This week in ACT for Coaches we talked about putting the “act” in ACT by focusing on values-based goalsetting and committed action. ACT takes a much kinder and gentler approach to setting goals than traditional SMART goals. While it uses a similar framework, it seeks to ensure the goals are both values driven and adaptable and it focuses on process over outcome. It also involves anticipating both experiential and environmental barriers that may arise and having tools ready to use when they do. Having a plan on how to deal with intrusive thoughts or external roadblocks helps keep them from becoming overwhelming and derailing our progress. As coaches, clients often come to us for help with a specific goal or plan and using ACT’s values-based and committed action approach to goalsetting is a great option. And if you or your client are averse to the word goal, you don’t have to use it! Part of the beauty of ACT is that it is flexible. Substitute plan, purpose, intention, desired result, etc. instead… It’s pronounced “act” for a reason: because it’s ultimately all about taking action to live your life in line with your values. Thought work and everything we’ve discussed so far in the course are all important aspects of achieving this, but it takes committed action to actually get there. The Winter Session of ACT or Coaches begins on January 8. If you'd like to learn more, or to register for the course, click the link in the comments below. The $200 early-bird discount is currently in effect 🙂 To learn more, or to register for the course, click here: https://www.conceptsforcoaches.com/act-for-coaches To be added to the email list to receive information about course offerings click here: https://www.conceptsforcoaches.com/email-list-opt-in

For all you early early-birds, registration for the Winter Session of ACT for Coaches and NVC for Coaches is now open at the early-bird rate ($200 off the normal registration fee)! ACT for Coaches begins January 8 and runs eight consecutive Wednesdays from 12:00-1:30 pm PT. NVC for Coaches begins January 9 and runs for eight consecutive Thursdays from11:00am-12:30 pm PT. Both courses are ICF accredited for 20 Continuing Coach Education Units (15 Core Competencies and 5 Resource Development), but you do not have to be an ICF certified coach to take them. They are high quality professional/personal development or continuing education for all coaches. These courses are designed by a coach for coaches, not by a therapist for other therapists with coaches thrown in as an afterthought and are designed within a coach specific context to work within the limits we, as coaches, face. Each course is a thorough and approachable introduction to its subject (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training and Nonviolent Communication) that teaches you appropriate tools and techniques to use with and teach to your clients. By the end, you’ll understand fundamental principles and concepts and will have learned how to effectively incorporate the approach and its tools into your client sessions. Since the tools are experiential, a vital part of the program is to practice them on yourself before implementing them with clients. There will be plenty of opportunity in class to practice the tools and I have also created weekly Home Practice Assignments crafted to facilitate further practice and exploration. In addition, we’ll have a private group space for discussion, Q&A, and to arrange to practice with each other if you like. All of this is done in a welcoming, safe, and no-pressure environment. While I encourage interaction and participation in class, it is not required. My goal, first and foremost, is to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for you. Whether you're a freshly minted coach wanting to add depth to your toolkit, an experienced coach who's heard of these tools and wants to learn more, or an ICF credentialed coach looking for some high-quality continuing education to get your CCEUs (20!), either course is a good option.

What’s one change you’ve made in your business that gave you more personal freedom? How do you maintain that balance?

This week in ACT for Coaches we talked about the role of mindfulness in ACT. In fact, mindfulness is a vital component in that it helps to anchor us in the present, which is the only place from which we can make effective values-based choices. Ruminating on the past and obsessively speculating about the future are the enemies of values-based action and mindfulness helps to combat these thought patterns. That's not to say that we shouldn't make our decisions and take actions that are informed by the past or meant to achieve future goals, but that it is when we can't see beyond the past experience(s) or future concerns that we run into problems. We worked through eleven mindfulness exercises – most of which can be done quickly in a client session – and had a great discussion about our experiences with them and how we would apply them in our coaching regardless of whether we're using ACT. Some of the exercises are purely mindfulness based whereas others focus on body awareness and the mind-body connection or on self-kindness and compassion. The keys to working with any of these forms of mindfulness are to engage in compassionate curiosity while leaving self-judgment behind. The beauty of ACT lies in its flexibility and how we can choose whether to use it as a complete framework for guiding work with a client, pick and choose portions of ACT, or even work with individual exercises. It is a big bag of additional tools and approaches we can add to our coaching tool kits. The Winter Session of ACT for Coaches begins January 8. If you'd like to learn more, or to register for the course, click the link in the comments below. Plus, the $200 early-bird discount is currently in effect 🙂 I'm happy to hop on Zoom or a phone call if you have questions. To learn more, or to register for the course, click here: https://www.conceptsforcoaches.com/act-for-coaches To be added to the email list to receive information about course offerings click here: https://www.conceptsforcoaches.com/email-list-opt-in

How do you use client feedback to improve your services? What’s one piece of feedback that shaped your approach?