Coaching and Training
for People and Organizations

March 2004 Online Newsletter

Action Learning Associates, Inc.

www.action-learning.com

We invite you to forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues
CONTENTS:
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
  1. Coaching. Are you going for your best? Coaching is an active process of accountability toward your goal. Think of it as both a window and a mirror. As a window, I help you determine what is possible in your life. As a mirror, I reflect your goals and use questions to remind you of your intentions. I can definitely help you reach your goals! I provide expert life and executive coaching for the athlete or leader within each of us. Go to http://www.action-learning.com/ for:
     
    • free sample coaching session
    • free self assessment
    • free chapter preview from Adventure Coaching: A Guidebook to Work and Life
    • free articles including one published in the Business Monthly
    • your satisfaction is guaranteed
       
    A recent testimonial: “In our 30 minute session Doug helped me discover and say things that I have never shared with anyone. I trust him immensely. He helped me talk about goals that I had not shared with my wife, children, certainly not with my business clients.”
     
    Another client testimonial: “I highly recommend Doug - he's a talented executive coach who has helped me to better navigate some of the rougher waters of my entrepreneurial business life. The work we've done together has been a real growth accelerator and has given me some powerful new perspectives.”
     
  2. Adventure Days. Want to add some local outdoor adventure to your life? Invite your friends, clients, colleagues, teammates, office staff, even prospective clients! These Adventure Days are active leadership training sessions at the ropes challenge course at Sandy Spring Friends School, north of Silver Spring, MD. You can celebrate, have some fun, build teamwork, develop trust and take some risks up to 40’ in the air. Sponsored by local chambers of commerce and professional coaching associations, these are also great networking opportunities. Half-day or full-day options. April 17, May 14, and/or May 15. Pre-registration required, tax deductible. $40. half-day per person, $60. full-day per person.
  3. Adventure Coaching: A Guidebook to Work and Life. This book is designed for coaching professionals, anyone in the service of others, and anyone seeking adventure in their lives. For a free copy of chapter one visit the website. For pre-sales send $20; you will be the first to receive a signed copy!
     
  4. Free Tele-classes ahead. Each Monday from 11:15-11:45 EST is a free tele-class sampler to get your week started in good form! Weekly topics vary and may include: coaching and personal development, leadership and group training, emotional intelligence, managing conflicts, physical intelligence, or adding adventure. To pre-register contact us for number and pin code extension. Limited to 30.
     
  5. Paid Tele-classes ahead. Each Monday from 1:00- 2:00 EST is a paid tele-class to get your week started. Weekly topics vary: First Monday- coaching and personal development; second Monday- leadership and group training; third Monday- emotional intelligence and managing conflicts; fourth Monday- physical intelligence and adding adventure. $20./month, limited to 30. To pre-register contact us for number and pin code extension.
     
  6. Training programs ahead. Titles include: Emotional Intelligence at Work, Managing Interpersonal Relationships, Improving Customer Satisfaction, Change Management, Leadership Development, Creating Adventure at Work. For your group’s program contact us.
     

Many thanks to our clients and customers!

Of course, the bottom line belongs to each one of our clients. You represent a tremendous range of people working in many unique environments. However, each of you is wrestling with some questions or challenges about yourself or your work. That is the essence of action learning. If you recall, the Action Learning Cycle is an endless one with four points: Deciding, Doing, Reflecting, and Connecting. On behalf of the ALA associates, we thank each of you for the opportunity to connect and we hope that you continue to do good work!

GOOD READS:

Excerpt from Adventure Coaching: A Guidebook to Work and Life, by Doug Gray

WHAT IS COACHING?

Professional coaching is an agreement between a coach and a client that helps the client move to the next level in their personal and professional lives. The relationship between the coach and client is characterized by confidentiality, trust, honesty, and the client’s agenda. The coach asks questions. There is some science and some art involved in the relationship. Outcomes may include defining specific actions, increasing awareness, developing balance, maximizing a performance goal, practicing a new behavior, sustaining a new behavior, moving a client into adventure. Each client chooses to focus on some aspect of their professional or personal life.

WHAT IS ADVENTURE COACHING?

Adventure coaching is a structured approach to coaching that incorporates these five steps to address a client’s agenda. These steps define an ancient process, a methodology, a way for each of us to journey through our adventures with more confidence.

The five steps of adventure coaching are:

  1. Get the message
  2. Leave the familiar
  3. Confront challenges
  4. Return with a gift
  5. Serve others

Each of these five steps is described in chapters 3-7. There are explanations, sample adventure case studies from all walks of life, coaching questions, coaching models, and trail markers listed in each chapter.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

The season of winter-spring is when we take new steps. Just like a flower unfurling from the cold earth. In my recent work, when coaching and training, many people have shared their stories and their lives with me. That confidence is sacred, like a fertile garden. It makes me thankful. And as hopeful as any one in springtime. What are some things you would like to change? Who do you know who would benefit from coaching or training?

I would be glad to offer a free sample coaching session and also glad to compensate you for that referral. I appreciate your trust in me.

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© 2004 Action Learning Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.