Coaching and the Survivors

At present the economy is in a potentially wide and deep recession. Many businesses are closing. But not all of them. Many are making swingeing staff cuts in order to remain trading. Many people are losing their jobs as a result but there are also survivors. Analysis of the business sector indicates that there is a growing phenomenon that has become known as survivorship and involves those who stay on.

Often such survivors experience a period of intense disorientation, guilt and remorse because they have survived whilst their workmates have gone. They need to work through the grieving process as they traverse the grief curve. This is another operational challenge where executive coaching can help staff to retain their skills and capability during testing times.

Diomedea Executive Coaching has teamed up with the Glasgow consultancy authentic change to provide a series of tailored programmes for survivors to help retain and develop their capability. Coaching is a key part of the programme.

So if you are worried about your workforce after being forced to make cuts help is at hand. Give us a call on 01786 8254507 or 07757 062810.

A new Organisation: The Rwanda Scotland Alliance

I haven't been doing much blogging lately because I have been focussing on one of my voluntary interests, the Rwanda Scotland Alliance. Currently hosted by Universities Scotland, the Alliance is made up of educational, academic, cultural, commercial and civil societal interests in Rwanda and Scotland and aims to facilitate and encourage multi-stakeholder partnerships. This is a very exciting venture and Diomedea Executive Coaching is proud to support it.

It is very early days yet. We (I serve as vice chair of the alliance) are developing our mission statement and are in the process of becoming a registered charity. We have been encouraged in the venture by the Rwandan Ambassador to the UK and the Honorary Consul for Rwanda to Scotland.

We would like to establish our own blog in the future but until then and as the alliance gathers momentum I hope to bring you news from time to time on the Diomedea Executive Coaching blog. If you would like more information about the Alliance please contact us at rwandascotlandalliance@googlemail.com

The Generosity of Strangers

I had an excellent meeting with Colin McKeand the other day. We talked about networking and business development and Colin gave me some really good contacts to follow up. I didn't know Colin, he was a stranger to me, but had been recommended by a mutual colleague as someone I ought to talk to about developing my client base. What struck me about the conversation was how generous strangers can be in the help they give to others and their willingness to pass on their considerable wisdom.

Although Colin was a stranger when we met we parted as new friends. Having spent many years in the public sector it was so refreshing to meet someone who was willing to assist me with no strings attached. Thank you so much Colin.

Coaching to Fly: A new Concept?

The term "in the flow" is quite well-known and coaches strive to engender in people a sense of flow. We all understand what that means but the metaphor is somewhat unfortunate. It implies using a flow, where the subject or person is borne along in the direction of flow of fluid or whatever it is that is moving. It doesn't really give a clear sense of being in control or shaping or moving within the flow. Coaching to fly on the other hand focuses on being within a flow, of being able to generate control inputs so that the flow is used for getting from where you are to where you want to be. Coaching to fly is about helping clients to develop awareness of the control inputs that are required to navigate the flow. And what information and skills are needed to calibrate those control imputs. So it is a much more active process. It is much less reliant on the passivity of being borne along by a current and the metaphor is much more about a bird soaring, mastering the elements, flying above the turbulence by generating appropriate control inputs to alter its flight whilst taking advantage of the flow. So I think it's actually a much better metaphor.