This edition of Monday Magic is designed to share some of the “change agent” wisdom we find in other blogs about coaching. Today’s edition is a real potpouri of coaching ideas. Our most fervent desire is that you read at least one of the articles and then post a comment here about the articles utility.
Self Improvement. For the past few months, the Harvard Business School has produced a blog called the Conversation Starter. Their goal is to go behind the stories and start people looking at the issues that shape those stories. The entry this past week was on Self Improvement. While it’s not about coaching per se, coaching enhances any self improvement effort. I think about the old adage on doing something different to get different results. Where does self improvement fit in your future?
Credentialing. I am of the opinion that credentialing is important. As the number of “coaches” grows exponentially, credentials are a way to differentiate between professional coaches and the ones who are just looking for another approach to marketing. While a credential can point towards professional certification, it doesn’t really tell us anything about the coach’s effectiveness. A recent essay in the Coaching Commons makes the point very well when they look at this from the client perspective.
Virus Protection. Good metaphors help us dig into the substance of an idea and find ways to fit a concept within our own frame of experience. “Viral marketing” is a concept that has been around for some time and uses the viral metaphor to explain a phenomenon. How do you protect against viruses of the mind? How do you inoculate against the inner critic? Steven Aitchison explores that metaphor in Zen Habits. Had your flu shot lately?
Creating Your Personal Brand. Do you own a business or do you just sell a product? Personal branding is one of the key differentiators in how you answer that question. Pamela Slim is a coach who works with people wanting to Escape from Cubicle Nation. If you have 30 minutes, watch her presentation on Amp Up the Personal in Your Brand on Slideshare. After you watch, come back and let us know how you will AMP UP your brand.
We’d love to hear your reactions to these brief articles. Pick one, read it, and offer a comment. What have you been reading lately? Share it in a comment or even a guest post. Get Free Updates to the DSWA Coaching Center by Email here or via an RSS reader in the top right sidebar. We would love to have you on board.
About the Author: Neil Phillips is Director of the DSWA Coach Excellence program and founding partner of Team Connections. Get more from Neil on his Direct Selling Notebook and Twitter.
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