Articles on Joan King - Neuroscientist, Coach, Author and Speaker - Loveland Colorado

By Joan C. King, Ph.D., P. C. C. (Profession Certified Coach)

I am a Personal/Professional Coach and I help people evoke their greatness! Like the 7000 coaches in 29 countries across the world, I work in close partnership with individuals and groups. Why would someone hire me or any of the other 7000 coaches (members of the International Coach Federation, the credentialing organization for coaches)?

· Have you wanted to make a significant change in your personal or professional life?
· Did you make that change?
· How long did it take you to take directed action - six months, a year, more?
· Did you go about making the change in a way that was satisfying to you?
· Are you sustaining the change you made?
· If you didn't make the change you wanted to make, why not?
· Do you still desire to make that change?

Trained to listen deeply (to what you say, as well as what you don't say) and observe (your actions and reactions), a coach functions like a mirror and uses questions, expertly, to assist you to:
· see your self and the situation you want to change or create, clearly;
· recognize and explore possibilities and opportunities that resonate with you;
· design and implement strategies that are aligned with your values; and
· create situations in which YOU will THRIVE!

Why are "questions" a major expert tool that coaches use in coaching? Acknowledging your inner wisdom, coaches understand that you, yourself, have the answers to your challenges. They also understand that you may not recognize those answers. Consciously and purposefully, coaches develop a strong alliance with their clients. They create a safe space to support their clients in facing their challenges and unfolding their wisdom. The client will begin to see what they want to pursue as a consequence of engaging in the coaching process. The coach and client then, together develop strategies and specific actions the client will take in a defined period of time.

As the coaching process continues, the client begins to comprehend their strengths and experience them in action. Step-by-step, the client becomes aware of what is important to them now, in contrast to what might have been important, 10 years ago, one year ago, or even last month. We are dynamic beings engaged in the process of learning the power of who we are. Your coach partner is committed to your success, defined in a way that is completely resonant with the truth of who you are.

In upcoming columns we will explore various aspects of coaching. We welcome questions from you for me to answer about coaching. Each day, take the opportunity to purposefully and consciously create something that expresses who you are - that day. Explore your greatness and come to experience it. In the words of Walter Russell "Genius is self bestowed and mediocrity is self-inflicted."

By Joan C. King, Ph.D., P. C. C. (Profession Certified Coach)

As you become successful in one phase of your life or complete a life phase or project , you may feel suspended in psychological space. The ambiguity of not quite knowing what new trajectory to create might stop you from seeking to work with a coach. Yet, this time is ripe for unfolding a new direction. You may feel disoriented, nonetheless, you have many resources you can access to help enlighten the way to craft the new trajectory. You may want to reflect upon.

· What interests have you sustained, personally and professionally at various times in your life?
· When was your last vacation?
· How long have you been engaged in the trajectory or project that you have just completed or is coming to completion?
· What's your assessment of these activities?
· What was the value of them to you?
· What was your role in them?
· What brought you deep satisfaction or joy?

When engaged in advancing along a well-defined path, such as working toward a degree, beginning a business, etc., our awareness is necessarily and appropriately focused. Our perspective is limited. Then the project or path ends. The new one is not obvious. This is the time "between" -- a unique opportunity to expand perspective. In this "between" time, you may feel lost. The familiar has disappeared. The new has yet to emerge. Time seems suspended. It is no surprise that discomfort characterizes this shift in perspective. This is an important time to:

· be patient and kind to yourself;
· take long walks;
· read books that attract you;
· journal about your hopes and dreams, your disappointments and regrets;
· reassure yourself, the "in between" time is temporary.

This time is most valuable. It may last days, weeks or months, yet it is a time of "birthing" something new. Allow the time, psychologically, if not physically. Allow the ambiguity to remain, don't push through it. A rose opens in its own time, so will your new initiative. I am not suggesting that you do nothing. I am suggesting that you pay attention to your environment. A trigger elucidating your next step that ultimately leads to a new trajectory may arise from unexpected sources, such as what someone says, a line or word you see or read. This is a time of attentiveness and reflection. Pay attention to your internal and external environment -- and then TAKE SOME ACTION. If you fail to take some action, the energy becomes dormant and you become stuck! Use the time to simply decipher one step and then, take that step. The journey begins with a single step.

Read more articles on Joan's blog http://blog.beyond-success.com.