Dear Co-Active Coaches,

Autumn is a busy time of year here at CTI. In late September, we had the joy of having more than 100 of our leaders and international partners here in Northern California for several days as we looked at our future together. It was wonderful to see old friends, make new ones and share laughter, tears and dreams. Next, we’re preparing for the 10th Annual International Coach Federation Conference coming to San Jose in November. Add in celebrating the growth of the Co-Active Network and planning for the new year and it adds up to a full and rewarding season.

In our Community section this month, we continue introducing you to the staff here at CTI. Accounts Payable Specialist Sonja Deutsch combines

responsibility and an attention to detail with a risk-taking side that had her skydiving last spring. Often seen with a box of cereal (or two) under her arm, she’s a joy to have around. Also in Community, we give you an update on what’s happening in the Co-Active Network.

Our topic this month is new ideas, new thought, new models: What new ideas/thoughts/models are you exploring? Are you intrigued by a new model or new approach that you think blends well with Co-Activity? What new ways of thinking are you incorporating into your coaching? I’m often in awe of the creativity and diversity in our community…this month is no exception. CPCC Vince Gowmon shares his thoughts on the principles of spiritual coaching, coach Eli Landa brings a martial arts perspective to his article on serenity, and CPCC Juliet Platt introduces us to Sydney Banks’ three principles of mind, consciousness and thought. In addition, coach Christina Merkley shows us a visual approach to Co-Activity through graphic coaching, and CPCC Scott Krajca helps us understand the intersection of engineering, Japanese continuous improvement philosophies and life coaching. There’s something for everyone in this group of articles. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy a good read!

As always, we invite you to read the topics for upcoming issues of The Inquiry and think about sharing your insights by writing an article. And join us in celebrating our newest CPCCs.

Enjoy! Warmly, Kathy Curry, CPCC Director of Marketing

CTI News

10th Annual ICF Conference, November 10-12, San Jose, CA

In just a few weeks, coaches from around the world will be gathering in San Jose, CA, for the 10th Annual International Coach Federation conference . The theme of this year’s conference is “Be Inspired. Light the Fire.” and the ICF describes it as a time of “honoring the past... celebrating the present and realizing our future." Keynote speakers this year include Dr Rachel Naomi Remen, Cheryl Richardson, MCC, and Riane Eisler. Here’s what CTI has planned for the conference this year.

We invite you to join us Friday evening, November 11, for the annual CTI Dessert Extravaganza where we’ll have plenty of delectable desserts for your enjoyment and will also provide a no-host bar. Join CTI founders, leaders and staff for a night of deliciousness and fun! There will be a brief welcome and introduction of CTI folks, leaving plenty of time for socializing and laughter. Come visit with old friends and make new ones.

As always, the conference will have dozens of exciting breakout sessions and we’re thrilled that many of them are being led by members of our community. CTI co-founder Laura Whitworth and CTI Vice President and School Director Sabrina Roblin are on the schedule, as are CTI leaders Cynthia Loy Darst, Virginia Kellogg, Leslie Lupinsky and several other CPCCs and CTI students. We’ll have a schedule at the CTI booth listing the sessions led by members of our community.

We will also have some fun gifts and special offers for conference attendees. Come by and say “Hi!”

See you in San Jose!

Community

Introducing CTI Staff Member Sonja Deutsch
As Accounts Payable Specialist, Sonja processes all the leader invoices and pays them on time. (It’s good to know who Sonja is!) She also processes all CTI invoices and pays those, reconciles bank accounts, does analysis and helps out with the accounting crew as needed, among other things. Being that she is an INFJ, she likes the detail-oriented, problem-solving aspect of her job, which she says, “feels like completing a puzzle every time.” She also feels trusted in her role, and this is a good thing because trust is a very important value of hers. She discovered that in the Fulfillment course that she recently completed. Sonja also values people and authenticity, and says that the best part of working at CTI is working with people who are like family to her and where she can learn something new every day. To read more about Sonja, click here.

Co-Active Network
The Co-Active Network continues to grow, with more than 5,500 members currently in the main community and more than 40 niche and geographic communities. The newest community on the Network in October is the Rainbow Pride Co-Active Coaches for coaches who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, interrex and queer, or who coach people in this community.

The purpose of the Co-Active Network is to support every member in achieving his/her greatest vision for Co-Active coaching and leadership in the world. Each community has resources, discussions and community events. Check the full calendar on the Co-Active Network. There are an amazing array of exciting events. Also, many of the events held on the main community have been recorded on audio podium. The list of recorded sessions is available under the “Resources” section of the main community. Look for the topic “Audio Podiums from Network Main Event Sessions” for a full list.

Would you like to share your insight with fellow coaches?
We love to learn from our community, and sharing your thoughts with your fellow coaches is a great way to let us know what’s happening in your world. The Inquiry focuses on a specific topic each month. Topics for the next few months are:

November—Networking: What types of networking have worked for you? Do you have tips to share on how to get the most from networking opportunities? What difference has networking made in your business?

December —Community service: How is community service a part of your coaching business? How do you include pro bono work in your business? What other ways do you incorporate community service in your professional life?

January—Assessments: What assessment tools do you use in your coaching business? How do you use them? When do you use them?

We invite you to submit articles and share your insight in The Inquiry. It is a fantastic way to increase your visibility in the coaching profession. Please send articles to newsletter@thecoaches.com. Read the detailed submission guidelines.

Articles

The 7 Ways Process: Try-Storming Your Life
What do you get when you combine engineering experience, Japanese continuous improvement philosophies and life coaching? About a month ago, I may have answered that question with the same look I had when trying sushi for the first time. (It wasn’t very pretty!) As a recent full-time coach, I struggled to find a way to integrate the decade- long education and experience of being a manufacturing engineer with a totally new career as a coach. Many new coaches may be asking, “How do we stay true to who we are and yet integrate past career experiences that may be completely separate from coaching?” For me, the question became: “What would it be like to apply the powerful and playful pre-production workshop experiences I encountered as a manufacturing engineer towards people’s lives?” Explore the possibilities with Scott Krajca MS, CPCC, as you read this article.

A Visual Approach to Co-Activity: Graphic Coaching
Did you know that researchers estimate that upwards of 72% of the North American population are visual learners and thinkers? This means that the vast majority of our coaching clients think and learn better when visuals are used. However the standard mode of coaching—over the phone—is an auditory medium that naturally benefits only 12-18% of the population! For the last six years, I’ve been experimenting with using visuals or graphics with my coaching clients. I call it “Graphic Coaching.” I work both face-to-face (using large sheets of poster paper to graphically “record” my clients’ thoughts, ideas and experiences) and also over the phone (using pre-prepared visual templates either assigned as homework between calls or filled out live while on the call). Join Christina Merkley, MA , Graphic Coach and facilitator, for this innovative new approach to coaching by reading her article.

Blending Co-Activity with the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought
The Three Principles refer to the universal truths of Mind, Consciousness and Thought which operate inseparably in every second of our human experience. They explain the energetic interconnectedness of existence, the source of our health and well-being, the power of collective consciousness and our ability to create our reality through our thinking. These principles are the fundamental “givens” of humanity, clearly setting out the commonalities of human experience. Once we understand and “feel” these truths on an individual level, we are able to rediscover our inner resiliency and wisdom, and become deeply empowered and self-reliant. Juliet Platt, CPCC, is an independent coach and facilitator, bringing workshops, training programs and personal coaching to staff, students and parents associated with the UK education sector. In this article she speaks about the synergy between coaching principles and the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought.

The Way of Serenity—Coaching Beyond Technique
I had recently received an email from my martial arts teacher with a blurb about serenity, which really got me thinking. What is serenity? And perhaps more importantly: what meaning, value or importance does serenity have in my personal life and in my life as a coach? Some of my answers are laid out before you in this article, in the hope that you may draw some benefit from them, both in your personal lives and also in your professional lives as coaches. Enjoy! Eli Landa has been training in the martial arts for more than 13 years and is also a Zen Buddhism enthusiast and practitioner. His life-long romance with the human spirit is what brought him to coaching, and this is the focus of his practice. Read his article.

Four Principles of Spiritual Coaching: Awakening your Divine Light & the Spirit of Coaching
Coaching is spirituality expressed. It is spirit imbuing and shaping our every word with its loving presence and divine wisdom in the moment of now. And it is offered to awaken the stirrings of your and your client’s soul, to return home and feel the joy and peace of union with your Self. I offer you four principles that have brought me to this truth and changed the foundation upon which I coach. The first three principles were realized at various points along my coaching journey, the fourth being uniquely gifted to me in a dream. They are yours to add depth and breadth to your coaching practice. Vince Gowmon, CPCC, is a spiritual teacher & coach and creator of the Four Principles of Spiritual Coaching. Read on to see what more he says about the Four Principles.

Celebration

Please join the CTI team in congratulating all of the Certified Professional Co-Active Coaches who have finished the rigorous certification program and passed their exams!

CPCCs through September 15
Lois Albrecht, Margo Bebinger, Sally Jo Blair, Peter Coursey, Hallie Crawford, Bonnie Davis, Theresa Dowsett, Rich Grof, Bonnie Henriksen, Kelly Jack, Carol Kelley, Michelle Kempton, Marcia King, Christina Neiman, Gonan Premfors, William Prince, David Rider, Jesus Rivera, Amy Schoen, Tina Torres, Sally Ward, Caroline Wuschke.