The Chronicle of Coaching

Compiled and edited by Ruth Ann Harnisch, Christine Heinrichs, and Linda Ballew.

The Chronicle of Coaching provides a snapshot of what’s happening in the coaching profession, and is updated weekly.

In this week’s Chronicle: The range of coaching clients on the radar this week includes retailers, women in prison, public speakers, entrepreneurs, students, and even HR staff, who are advised to get their own coaches. The Super Bowl inspired profiles of sports coaches, Valentine's Day brings love coaches out to open hearts, and a coach's blog advocates for coaching instead of medication. And don’t forget those New Year’s Resolutions! Within the coaching community, attention turns to International Coaching Week, Feb. 4-10.

COACHING NEWS – Current events where coaching is having an impact

From The Dragon Slayer's Guide to Life (Illinois, USA)
Coaching Statistics Posted for International Coaching Week
This coach's blog links to two reports on coaching, one commissioned by the International Coaching Foundation and the other done by a partnership between the Cincinnati Business Courier and Sherpa Coaching.
http://laurayoung.typepad.com/dragonslaying/2007/02/fun_facts_about.html

CULTURE WATCH – Where coaches and coaching are showing up in the popular culture

From The Daily News (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Coaches Can Ask Tough Workplace Questions
A job coach can help managers deal with painful issues such as whether their employees like them and how many are sucking up to them. This article in the newspaper's Money section quotes two coaches and tells the story of one satisfied client.
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=8044&sc=96

From The Block Island Times (Rhode Island, USA)
Coaching Helps Women Prisoners Return to Community Life
A social worker established a nonprofit organization and a fund to support it for the benefit of women incarcerated in a state prison. Supportive life coaching aims to help them set goals and re-enter society. The fund also supports housing, utilities and education.
http://www.blockislandtimes.com/news/2007/0202/News/034.html

From The Australian (Sydney, Australia)
Sports Coaches Change Tactics to Succeed with Generation Y Players
Growing up in a high-tech world of privilege makes young players respond to different kinds of coaching from the generation that preceded them. They question authority and want more information. They need to be engaged in short-term goals to build the athletic skills for success.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21161540-28737,00.html

From The Timaru Herald (Timaru, New Zealand)
Coaching Encourages Retailers to Exceed Customer Expectations
Business coaching funded by a national retailing franchise company has improved customer service, which was recently rated below par, in this New Zealand district. In public workshops and non-public seminars the coach advises retailers to go the extra mile in the age of the never-satisfied customer.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/3948243a6571.html

From SHRM Magazine (Virginia, USA)
HR Staff Can Benefit From Coaching They Prescribe for Others
Human resources staff, usually in the position of arranging coaching for others, can use coaching too. Coaching helps HR staff develop leadership skills and more effective working relationships. HR people should approach selecting a coach they way they hire an employee.
http://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/0207/pophal.asp

From The Atlanta Journal Constitution (Georgia, USA)
Resolutions Redux: Coaching the Post-New Year Slump
As resolutions begin to fall by the wayside of the New Year, coaches can get them back on track. Coach Martha Beck, who has a new book out, advises inner peace and gradual change.
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/01/29/0131covercoach.html

From The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada)
New Service Coaches Companies on Energy Use
It combines technical knowledge with business considerations to integrate energy management into corporate culture. The gas utility company will underwrite the costs of a year of coaching for ten companies.
http://tinyurl.com/339dpr

From The Ann Arbor News (Michigan, USA)
State Provides Coaching for Laid-Off Workers
Workers who will lose their jobs when a pharmaceutical plant closes next year can start taking advantage of coaching and training in a few weeks. Social and networking sites for teens will also be offered. Services will be available at several locations.
http://tinyurl.com/35zhen

From The Fayetteville Observer (North Carolina, USA)
Theatrical Producer Coaches Girls to Make Dreams Come True
Returning to her home town of Fayetteville, she led a seminar for middle-school girls to encourage them to pursue their dreams and help them do it. Her first profession is theatrical producing, but she is developing a life coaching practice.
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=253237

From The Suffolk Evening Star (England, UK)
Resolutions Month Two: Life Coaching Can Help
The most popular resolution is to lose weight and get fit, but gym memberships average only six weeks. Life coaching can keep the client focused and lead to success.
http://tinyurl.com/yso88b

COACH INK – Coaches and coaching getting media attention

Martinsburg Journal (West Virginia, USA)
Focus Can Help Clients Reach Goals, Coach Says
Talking with a stranger about goals can be easier than talking with a friend or relative, this life coach says. She explains her journey to becoming a coach as well as her work.
http://www.journal-news.net/Living/articles.asp?articleID=6747

COLUMNS AND COMMENTARY
Opinions expressed are those of the writers and not The Foundation of Coaching, which does not express editorial opinion.

From Seeds of Growth (Arizona, USA)
Coaching, Not Drugs, for Public Speaking Anxiety
This blogger rejects a pharmaceutical company's pitch for its drugs to alleviate social anxiety and make public speaking easier. Coaching, with video feedback, and practice under pressure lead to the development of confidence and skill. The company is sponsoring a double-blind study to assess anxiety in a simulated public speaking situation.
http://seedsofgrowth.com/just-do-it

From StartupNation (Michigan, USA)
Small Business Support Company Offers Coaching
The new coaching program provides courses focused on helping entrepreneurs get their businesses started. The two brothers who founded and run the company oversee the courses, which are based on their system.
http://www.startupnation.com/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=442

From Your Drum (Michigan, USA)
Bloggers Coach Baby Boomers
They advise on subjects ranging from finances, jobs and dating to changing the world to the target generation. Life coaching helps this group meet needs different from those of previous generations.
http://www.yourdrum.com/yourdrum/2007/01/blogging_boomer_1.html

From Seeds of Growth (Arizona, USA)
Marketing Company Recommends Coaching for Executives
The company promotes its business coaching using a Harvard Business Review quote about the importance of trusted advisors to business leaders.
http://seedsofgrowth.com/confessions-of-a-trusted-ceo-counselor

From life@work (Washington, USA)
Coach Guides Change to Creative Careers
Her blog advises careful planning to find creative outlets or replace a mundane career with a more creative one. She includes a link to an interview with a man who transformed his life by changing his career from marine biology to art.
http://dbcs.typepad.com/lifeatwork/2007/01/from_marine_bio.html

From ECL (England, UK)
Tally Negative Thoughts, Executive Coach Says
By writing them down, an executive can gain awareness and turn negative comments into positive suggestions or appreciative thoughts. The firm specializes in individual executive coaching.
http://www.ecl-coaching.com/2007/01/30/be-positive-just-for-once-in-your-life/

From Manage Your Money (England, UK)
Financial Coach Remembers Mentor
She devotes her blog to celebrating the help and inspiration she got from Thomas Leonard, who died of a heart attack at age 47 in 2003.
http://tinyurl.com/2a7vge

From Life Coaches Blog (Singapore)
Six Points for Life Coaches
This brief 'manifesto' summarizes important aspects of life coaching.
http://lifecoachesblog.com/2007/02/01/the-life-coach-manifesto-v10

PUBLICITY RELEASES – Information from commercial sources

From PR Web (Florida, USA)
Dungy's Example Is Model for Business Coaching
This coach and writer explain how Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy's style exemplifies leadership that brings out the best in others.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb502637.htm

From Emediawire (California, USA)
Love Coaches Offer New Training Program
Training in the 60 love skills, this husband and wife team say most people were never taught, is available through small group telephone calls. Goals include helping people love themselves and find comfort, inspiration, and higher solutions in their relationships, and living their highest life purpose.
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/2/emw501086.htm

From PR Web (New York, USA)
Fitness Coaching Firm Offers International Coaching Week Promos
Free group coaching, tele-classes, mini e-courses and a contest to win more mark the company's third year anniversary as well as Coaching Week.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/1/prweb500772.htm

From the Coaching Archives: Historical facts from the evolution of coaching
By Vikki G. Brock

Coach Jerri N. Udelson, from Massachusetts, United States who specializes in helping entrepreneurs create successful business solutions and live fulfilling lives, created "National Personal and Business Coaching Week" February 1-7, 1999 and listed it in Chase's Calendar of Events as a way to promote the coaching profession. By 2000 the name of the event was broadened to “International Personal and Business Coaching Week” and by 2004 it was being called “International Coaching Week.”

International Coaching Week has two purposes: the first is to allow coaches and their clients to acknowledge the process and results of coaching; the second is to help educate individuals and organizations about the benefits and value of working with a coach.

Coaches offer a variety of pro bono services in their communities during the week, including free coaching sessions, lectures and workshops, and longer-term coaching for non-profit agencies. In 2004 Udelson said, "I am really pleased that so many coaches are participating in International Coaching Week. It is very gratifying to know that so many people are offering coaching and other community events in such a heartfelt way.”

“When I started National Coaching Week (which later became International Coaching Week) in 1999, I had no idea that it would soon take on a life of its own. I really am delighted that this Week is becoming a focal point for both publicizing coaching worldwide and providing the public with a sense of the possibilities that coaching offers."
For more information about International Coaching week, visit www.coachingweek.org and www.jerriudelson.com

From The Foundation of Coaching

Help Wanted: History and Archive Advisory Panel members
Do you have a passion for the history of coaching? The History and Archive Division of The Foundation of Coaching is looking for enthusiastic, curious, detail-oriented seekers of the past. There are no restrictions as to your field of coaching, your culture, or your home country. You’ll help us write the history of coaching, in collaboration with Vikki G. Brock, author of “Who’s Who in Coaching: Who Shaped it, Who’s Shaping It.”

If you have a bit of archeologist in you, come help us dig up the past!

We are actively seeking partners in this work.
If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation, please contact us.

info@thefoundationofcoaching.org

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