Coaches Rising

Organisations are increasingly aware of the extent to which their efficacy and success depends upon their teamwork. In this conversation with executive and team coach Kimberley Parsons we explore the scope and process of team coaching, decoding norms in the ecosystem, key issues that teams struggle with, and harnessing collective intelligence. Kimberley Lewis Parsons is an executive and team coach, master facilitator and speaker who partners with teams and leaders to help them reach higher levels of performance and results. With over nineteen years serving in Fortune 500 and not-for-profit companies, her experiences position her to bring pragmatism and a results focus, as well as an emphasis on the heart and humanity to her clients. Kimberley is the founder of Created For Greatness, llc - a leadership effectiveness company dedicated to helping leaders and teams achieve more meaningful outcomes and increased effectiveness in their workplace, communities, and relationships.

In this conversation with executive coach Amiel Handelsman we dive into the diversity within the anti-racism movement, how coaches can help, the Omni-American vision, working with white shame and embodied racism. Amiel Handelsman is an executive coach and change consultant, helping leaders and teams rise to the challenge of complexity. He is passionate about navigating cultural waters as an anti-race anti-racist. Amiel has been developing leaders since 1993 and previously directed business development for New Ventures West. He’s the author of Practice Greatness: Escape Small Thinking, Listen Like A Master, And Lead With Your Best.

We live in times where information is rife but wisdom is in short supply, where ideologies abound but meaning is scarce, and the time for taking mediating actions on the abundant crises we face is limited. In this conversation with cognitive psychologist John Vervaeke we explore the symptomology of the meaning crisis, how we create meaning and lie to ourselves, the “religion of me”, the potential of wisdom practices and solving the meaning crisis. John Vervaeke, PhD is an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto in the departments of psychology, cognitive science and Buddhist psychology. He teaches courses in the Psychology department on thinking and reasoning, cognitive development, and higher cognitive processes. He also teaches a course in the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health program on Buddhism and Cognitive Science. He has a popular YouTube channel where he shares his insights and research on these topics. His abiding passion is to address the meaning crisis that besets western culture.

The responsibility we have as people working in a helping profession means it’s important for us to know when we’ve reached the limits of our expertise, but working out where that line is can be tricky. In this conversation with Executive Coach and Mental Health Researcher Verity Symcox we explore the distinctions between coaching and therapy, how to know when to refer, and methods of safeguarding ourselves as coaches as well as our clients. Verity Symcox is an Executive Coach, Behavioural Change Specialist, Mental Health Researcher and Head Coach at fifty50 Coaching. She has an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change from Henley Business School, certificates in Positive Psychiatry for Mental Health and Awareness of Mental Health Problems and BACP therapeutic foundation training. Verity has been working, training and researching in the field of mental health for over 7 years and brings to the table a wealth of expertise in coaching clients during periods of poor mental health, stress and burnout.

What becomes possible when we include a much wider context? And what can the relationships between things and people teach us about what is occurring? In this conversation with coach and CEO Marita Fridjhon we dive into systemic coaching, the three phases of emergence, how systems speak and how to engage with them and the current challenges for coaches. Marita Fridjhon is the co-owner and CEO of CRR Global and mentor to an ever-growing community of practitioners in the field of Relationship Systems work. She designs curriculum and operates training programs in Relationship Systems Work for coaches, executives and teams. Her primary focus in coaching is on systemic change, leveraging diversity, creative communication, deep democracy in conflict management and the development of Learning Organizations.

How does the work we do in the world relate to the times we’re living in? And what can soul tell us about the role we have to play? In this conversation with purpose guide and psychotherapist Jonathan Gustin we explore a deep-time perspective on this moment in time, the three types of purpose, the golden shadow and how to help clients access soul-level purpose. Jonathan is a purpose guide, psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and integral mentor in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years. He is the founder and lead teacher of the Purpose Guides Institute and Green Sangha. He also serves as adjunct faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the Consciousness and Transformation Studies program.

The importance of including the spiritual dimension in coaching is increasingly acknowledged, but weaving it into the world of coaching can feel clunky. In this conversation with coach and founder Saniel Bonder we explore the spirit/matter split, the language of awakening, the dynamics of spiritual hierarchies and the integration of coaching and spiritual growth. Saniel Bonder is the founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality teachings and recently launched Human Sun Institute and The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart with his wife and teaching partner Linda Groves-Bonder. He has helped hundreds achieve unshakable spiritual awakeness amid the stresses of everyday living. His books include Healing the Spirit/Matter Split and Waking Down.

Coaching is changing, the methodology expanding. How do we balance goal-oriented techniques with space-holding for emergence? In this conversation with Dr. David Drake, coach and founder of The Moment Institute, we explore working with narrative, structured emergence, nonverbal coaching, and the importance of post-coaching integration. David B Drake, PhD, is the founder and CEO of the Moment Institute in the San Francisco Bay Area, whose mission is to reinvent learning & development for practitioners and clients to better meet the challenges of our time. He pioneered the field of Narrative Coaching, and he has taught coaching skills to over 10,000 leaders, managers, and professionals. He is the author of over fifty publications on narratives and coaching, including his book “Narrative Coaching; The definitive guide to bringing new stories to life”, co-editor of the SAGE Handbook of Coaching (2016) and a thought leader for the Institute of Coaching at Harvard.

The world today is suddenly a very different landscape than three short years ago. It used to be enough for a coach to have coaching mastery but is that still the case? In this conversation with executive coach and CEO Kari Granger we explore the new demands being made of coaches and the range of skills required to meet them, understanding stakeholders and systems, the shifting ground of the coaching industry and what lies beyond coaching mastery. Kari Granger is an executive coach and CEO of The Granger Network with 20 years of experience catalyzing transformation at the individual and organizational level. Prior to founding her company, she served as a decorated combat veteran, where she learned the imperative of transformative leadership in high-intensity situations. Kari and her team specialize in helping companies thrive in high-pressure situations, such as restructurings, mergers and acquisitions and strategic pivots.

The term “systemic” is bandied about quite liberally nowadays, but is there actually any consensus on what it means in the context of coaching? In this conversation with Dr. Paul Lawrence we dive into how systemic thinking can be applied in coaching, differences between adult development and systems thinking and the evolution of the coaching industry. Paul Lawrence is a consultant, executive coach, facilitator, writer and researcher. His primary interest lies in helping organisations effect change, building holistic solutions, integrating change efforts with other OD interventions such as coaching and leadership development. Paul is Regional Chair for the Association for Coaching (AC) in South-East Asia, Australian Ambassador for the Association of Coaching Supervisors (AoCS) and co-editor in chief for the Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal. His new book, Coaching Systemically, is out now.

As the pace of change accelerates and organisations begin to develop a systemic view in order to meet the demands of increasing complexity, how can the coaching industry best respond? In this conversation with executive coach Paul Byrne we explore the the current and emergent business model of coaching, transitioning coaching to a collaborative ecosystem and the architecture of organisational change. Paul Byrne is an executive coach and president of the European branch of The Leadership Circle and Full Circle Group. Paul excels at working with organizations in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments as well as large global companies seeking to foster cultures of innovation and operational agility. He blends a systemic approach to organizational change with a unique ability to engage senior leaders in deeply transformational conversations.

Many of us are aware that we weren’t really taught how to learn (and usefully retain) knowledge at school, and as adults the lack of this skill often leads to frustration when trying to learn something new. In this conversation with Dr. Theo Dawson we explore the central problem of the educational paradigm, how learning actually works, the relationship between context and performance, and how neural networks can inform learning. Dr. Theo Dawson is the Founder and Executive Director of Lectica, a company that makes diagnostic and formative learning tools for schools, colleges, and the workplace. These tools measure how well people work with their knowledge in real world contexts, identify "what comes next", and provide personalized learning recommendations. Lectica’s approach combines the learning sciences, the art of teaching, and richly diagnostic measurement to revolutionise how we learn important skills for successfully navigating an increasingly complex world.

Coaching has some fairly established approaches, but they are generally not based on empirical data. Could the practice of coaching benefit from taking a more scientific approach to the development of its methodology? In this conversation with management consultant Dave Snowden we explore using the natural sciences to inform coaching theory and practice, the role of context and relating in behavioral change, and the value of the numinous. Dave Snowden is a management consultant and researcher in the field of knowledge management and the application of complexity science. Known for the development of the Cynefin framework, he is the founder and chief scientific officer of Cognitive Edge, a Singapore-based management consulting firm specializing in complexity and sensemaking. He has authored several articles and book chapters on the Cynefin framework and the role of complexity in sensemaking.

How does inclusivity foster high performance? How is the pandemic impacting the workplace? And what are the key qualities leaders need to be fostering in order to create resilient organisational culture? In this conversation with leadership development consultant Carley Hauck we speak about coaching in the pandemic, emergent workplace culture, the challenges of a VUCA world and the relationship between psychological safety and high performance. Carley Hauck is a learning architect, leadership development consultant, author, speaker, and coach who serves as adjunct faculty at Stanford University and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. She has worked with hundreds of leaders in Fortune 100 companies and high-growth startups such as LinkedIn, Genentech, Pixar, Clif Bar, Intuit, and Bank of the West. Carley is the author of “Shine: Ignite Your Inner Game to Lead Consciously at Work and in the World”.

Our collective narrative is crumbling and forcing a re-evaluation of both our personal and our collective story. How can we help our clients create new narratives in these times of great uncertainty? In this conversation with coach and trainer Robert Stephenson we explore how to create new narratives when the old ones break down, cross-disciplinary coaching and working at our leading edge, and the hidden power dynamic in the coaching relationship. Robert Stephenson is the Centre Director for Animas Coaching, where he manages and supports the Leadership Team across the globe ensuring quality training. With a background that has roots in performance and theatre, Robert's journey to life coaching and training has taken him along a path of varied experience and learning, including working with young people in schools and teaching on degrees at several universities.

In a society that reveres doing and neglects being, how can we allow the two to inform each other in a way that leads us to ever increasing wholeness and purposeful contribution in the world? In this conversation with spiritual teacher A. H. Almaas we explore the different stages of spiritual inquiry, the relational quality of spirit and how it can inform our attunement to our clients, and the distinctions between the concepts of purpose and contribution. A. H. Almaas is the pen name of Abdul Hameed Ali, founder of the Diamond Approach to Self-Realization, a contemporary teaching that developed within the context of both ancient spiritual teachings and modern depth psychology theories. Almaas has authored eighteen books about spiritual realization, including the Diamond Heart series, The Pearl Beyond Price, The Void, and The Alchemy of Freedom. He is the founder of the Ridhwan School for Spiritual Development, an inner work school devoted to the realization of True Nature.

In a world that is suffering from a dearth of soul, how do we find our way back to deeper levels of meaning-making and identity? In this conversation with storytelling and mythologist Michael Meade we explore the current state of the world through the lens of myth, the concept of unique individual genius and how to access it, and the role of imagination in bringing forth our calling. Michael Meade D.H.L. is a renowned storyteller, author, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology. He combines hypnotic storytelling, street-savvy perceptiveness, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths with a deep knowledge of cross-cultural rituals. Michael is the author of several books and is the founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, a nonprofit network of artist, activists, and community builders that encourages greater understanding between diverse peoples. A list of resources mentioned in the podcast can be found here: https://www.coachesrising.com/podcast/following-the-call-living-myth-uncover

In these times of intense challenges, how can we use our imaginations to devise ways of collectively working together to flourish? In this conversation with writer and teacher Greg Thomas we explore the potential of cultural intelligence, they key of race and the core competencies for constructive collective evolution. Greg Thomas is the CEO of the Jazz Leadership Project and has over 25 years of experience as a writer, producer, broadcaster and educator. He has been featured in publications as various as The Root, All About Jazz, Salon, London’s Guardian Observer, the Village Voice, Africana, American Legacy, Savoy, New York’s Daily News, as well as the scholarly journal Callaloo. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Harlem World magazine from 2003-2006 and is the creator of the online course, “Cultural Intelligence: Transcending Race, Embracing Cosmos”. A list of resources mentioned in the podcast can be found here: https://www.coachesrising.com/podcast/embodying-cultural-intelligence-embracing-the-cosmos-with-gre

What does warrior training have to do with COVID-19? In these times of prolonged stress, how can an integral approach based on ancient wisdom help us cope with contemporary challenges? In this conversation with peak performance trainer Tom Fazio, we explore how training the body builds mental resilience, the role of nutrition in meditation and why creating tension is an important part of releasing it. Tom Fazio is a peak performance trainer, a martial artist of 25 years, a published author, and founder of the mind-body integration system Weightlessness. Tom's career in martial arts spans decades under dozens of experts around the world in a variety of disciplines and he holds black belts in several martial arts. He studied empty hand striking under masters and grandmasters of Taekwondo, Karate, and Muai Thai in the United States and Thailand, traditional Kung Fu weaponry and qigong in China under Shaolin protector monks, and practical self-defense with military combative instructors and professional MMA f

Rational thought is a valuable way of approaching reality, but could it be that we need to expand our ways of knowing to meet these unprecedented times? In this conversation with coach and speaker Vivian Dittmar we explore the power of transrational thinking, the different types of thought or knowing, and what can get in the way of us having access to each of them. Vivian Dittmar is a bestselling author, celebrated speaker and founder of the non-profit Be the Change Foundation. Born in Germany, Vivian grew up in Europe, Asia and North America. She founded the non-profit Be the Change Foundation and is a consultant at the Terra Institute. As the author of “The Power of Feelings” and six other books, she has become a sought after expert and keynote speaker on the subject of emotional intelligence. Her latest book, “Your Inner GPS”, explores the subject of transrational thought. A list of resources mentioned in the podcast can be found here: https://www.coachesrising.com/podcast/transrational-ways-of-knowing-wit