At the beginning of May, I was pleased to attend the executive career services committee meeting held at the CMAA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. It was a great opportunity for me to inform and educate the committee members about the process of CMAA’s coaching initiative that started in September 2003. When we embarked on getting the benefits of coaching to the 6000 CMAA members we thought of many ways that this could happen. We realized that it would take a number of approaches to touch a number of that magnitude. To accomplish this, we introduced one-on-one coaching. We introduced a coaching section on the Clubnet web site. We have an area on the site where people can get their coaching questions answered. I’ve spoken at the conference level and at the chapter level and at the club level. I was at the committee meeting to explain what we had done and to brainstorm how we could increase the numbers of people who receive the benefits of coaching in the organization.
We realized that awareness of the program is a big challenge and I received support from the committee to continually send the message out in a variety of ways. The reality is that many people only receive the message about coaching when they think they need it. I’m always interested to hear about people who have lost their jobs who suddenly become very aware of coaching services. Yet they didn’t pay much attention to it when they were employed. For me this really brings home a point that we need to help people understand that these coaching services are for their career development at anytime, not just when they’re in between jobs. Many high-level club managers are using coaching as a tool to raise their game and to strengthen their position, as opposed to a way to recover from something. If you fit into this category I would love to suggest that you consider having a coaching session with me to experience what it can do for you and also allow you to feel comfortable in recommending the service to people in your chapter.
One of the committee members asked me, “What did people do 20 years ago before there were coaches?” I suggested that what has happened over the last 20 years in business in general is that there are fewer people who are trying to deliver and also they are faced with meeting higher expectations. The demands and the responsibilities of most managers have become much more complex than they once were. The managers I work with use coaching to help them get past the things that are limiting them and to create, conserve and expend wisely the energy they need to achieve their goals.
A great analogy is that 20 years ago professional golfers played golf with drivers that were made out of wood and steel. Today, through technology, they might be playing with drivers that are made of titanium and graphite. I recently had a professional golfer stay with us in our home and the tools that he had in his bag were significantly different than they would have been 20 years ago. I couldn’t help but also notice as I watched the payers at the tournament that weekend that no one used a driver made out of wood. The better players experiment and use what works for them and often the rest of us follow. I challenge you to see if coaching can be a tool for your bag that enhances your game.
The committee was very excited and supportive of how valuable this service can be for club managers in any situation. We brainstormed ways that we can expose members to it and I would ask that if you have any ideas you feel free to suggest them.
The main message we are attempting to get out to chapter leaders is a request that you book a coaching session so you can experience the value of this service and feel confident in recommending it to members of your chapter. Go ahead, try the driver!
Kevin MacDonald
Clarity Success Coaching
Contact Kevin by phone at 604-507-1288
Or send your question to him via email
