Comments on: Coaching: The Thin End Of The Wedge http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/ Towards a Way of Excellence Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:33:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: xpmatteo http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-384 xpmatteo Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:06:13 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-384 Please keep blogging on this topic! If I may express a preference, I'd like to read some of your samples. :-) Please keep blogging on this topic! If I may express a preference, I’d like to read some of your samples. :-)

]]> By: fqqdk http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-379 fqqdk Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:58:47 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-379 Telling tales seems like a generally applicable method for me, that's what I meant. :) Telling tales seems like a generally applicable method for me, that’s what I meant. :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Anonymous Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:57:25 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-378 Part of my tales is usually joy. Early and often, I make it clear that this is gonna be fun, in the sense of reconnecting the team to their original geek joy. That's not the world's easiest promise to keep, but I try. Sometimes I get a group that's ready to talk 'balance', but not often. Focusing your attention on what *they're* unhappy about does a lot towards getting permission to help. Part of my tales is usually joy. Early and often, I make it clear that this is gonna be fun, in the sense of reconnecting the team to their original geek joy. That’s not the world’s easiest promise to keep, but I try. Sometimes I get a group that’s ready to talk ‘balance’, but not often.

Focusing your attention on what *they’re* unhappy about does a lot towards getting permission to help.

]]> By: Anonymous http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Anonymous Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:52:18 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-377 Oddly enough, I'm not nearly so successful outside the field of geekery. I still spin tales, but I think when I'm coaching part of me has already been 'accepted' as a potential helper. Oddly enough, I’m not nearly so successful outside the field of geekery. I still spin tales, but I think when I’m coaching part of me has already been ‘accepted’ as a potential helper.

]]> By: GeePawHill http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-376 GeePawHill Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:45:12 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-376 Hah! the opportune moment is key -- though I often worry most about finding the *inopportune* moment, for which I apparently have a natural gift of some magnitude. As for recognizing yourself, dig it. We're all in there. I genuinely believe the biggest problem most noobie coaches make is their over-reliance on rationality. Hah! the opportune moment is key — though I often worry most about finding the *inopportune* moment, for which I apparently have a natural gift of some magnitude. As for recognizing yourself, dig it. We’re all in there.
I genuinely believe the biggest problem most noobie coaches make is their over-reliance on rationality.

]]> By: GeePawHill http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-375 GeePawHill Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:41:30 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-375 William Calvin, the neurologist, once said we shouldn't be called homo sapiens 'cuz we're not wise. We should be called homo seriatim because of our sequentiality. There's a lot of evidence, and even some theory, out there that says, no matter what sensory modality new knowledge comes in, folks do better with tales. I like the talespinning challenges idea. I shall mull. William Calvin, the neurologist, once said we shouldn’t be called homo sapiens ‘cuz we’re not wise. We should be called homo seriatim because of our sequentiality. There’s a lot of evidence, and even some theory, out there that says, no matter what sensory modality new knowledge comes in, folks do better with tales.

I like the talespinning challenges idea. I shall mull.

]]> By: Thommy Bommen http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-359 Thommy Bommen Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:55:06 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-359 All these coaching secrets in one post. Thanks for sharing! This happened to me the other day when I was giving a short presentation/talk where I tried to inspire to take action in ones own life. If you are not in balance in your life (at least at work) how can we expect the project to be in balance. At this point people where wondering why I did not talk about testing and why they should do it... So considering this I walked in to my own trap you could say. I tend talk too much about my own ideas and push them on people based on my experiences. Your blog post inspires to go even deeper to find the tale that the team is interested in and not just my own interests.. I still think they enjoyed the talk, but it was different :) All these coaching secrets in one post. Thanks for sharing!

This happened to me the other day when I was giving a short presentation/talk where I tried to inspire to take action in ones own life. If you are not in balance in your life (at least at work) how can we expect the project to be in balance. At this point people where wondering why I did not talk about testing and why they should do it… So considering this I walked in to my own trap you could say. I tend talk too much about my own ideas and push them on people based on my experiences.

Your blog post inspires to go even deeper to find the tale that the team is interested in and not just my own interests.. I still think they enjoyed the talk, but it was different :)

]]> By: fqqdk http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-350 fqqdk Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:31:23 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-350 ooooh, fun! this may come in handy in situations where i'm not a coach, but people are just plain ignorant around me, and should be "coached" as in "subtly taught new things because their old habits are plain stupid". ooooh, fun!
this may come in handy in situations where i’m not a coach, but people are just plain ignorant around me, and should be “coached” as in “subtly taught new things because their old habits are plain stupid”.

]]> By: John Stoneham http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-349 John Stoneham Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:47:00 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-349 Dude. This is becoming the coaching blog I always wanted to read. Rule. I'm quite enjoying recognizing myself in all the mistakes you point out. The bit about expecting people to be rational about their choices is kind of the kicker for me. Because of course, in addition to expecting people to be rational about their choices, I'm expecting them to make rational choices according to MY assumptions, MY experiences, and the things I'VE learned to prefer or avoid. Startlingly enough, they aren't starting from the same place I am. Do you subscribe to the theory of the opportune moment, as put forth by Captain Jack Sparrow? (Really, I've got 'teachable moment's in mind.) Dude. This is becoming the coaching blog I always wanted to read. Rule. I’m quite enjoying recognizing myself in all the mistakes you point out.

The bit about expecting people to be rational about their choices is kind of the kicker for me. Because of course, in addition to expecting people to be rational about their choices, I’m expecting them to make rational choices according to MY assumptions, MY experiences, and the things I’VE learned to prefer or avoid. Startlingly enough, they aren’t starting from the same place I am.

Do you subscribe to the theory of the opportune moment, as put forth by Captain Jack Sparrow? (Really, I’ve got ‘teachable moment’s in mind.)

]]> By: Sebastian Hermida http://anarchycreek.com/2009/10/08/coaching-the-thin-end-of-the-wedge/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Sebastian Hermida Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:20:55 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=809#comment-348 Wow! I feel such a noob!! Thanks for sharing this! You just gave me a VIP back stage pass to a magician show. So tales are the trick? I noticed how coaches use tales or metaphors to explain concepts but until now I did not put 2 and 2 together. I am really curious about what you have to say about manipulation but I am even more curious about how I can start practicing this art? Could you come up with a couple of situations where we have to tell you a tale? Would you be willing to give us advice and suggestion to get better at it? Wow! I feel such a noob!!

Thanks for sharing this! You just gave me a VIP back stage pass to a magician show. So tales are the trick? I noticed how coaches use tales or metaphors to explain concepts but until now I did not put 2 and 2 together.

I am really curious about what you have to say about manipulation but I am even more curious about how I can start practicing this art? Could you come up with a couple of situations where we have to tell you a tale? Would you be willing to give us advice and suggestion to get better at it?

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