Wave Coach Training Program

We are looking forward to our November Alumni Gathering this Friday! We will be discussing a topic that we know is top of mind for a lot of folx, time management in coaching sessions! We are looking forward to dialoging about this, and generating supportive ideas with the group. Hope to see y'all Friday!

Yesterday in class we had our first opportunity to learn about and practice with Appreciative Inquiry, or as we like to call it, 'The Original AI' :) We spoke about the value of the strengths-based perspective, and how Appreciative Inquiry allows us to intentionally weave that into the coaching conversation, and to work with what it generates. AI is a tool, and not one that always needs to be used with every client. When it fits, and the client is open to it, it is a powerful one to use and we are glad we got to help students try it on with their peers.

Mental health is health. Yesterday, and every day of the year, we honor this truth, and all that influences it including work, and all the other layers of influence.

It's alumni gathering time again! We’ll take a deeper look at what moves clients from one stage of change to the next, and how we can use the tool of goal setting to support them. (A topic that came up in the deep dive in last month's gathering!) See y'all there!

Cultivating a growth mindset is valuable component of Coaching. When a growth mindset is not present, critical beliefs are often strong and options are very limited. It's not to say the client has arrived here for no reason, there are regularly valid experiences that have shaped the fixed mindset (opposite of growth) into being. As coaches we don't fight this and we don't invalidate it. Instead we work with it, all while holding the belief that the client is a whole and capable human. This allows for space to engage, which creates space to try, which creates space for growth.

One of the most common questions all coaches face is, 'What is it you do, exactly?' This is especially true when you coach within a more specific niche, like mental health and emotional well being. In the Wave Coach Training Program we know this is a question all coaches are repeatedly answered and we work with our students to build and refine their explanatory spiel, which is also a key part of initiating the coaching relationship. While each coach can personalize their messaging, we believe that the key aspects are: Coaching is a collaborative and personalized partnership between the coach and the client, aimed at achieving meaningful changes in the client’s life. This process involves understanding each client's unique situation, goals, and aspirations. The coach's role is to support and guide clients through their journey, not by dictating their path, but by working alongside them as they navigate towards their desired future. At its core, coaching is centered around the individual client, utilizing evidence-based methods to foster personal insight, growth, and change. It's about building a rapport, sharing knowledge, and applying problem-solving techniques collaboratively. Coaching is effective because it empowers clients to actively participate in transforming their lives. This transformation is a deeply personal journey, often nonlinear, tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. The Coaching Process is akin to a design thinking cycle, where the coach and client collaboratively develop, test, and refine strategies to achieve the client's goals. The underlying principle of coaching is empowerment rather than directive advice. It's about guiding individuals to find their own motivations and strategies for change, ensuring lasting and meaningful improvements in their lives.

This we are wrapping up the first module of our curriculum, which is all about the building blocks of coaching. We intentionally get to know these building blocks and how they connect to generate and sustain the coaching experience. We feel this is important to do before getting deeper into the 'how,' as this foundation and linking being sturdy for students is what helps to enable further curiosity, learning and understanding, all of which feel the educational experience. Excited to see how the students engage with this week's material, and how it helps to prepare them for what is to come in module 2!

One of the most awesome pieces of welcoming and initiating a new training cohort is beginning the process of discovering and connecting with the coach within each student. Our goal in the program is to help forge and foster that connection. This happens by leaning into personal strengths, learning and integrating new information and skills, and gaining comfort with sitting in the unknown of change... The space where ideas, emotions, and actions meet. Each student will have their own distinct way of being in 'coach mode' and it is powerful to see all the way this can sound and look when the coach authentically meets themselves, the client, and the moment at hand.

We are excited to for September's Alumni Gathering! Hope everyone can join us this Friday, 9/13, for an opportunity to connect and do a skill share with Future Casting, a tool that helps us to help clients who want to make change(s) in their lives, but feel overwhelmed about where to start!

Here we gooooo :)