October 2012 Newsletter

Out of the Box: A Child-Like Perspective

Have you ever watched a child pick up something and investigate it as if it were the coolest thing they have ever seen? They often explore what we might consider the most simple things with a wide-eyed curiosity and enthusiasm. It is a beautiful thing to see; to see a child so present in the moment, learning, and enthralled by the things surrounding them.

Isn’t it true that as adults we sometimes get so lost in all the day-to-day that we sometimes don’t see what’s around us? We forget to be present in the moment, clouding our ability to see the great learning experiences and fantastic opportunities. Heck, we even forget to breathe!

How does the color blue suit you?

We can learn a lot from children. We can learn to slow down and be in the here and the now. We can learn to look at almost everything with a renewed enthusiasm and zest for exploration. Just because we are older and even wiser that does not mean we are too old to learn, too old to explore, nor too old to play.

It is our wish that you gift yourself (if only for the week) the curiosity and spirit of a child. Take time to stop and enjoy exploring your surroundings. Take a look at things through the lens of curiosity and see what you notice. The key is to be curious!


Team Talk
Curiosity: A Key Element of the Coach Approach

by Pamela Richarde, MA, MCC
Chief Coaching Advocate

Think about what we do as coaches: We listen. We ask questions. We clarify. We reflect the essence of what we hear/observe so that a client can see themselves. And then assist in moving to desired results. What we do is truly brilliant and helpful work.

And, what we do is not enough. Who we are being while coaching, is as important as what we are doing. This highlights an important guiding principle in our work as coaches: Curiosity. We must be curious Simply, if we are curious, we actually stimulate discovery, new awareness and ultimately results.

Assuming this is true, how can be learn to be more curious? Ciskszentmihalyi stated in his book “Flow”, that…..”…..we can develop our curiosity (and fight boredom) by making a conscious effort to direct our attention to something in particular in our environment.” So, if we direct our attention fully to our clients and become explorers, curious as to what we will discover together, this will actually enhance our ability to even BE curious!

Bottom line, building your capacity to be curiosity is a must for excellence in relating as a coach or in using a ‘coach approach’ in any situation.

Hear are some tips to building your curiosity muscle:

  • Be a learner (be curious about things you absolutely don’t know about….and even more about what you believe you already know!)
  • Be comfortable saying “I don’t know” (being in a state of not knowing can naturally stimulate curiosity and exploration)
  • Seek, and be open to, other perspectives (ours is only one way of looking at the world)
  • Model and reward curiosity (inspiring others to reach into new perspective and ideas, simply by ‘being curious’ yourself)
  • Ask first, versus tell (exploring outside of your own thinking, solutions, beliefs, ideas)
  • Try new things (stretch into exploring outside of your present knowing and experience)
  • Stop, look, listen and have FUN!!

Curiosity is a ‘key’ that can unlock the inherent wisdom that is part of every being. It nurtures inquiry and self reflection. It is the food that is offered to the seeds of greatness in the soil of our psyches. So work to remember what it is like to be a curious as a young child. Practice being curious in all that you do. And of course, as noted above, have FUN doing it!


Quote of the Month

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” -Jane Howard

Who surrounds you? Are they people that positively support you? Or drain your energy and create drama? Take some time today to take stock of those closest to you, because it’s important to have people who add to your life in a positive way rather than take away from you.


What Would You Do?

You are coaching a peer within your organization. The last two sessions you have noticed a change in attitude in your peer (and not for the better) which is impacting their work. They are missing deadlines and projects are going unfinished. They seem unaware of their attitude and the impact it’s having, not to mention, they don’t seemed phased by the missed deadlines and unfinished projects. What do you do?

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