Kris Robertson, UK’s leading Coach Mentor/Supervisor and Operations Director of The Coaching Academy shares his top 5 Coaching Questions:-

 1.  What else? 

For me probably THE most powerful of questions.  The beauty is both in its simplicity and the suggestion in the question that there IS something else.  Far more powerful than the closed version ”Is there anything else?” which I often hear on practical assessment calls.  The difference simply that the ‘What’ prompts the brain to search and find, whereas the ‘Is there’ results in either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’, often with very little need for thought.  Repetition of this question yields the best results. 

2.  If you could wave a magic wand? 

A fantastic way to bypass any obstacles the client may have in mind when considering the options available to them.  Great for clients who often edit their options or who struggle thinking of a range of different possible ways to approach their goal. 

3.  Tell me about a time in which you have completed something similar to this before. 

A great question to help the client identify the strategies they have used previously which have been successful from which you can then ask ‘What went well?’, ‘What did you learn as a result of this?’, ‘How might you go about things differently this time?’ etc.  Really useful to help your client identify the evidence that they have that they CAN be successful this time.  Avoid closing this question down by asking ‘Have you ever…?’ 

4.  What will be the impact of things staying the same? 

A challenging question which helps your client consider the implications of not taking any action.  Helping raise their awareness and increase their motivation to take action in order to avoid the consequences of inertia.  Also a useful question to ask as occasionally it helps a client realise that actually, they don’t want the outcome they have suggested enough, or they are content with their current situation.

 5.  What have you learned from this session? 

I always think it is a positive and professional way to end a coaching session with a ‘wisdom-accessing’ question along these lines.  Plus, as an assumptive, it suggests that the client HAS learned something.  For me, it then makes it far easier to finish by asking for a referral or booking my client in for a further package of coaching sessions once they have had an opportunity to talk through the fantastic outcomes they have taken away from the session. 

Happy Coaching!

We’re very excited to announce that Bev James, MD of The Coaching Academy - the world’s largest coaching organisation - and Founder and MD of the Entrepreneurs’ Business Academy is now a new regular columnist for Startuptv.co.uk, an innovative new platform to find the products and services that will make your business thrive.

Bev is a European Master Trainer for DISC personality profiling/strengths based assessment with vast experience in the people-element of business, recruiting high performing teams, talent management and talent retention, particularly in challenging environments. Bev has coached many high profile entrepreneurs to the success they enjoy today and has a thorough understanding of the mindset and issues affecting entrepreneurs and business owners.

Over the coming months, Bev will be discussing the points which she feels are essential for businesses that are starting or growing. 

Bev’s column for Startuptv.co.uk will include carefully handpicked tips to help you steer your business in the right direction. This issue, Bev focuses on the importance of hiring the right people, first time. You can catch Bev talking about this over here.

New Year, New Start, New You!

NEW JANUARY DATES AND VENUES ADDED!

What are your goals for 2009? How about learning a valuable new skill? What about a fantastic new career?

The start of a new year is always a good time for a fresh start so why not guarantee your place on the UK’s leading, FREE 2-day introductory coach training course now.

We have just added our brand new dates and venues for January 2009 – we know it’s only November but places will fill up quickly and we don’t want you to be disappointed.

The Coaching Academy’s 2-day course is the absolute BEST way to discover the fantastic world of coaching and see if it’s for you!

Simply follow this link to book your place …

www.the-coaching-academy.com/coaching-course

Following the free coaching course many people even report an improvement in their level of communication with their families, a lot of the time on the very next day after the course!

“The coaching weekend has changed my life! I have learnt so much about myself, had so many questions answered and discovered how to turn interest in coaching into a prospective new career! Inspiring, thank you.” – Sarah Butcher

For absolutely no cost, you get two days of top quality training, valuable information to help you decide whether coaching is right for you plus all of this:

• Free ‘meet the expert’ extra bonus session late Saturday afternoon
• Free workbooks
• Free booklet of all the PowerPoint slides so you don’t have to copy them down
• Free personal development DVD on completion of the two days

“I found this amazing course incredibly inspirational and have learned so much for my own personal self-development.” – Emma Parry

Simply follow this link to book your place …

www.the-coaching-academy.com/coaching-course

… and select the forthcoming date and venue that suits you…

Forthcoming dates with places available:

Coaching Course Dates

29th / 30th November – London 
  
13th / 14th December – Coventry 
  
13th / 14th December – London 
  
10th / 11th January – London 
  
17th / 18th January – London 
  
24th / 25th January – London 
  
31st Jan / 1st Feb – London

You will find further information about the course on the website, as well as lots of testimonials from some of the many thousands of people that have already benefited from attending the Certificate Training Course for Personal Coaching.

“The course gives you a great ‘get up and go’ attitude to get on and make positive changes to your own life as well as others”
Andrea Barnick

Kind regards

Steve Clarke
The Coaching Academy

P.S. Sign up now for our FREE weekly e-magazine ‘PS Online’. Full of coaching and personal development articles, tips, book reviews and offers you can’t miss. Sign up now!

Simply follow this link to book your place …

www.the-coaching-academy.com/coaching-course

inspiring coaching, inspiring success

Peter Ryding, Chairman and CEO of The Coaching Academy will reveal valuable insights into “Coaching during the Credit Crunch”, share with you his 15 years of experience as one of the UK’s leading coaches, discuss the vital role coaching plays during times of economic uncertainty and explain why Coaching is a booming industry that you should be part of now!

Don’t miss your opportunity to meet with Peter and discover why Coaching is ‘the answer’ during the Credit Crunch.