed for as long as I can remember: the ability to use myself as a tool to help others, something I now understand as therapeutic use of self. In my experience, consciously choosing to use yourself as a coaching tool is different than allowing the comfortable spontaneous responses that are typical in your daily interactions. When I talk about needing to be on for a visit or a meeting, this is what I mean. I mean that I need to be fully present, humble, and sincere in that moment. I need to be relaxed and flexible enough to view people and situations with unconditional positive regard, to try my best to fully understand pains and perspective that I might never experience firsthand. I need to be empathetic in order to recognize and evaluate what they are experiencing in that moment and be open and willing to share myself with them. This is not my education, my research, or my degree talking; this my therapeutic use of self; this is my coach.
Crystal Baines
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It has been an exciting year for Qi Creative with the development and introduction of the Qi Adventure Club (Qi AC), a program that provides inclusive outdoor and indoor recreation activities for all who are interested in adventuring and exploring the Edmonton community and beyond. I am passionate about sports, recreation and leisure and have absolutely loved being a part of this new and exciting endeavour. This summer Qi Creative had the opportunity to partner with Vertically Inclined Rock Climbing Gym to offer a six session biweekly program that introduced participants to the sport of rock climbing, challenging them to reach new heights. I had the pleasure of supporting an Adventure Club member over the six sessions, and I harnessed my coaching skills to set him up for success and to push him to achieve his “just right challenge.” Our progress was slow and steady. Eventually, my buddy accomplished the amazing feat of scaling a thirty foot rock wall, pressing the button to start the glorious lights flashing in celebration. This took place on his final climb of our final session! There were tears of joy, cheers and lots of high-fives to be had. As his partner and coach there were some key things that I kept in the front of my mind while supporting him to be successful: » Patience – providing my buddy with the time and space to progress at his own pace was very important. Pushing him too much too quickly could have compromised our relationship, so having patience was crucial. » Trust – Throughout the six sessions, it was very important for my buddy to trust that I would keep him safe and not let him fall. I made sure of this by showing him how we were connected, the safety features, and ensuring him that if he were afraid at any time I would be their to support him. There was always the option to take a break or come down if he didn’t feel safe. » Setting small tangible goals to work towards – On each climb we would focus on a visual marker on the wall that he thought he could work toward. This helped him to feel a sense of control over the goal, and a sense of accomplishment when he reached it. Slowly but surely he gained the confidence to go a bit higher each week. » Keeping in mind the “Just Right Challenge” – There were occasions when I noticed my buddy was happy, energetic and confident, and on these instances I pushed him to go just a bit further outside of his comfort zone, encouraging him to take a break and go a bit 16
higher instead of coming all the way down. On other days, he was tired or wasn’t feeling great, or I noticed that he was more apprehensive. At these times we took more breaks, set goals that were a bit lower and I didn’t push him as hard to ensure that his confidence stayed intact and to preserve his trust in our relationship. » Positive Language and Encouragement – I always made sure to encourage my buddy through cheering, praise, and on days when things were more difficult, encouragement that trying our best was the most important thing for that session. Following the wrap up of Qi Learn to Climb my buddy’s family achieved another success in their everyday life that they were excited to share with our team. For the first six years of their little boy’s life he had slept on a mattress on the floor in his room because he was too nervous to sleep in a bed on his own. His parents had tried everything they could think of to ease his anxiety and to support him to feel comfortable in a bed, but they hadn’t made much progress. In the days following the completion of Qi Learn to Climb, with a newfound confidence spurred on by the accomplishment of reaching the top of the rock wall, their son proudly announced that he was ready to try sleeping on the top bunk of his bed. That is what I call a huge win! With patience, trust and setting small tangible goals that support building confidence and success, people can be empowered to reach new heights!
Meghan Harris 17
I have developed a strong belief over the years that empowering someone to help themselves can be the best help you can ever offer, especially when you are GEENA. GEENA is an acronym for being Genuine, Empathetic, Empowering, Non-Judgmental and Assertive. I was first introduced to the word GEENA in January 2009, when I entered into a training program with The Support Network. I was in training to become a distress line listener volunteer at a call centre that provides supportive listening to people in crisis. One of the first things that we learned in our training for the distress line was that as a volunteer on the phone lines, we were not there to counsel people or to give advice; rather, we were there to listen and support our callers. At first, the idea seemed odd, since I was accustomed to trying to help family and/or friends with my seemingly wise words and advice. I thought “How can I help someone by merely listening to them?” The distress line helps thousands of people every year to overcome traumatic circumstances like assault, the loss of a loved one, or thoughts of suicide among others by using the supporting listening model and being GEENA. After learning the techniques of the supportive listening model and incorporating GEENA into my conversations I realized quickly that this was the best way to help others overcome challenges. I didn’t fully understand the power of the acronym and specifically the five words, until we were encouraged, and in my case challenged, to try our new supportive listening skills with family and friends. After numerous years of failed attempts to help a friend navigate the problem of the month with my wise advice, I realized that it was not advice she was looking for from me; what she really needed and wanted was someone to listen, support, and ultimately empower her through her story. I will never forget the conversation I had with her following a night of training. As I heard the phone ring, I felt my heart beat through my chest and my hands start to sweat. I thought, “this is my chance to do things differently; this is my chance to bring in GEENA!” As I nervously, anxiously, and 18
Genuine Empathetic Empowering Non-Judgmental Assertive
excitedly picked up the phone, I put my wise words aside, stood in my best GEENA stance, and I listened with an open heart and mind. I genuinely heard her story, I empathetically related to her pain and frustration, I empowered her ability, I did not judge her for what she was feeling and where she was at, and I was assertive in believing she had the answer she needed to overcome the challenge. By the end of our conversation my friend thanked me for the support and stated how helpful I was and how great she felt, which had never happened before. I was finally able to connect with my friend and empower her in the way that she needed and wanted. From that night on, I have maintained a strong belief that being GEENA has great value in helping people overcome challenges. By incorporating the concept into my personal and professional life as a friend, mentor, and coach I have been able to meet people where they are at and create spaces for healing by using more of my ears and my heart. Thank you GEENA.
Paula Audrey Rivero 19
A participant wants to come down from the rock-climbing wall and I am belaying her. Do I push her to go farther? Or do I immediately bring her back down? If I encourage the participant to go up a few more holds on the wall, will she start to panic? Will pushing her ruin her experience of climbing? These questions were definitely on my mind as the first Qi Adventure Club: Learn to Climb session took place this summer. We all have tasks that are easy or comfortable for us, which represent the inner circle in the diagram below. This is our safe zone, where our environment makes us feel comfortable. The second circle is our growth circle. This is where we have left our comfort zone and are now feeling uncomfortable. We feel uncomfortable because we are trying something new and as a result, learning takes place. When this happens, our comfort circle expands, which broadens the number of tasks we can do with ease. When in the growth circle, it is important that we do not push too hard and end up in the fear circle. The fear circle is where we feel that our wellbeing is threatened. You may feel so uncomfortable that you start worrying about your safety. As a result, you might freeze or become defensive, protective and may have a physical or emotional reaction. If you enter the fear zone, you are no longer capable of learning or growth and need to go back into your comfort circle as soon as possible. All of our participants need to feel like they are safe and supported before they can step out of their comfort circle. That is why Qi AC has adopted the adventure therapy concept, Challenge by Choice. At Qi AC, we try to keep the atmosphere positive and encouraging so that participants feel supported as they try a new skill or activity. We strive to create an atmosphere where our participants choose to push themselves in that growth circle. However, this looks different from one person to another. One may be in her growth circle when putting on the rock climbing harness for the first time, while another may be in his growth zone when climbing to the top of the wall. The most important aspect is not the end goal, but making sure they are supported whether they want to move into the growth circle, or not. 20
I decided to encourage the participant to go up a few holds before coming down. I watched to see and hear her reaction to my suggestion. She told me no and I immediately brought her down to the ground. A round of smiles and hi-fives quickly followed!
Corrie Effa
FEAR CIRCLE
GROWTH CIRCLE
COMFORT CIRCLE
Article and diagram reference: http://county.wsu.edu/chelan-douglas/youth/youth/challenge/Pages/The_Challenge_Model.aspx
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What makes a question a good coaching question? One of the jobs of the coach is to bring awareness and clarity while driving motivation towards action to solve a challenge. I have learned over the years that my own view of an issue may not necessarily align with what another person sees. This is important because when two people have a different perception of a problem, it is also possible that they will find different solutions to the same problem. Isn’t that great? For this to happen, the problem needs to be well defined. The main thing, then, is to gain as much clarity as possible on the issue in order to find solutions; this is half the job. The question is: how do we arrive at clarity? The answer: ask questions, and keep asking as each answer may bring new areas that require further exploration. Since we are looking to gain clarity, a coach should not ask questions driven by curiosity. Rather, they will ask questions with the intent of describing important aspects of reality that don’t appear to be under consideration. Here are some features of good coaching questions: The question is relevant: It’s always connected to the issue or challenge and it helps eliminate irrelevant aspects of the problem; for example: “What is the main aspect of this problem?” or “How do you know that this is a cause, not a symptom?” The question brings focus on aspects that may have been missed: “What else is getting in the way?” or “What other areas are affected by this problem?” The question opens up the possibility of new thinking; like most questions during the coaching 22
process, they are open questions, the kind that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no: “What have you not tried?” or “How could you get different results?” The question helps move through mental blocks; this is one of my favourite types: “If you knew the answer, what would it be?” The question stimulates the desire to take action: “What would you do if you could act right away?” or “What would you do first?” The question encourages responsibility and expects accountability: “When are you going to make a start?” or “Who needs to take action right away?” or “How will you know that you have reached your goal?” The question helps establish check points and moves along the process: “When shall we meet again to check progress?” And finally, one of the best ways to ask in order to unearth more information: Facial expressions; picture a raised eyebrow! When it comes to uncovering hidden information here is a bonus: use silence, even if this is technically not a question. We like to talk and don’t tend to enjoy gaps in the conversation. If the coach senses that there is more information coming, it is important to allow the other person more time by simply waiting in expectation, with the pen hovering over the note paper. Sooner or later, more relevant information will find its way into the open and the person can move closer to the solution. If you are interested in coaching and would like to learn more about it, where would you go for answers? Please let me know.
Luis Ballester
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