I just put back a team member's question to them, and took it as a simple learning opportunity. To receive this unexpected feedback is a cause for celebration
From: Siti Aiza Fadil
Sent: Thursday, 16 October 2008 12:22
Subject: Re: Cutting Edge Team (CET)
Thanks James, for giving us a wonderful coaching last nite.
I found it very motivating and clarifying. Like Looi said - empowering. Really, I feel that's a great achievement of an effective coach.
I was thinking what an excellent coach u were last nite. So many words of wisdom - from coaching us on CET, to sharing your learning/blessing of the singing embarrasment experience.
As u were sharing that, I was thinking in my heart:-
... here's a leader that's ever willing to try something new, esp. in his realm of fear and not only to conquer it, but to be great at it... brings to mind your yoga, swimming, running, singing...
... U walk your talk.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
INCREDIBLE GENEROUS & PASSIONATE FEEDBACK
This email was sent by a senior manager, from one of the largest Indian conglomerates, who was on a company programme to train in-house coaches. I celebrate it because I have met a man who went out of his way to write such a generous and passionate feedback, despite being very busy and on his holiday.
Sent: Thursday, 9 October 2008 00:59
Subject: Dr James Chia : my Head Coach
Dear Dr Chia ,
At the very outset I wish to put on record my sincerest thanks to you for guiding me through the entire coaching process . I also wish to put on record my sincere thanks to Mr Jagdish Anne , my coachee who devoted his valuable time and volunteered to support me through the entire process.
Reflecting back on our interactions in the last several weeks , I have a few observations worth mentioning :
a) First of all , I was a late starter . There was a moment when I thought I was too late to start . I appreciate your dealing with the situation firmly and professionally through a series of e-mails to me . I was sincerely sorry that I was perhaps letting you down - and also that I was missing out on a great opportunity . Had it not been for your gentle but firm persuasion , I would have perhaps not even got started.
b) In one of our earlier calls you mentioned about the coachee's commitment being more important than the coach's . You gave me the message pretty clearly when I got delayed in one my calls to you . It strengthened my resolve to go through the process and complete the same . So much so that I had set up one of my calls to you in between my customer visits - with me in Chennai , Jagdish in Mumbai and you in Singapore.
c) I found you were always keen in learning about both of us in all your calls. A considerable time was spent trying to know about us , about our profession and families. This , I found helped to connect us better as individuals. Your eagerness to learn about our business was also very endearing in itself.
d) One striking thing about all your interactions was the passion with which you reflected back and endorsed and appreciated things . As a coachee I felt elated .
e) One very interesting thing was that after every call , you always ensured that you correlate our conversations with a broader aspect of coaching in life . Be it the example of Tiger Woods ( he wanted a coach for himself - and not the other way round) or that the success of a coach depended on the success of a coachee and that he needed to reflect a true mirror !
f) The FEELING mnemonic taught by you was something that I though encapsulated the essence of the process.
g) Lastly, I think, as a person you displayed great commitment and more than that perhaps - immense patience in me . I do not know if you ever thought I was a lost case as a coachee when nothing seemed to be moving despite several reminders initially . Nevertheless you persisted ! I thought that was significantly noteworthy!
On the whole , it has been great interacting with you . I have learnt something new in life. Knowing you has been an enriching experience and I would certainly keep in touch . Thank you once again for your time .
Best regards.
Devotosh
Sent: Thursday, 9 October 2008 00:59
Subject: Dr James Chia : my Head Coach
Dear Dr Chia ,
At the very outset I wish to put on record my sincerest thanks to you for guiding me through the entire coaching process . I also wish to put on record my sincere thanks to Mr Jagdish Anne , my coachee who devoted his valuable time and volunteered to support me through the entire process.
Reflecting back on our interactions in the last several weeks , I have a few observations worth mentioning :
a) First of all , I was a late starter . There was a moment when I thought I was too late to start . I appreciate your dealing with the situation firmly and professionally through a series of e-mails to me . I was sincerely sorry that I was perhaps letting you down - and also that I was missing out on a great opportunity . Had it not been for your gentle but firm persuasion , I would have perhaps not even got started.
b) In one of our earlier calls you mentioned about the coachee's commitment being more important than the coach's . You gave me the message pretty clearly when I got delayed in one my calls to you . It strengthened my resolve to go through the process and complete the same . So much so that I had set up one of my calls to you in between my customer visits - with me in Chennai , Jagdish in Mumbai and you in Singapore.
c) I found you were always keen in learning about both of us in all your calls. A considerable time was spent trying to know about us , about our profession and families. This , I found helped to connect us better as individuals. Your eagerness to learn about our business was also very endearing in itself.
d) One striking thing about all your interactions was the passion with which you reflected back and endorsed and appreciated things . As a coachee I felt elated .
e) One very interesting thing was that after every call , you always ensured that you correlate our conversations with a broader aspect of coaching in life . Be it the example of Tiger Woods ( he wanted a coach for himself - and not the other way round) or that the success of a coach depended on the success of a coachee and that he needed to reflect a true mirror !
f) The FEELING mnemonic taught by you was something that I though encapsulated the essence of the process.
g) Lastly, I think, as a person you displayed great commitment and more than that perhaps - immense patience in me . I do not know if you ever thought I was a lost case as a coachee when nothing seemed to be moving despite several reminders initially . Nevertheless you persisted ! I thought that was significantly noteworthy!
On the whole , it has been great interacting with you . I have learnt something new in life. Knowing you has been an enriching experience and I would certainly keep in touch . Thank you once again for your time .
Best regards.
Devotosh
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thanks from an Enthusiastic Coachee
Sant Kumar in his mid-forties is a Head of Internal Audit with 19 years experience in the Aditya Birla Group. I am his Head Coach in a program where he is learning to be a Coach. His coachee is Sanjay. The program was designed for 4 coaching calls, but Sant was super keen to do more! I celebrate with you this email he just sent.
From: SK Sharma Sent: Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Subject: Thanks!!!
Dear Dr. James,
The 26th Sept ’08 was our 6th and last coaching call of this program. As usual, it was a very fruitful discussion.
The program lasted almost 4 months and our discussions on coaching during the last 6 calls have been a great learning experience for me. While I was coaching Sanjay during the period, your support and expert feedback in my coaching development were really valuable and effective. You always played a role that inspires us to find ways, suiting to our unique style, to reach our goals.
From: SK Sharma Sent: Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Subject: Thanks!!!
Dear Dr. James,
The 26th Sept ’08 was our 6th and last coaching call of this program. As usual, it was a very fruitful discussion.
The program lasted almost 4 months and our discussions on coaching during the last 6 calls have been a great learning experience for me. While I was coaching Sanjay during the period, your support and expert feedback in my coaching development were really valuable and effective. You always played a role that inspires us to find ways, suiting to our unique style, to reach our goals.
This program has helped me to increase my ability to coach others and discover my unique style leadership. Not only, was my coachee Sanjay benefited but also my whole team here from my enhanced ability by support them to improve their performances and business results.
Your coaching techniques especially questioning and expert feedback on coaching and leadership were very useful. Your questioning techniques were so effective that we start looking for our own right answers and make better choices on sustainable basis.Some of your phrases like
- "Who would you like to lead first before you lead others? -the answer is yourself",
- "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care",
- "Coaching is all about caring, the caring like mother care her child",
- "Put yourself in other person’s shoes",
- "If leader is there but no nobody is following means leader with only title”,
- "Use mirror for your own development; and mirror could be a coach, spouse and children” etc,
consistently remind and motivate me to be a better coach. I’m sure that these techniques would help me to sustain my improved behaviour and business goals.
I really appreciate for your imparting knowledge, experience and information with us through sincere and active participation during the whole period.
I hope to learn more from you in future.
With many thanks and regards,
Sant
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