One to One Client Reflects

One to One, Women Coaching Women, is a service that is so valuable I’d like to tell every woman, young and old of its worth.

No matter your age, the obstacles you face, or the goals you have, a certified, licensed coach can help you work through to a much higher level of success.

When I first became aware of One to One, I immediately began making contacts for someone from their organization to come to our small town to hold a workshop. I could think of many women who would benefit from this service.

A date was set and preparations were made for the workshop. Before the workshop date arrived I landed in the local ER and the next day moved to the Asheville Heart Tower. From a knee injury, blood clots had moved to my heart and lungs.

A few weeks after I got home I began Physical Therapy. My body was beginning to move around easier but I felt like my mind was flat-lined. How would I ever get back up and work, how would I continue anything? I knew I would never be able to fill my days with the negativity of television. It looked like a long road of recovery ahead.

I had the manuscript of my first novel in my computer but did not know how to go about self-publishing. This was my opportunity to begin working on it, but it seemed too big a task to think about.

Then I remembered One to One, and the workshop that had been cancelled, so I called Susie Strauss and asked to be considered for coaching sessions. She set up a conference call with the perfect coach for me.

I knew from the start that Susan (my coach) would provide just the motivational push I needed. In our sessions each week, Susan would keep me focused on necessary steps to move me forward in three major areas; my novel, health, and returning to social life.

With Susan cheering me on, and my good friend, Ronda, helping me with all the technical steps to self-publish, I now have my first novel published.

I am so very grateful for the services of One to One. I knew I needed what they offered and I could never have afforded that kind of mental and emotional support any other way.

Thank you, Susan, Susie, and all of One to One, Women Coaching Women.

Alice Blanton

Author: Tell Me No Lies

Little Bit Publishing

November 2009

Journey of a Dreamer

by Stephanie Lyas
Past OTO Client

Since I was a child, The Wizard of Oz has been one of my favorite movies. The story of the girl from humble beginnings trying to “find her way” is much like my own. Like Dorothy, I was desperately searching for things outside myself that I thought would make my life complete- only to discover that I possessed those things all along. All I needed to be happy and successful were already inside of me. It wasn’t until I experienced life coaching that that truth was revealed to me in a profound way. And I can earnestly say that my life has changed for the better. Great things are happening all the time! Probably the accomplishment of which I’m proudest is the recent publication of my book, Dwelling Places: a Poetic Journey through the Heart.

I compare my journey toward completing the book to Dorothy’s quest to reach The Emerald City. Though she faced great obstacles along the way, she got there. Perhaps the most important part is that she didn’t do it alone. She had help from her loyal friends, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Lion. Although encumbered by their own personal weaknesses, their common focus was to help Dorothy reach her goal. And in the end, they discovered incredible things about themselves, too.

That, in essence, is what coaching has done for me. There are few words that can describe the “ripple effect” of blessings that have come from my coaching experience. My greatest joy, however, is sharing my testimony with others with the hope of encouraging them to overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things.


Looking back on my journey, it is difficult to pick which of the three companions best
describes my coach, because like any good companion, she possesses the attributes of all
three- wisdom, courage and heart. To witness those forces at work in my own life is another blessing for which I will always be thankful.


Whether or not Dorothy would have made it to Oz without her friends remains to be seen. But one thing is certain- the trip would have been much harder, and not nearly as exciting! True friends are invaluable. Coaches who really care are priceless. Like Dorothy, I have discovered on this amazing journey that “the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”


© Stephanie Lyas. 2009

POWERFUL Questions

The Coaching Corner

By

Mary Mantei

One of the tools life coaches seek to use effectively is powerful questioning. A powerful question invites an individual to move to a deeper level of discovery or learning. A well-placed question can create greater possibility or perhaps a clearer vision for whoever we are in conversation with. A truly powerful question will not elicit a yes or no answer; rather it is open-ended to encourage reflection and creativity.

A hope I have for clients is that during and after the coaching relationship, they will learn to ask themselves powerful questions. I want them to be able to “self-coach” to extend the value of the coaching experience. As we step into 2010, into the next decade, we will have many opportunities to consider, many problems to solve or manage, and many decisions to make, which may have a simple or profound affect on our lives and the lives of others. Following are a few powerful questions which might assist you in exploring your options in a thoughtful, appreciative manner this coming Year.

If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?

Examples of when you might want to ask yourself this question are;

Spending a large sum of money on an item or an experience

Saying yes to a request to voluntarily commit your time

Staying in a relationship which is not serving you well

What does _________________________ cost me? (Fill in the blank)

Examples:

What does my constant lateness cost me?

What does denial of my health issues cost me?

What does my desire to be honest with those I love cost me?

What options can I create?

When faced with a problem or dilemma, we often act on the first answer we land on. This question encourages us to spend time generating beyond the first solution or option and give ourselves potentially a better option or a backup plan. We feel less resigned with more options to select from and Plan B’s to turn to.

I encourage you to ask yourself one of these questions when the time is right and see where your mind and imagination take you. Eugene Ionesco, Romanian-born playright, was onto something when he said, “It’s not the answer that enlightens, but the question”.

OTO Presents at International Coaching Federation Annual Convention

One World, Many Doors – How YOUR unique coaching can Change the World TODAY!

December 4, 2009

Is the title of the collaborative panel presentation that One to One will be participating in at the ICF annual conference in Orlando this weekend. Joining me on the panel is Stephen Garber, with Third Level. This is an executive coaching, for-profit company that provides team and individual coaching with two companies in Belfast, Ireland. The third presenter is Fuyuo Sato, a coach in Japan who provides coaching to teachers in a local middle school. The purpose of this breakout session is to encourage and inspire attending coaches to think beyond their ‘coaching box’. We want them to consider how they can take their passion for, and skills of, coaching into new and different realms and to create positive change in the world. Besides telling the three stories of how we have been inspired and then moved to action with our coaching, Susie Strauss, the Founder and Director of One to One will be leading the participants in a exercise entitled ‘Opening Spaces for Hidden Dreams’, asking the them to identify what they really care about, what they could dare to do and how they could share their coaching with others to make an impact. The session will be on Friday morning starting at 11 am.

In addition, Caryn Corenblum and Susie Strauss are planning an informal gathering of OtO coaches in Orlando (stay tuned for details). It will be great to see everyone who is attending the conference!

Hear from OTO Coaches

Inquiries from the October OTO Conference Call

October 20, 2009

Each month OTO holds a training call for its Coaches. This is a opportunity for the coaches both to keep their skills fresh and create community. The October Call was entitled: Preparing Your Client to be Coached. Each call starts with an inquiry, a question that opens the conversation and sets the tone for the training session. Below you'll find some of our Coaches answers to this month's Inquiry.

What do I believe is essential for a client to know or understand as she begins the coaching experience in order for her to receive the most benefit from the relationship?

Marti – It is essential for the client to know that it is her agenda every call.

Leila – This is not a place for her to get led, but for her to be in constant question of “what do I want”. And that I am there to help facilitate that process but not answer that question.

Holly – To know there isn’t anything they can say that is wrong

Susan – All the same AND I really let the client know that they are the expert on themselves.

Debbie – They can always to authentic and true to themselves.

Vickie – Echo AND It is important for my client to know that it is a safe space for them

Sally – Client needs to know that her agenda come out of her dreams, and hope, and vision.

Kay – Building on the idea that agenda comes from the client, I want the client to know that the agenda for the content comes from them and that my agenda is about calling forth their highest self.

Lee – The most essential thing for the client to know is that I show up for the calls knowing that she is brilliant, loving, capable, and that she doesn’t need to be fixed.

Laura – I want the client to understand that I don’t have any magic beans (sometimes they think that they do) and that this is a process. In the process we are going to uncover that if there are any magic beans, that she has them in herself.

Penny – I want the client to know that This time is held as a sacred space for her and that protecting it is very important to me and to her. Because I want to give her my undivided attention and have her undivided attention for an hour so she can explore herself.

Susie – I really work on giving her, my client, whatever she wants as best as I am able to. So, encourage her to really ask for what she wants during our sessions.

Terry – I want the client to know that it’s a safe place for her to explore her own wisdom.

About: Mission, process, successes...

Our Mission

One To One Women Coaching Women is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to assisting women to achieve sustained success by creating positive changes in their lives. We target our services to eligible women by providing a safe and affirming coaching relationship in which individual dreams and desires can be translated into practical, realistic, and actionable life plans.

Our Clientele

We serve women in transition from challenging social and/or economic backgrounds or situations across the US and Canada. These women may have participated in transitional programs where they received skills training and assistance in meeting basic needs. Women in transition often find themselves overwhelmed with the obligations, choices, and responsibilities they face. The presence of an additional supportive relationship makes it easier for them to move forward in their lives in a successful manner.

Our Process

Our clients are paired with a professional Life Coach for 26 weekly sessions over a 6 to 7 month period. The sessions are conducted over the telephone for a minimum of 30 minutes per call. Our coaches provide life coaching to assist the clients in discovering what they want in all areas of their lives. Clients learn through these partnerships that they can access support networks while also relying on their own decision-making skills. The Life Coaches listen without judgment and to provide feedback and support, while staying committed to the client’s own agenda.

Our Successes

Our clients report that by being treated as an expert on their own lives and developing additional problem-solving skills, they are able to make decisions that positively impact their lives. They also create a working “life plan” that helps them be proactive and focused when making choices and decisions in their daily lives.

í “Life coaching helped me to believe in myself and to step out a bit more than I was used to in order to lay a foundation for the next part of my life.”

í ”She is the ultimate mentor, cheerleader and supporter. This is an awesome experience. To call it life-changing is an understatement.”

í “She is the Hope Fairy. She does not judge, instead keeps telling me that those things that seem so far out of my reach, just seem that way. That I deserve to be safe and happy. That I can have healthy relationships.”

Our Achievements

Since we started coaching in the fall of 2004, we have coached over 100 women and conducted 2 years of monthly Success Strategies calls for our coaches and clients, 2 years of monthly training and community development calls for our coaches. We have received approval to award ICF CCE’s for our monthly Coaches’ Community Calls and the three Annual Coaches’ Professional Development Weekends we have held. The Coaches’ Connection, a monthly e-newsletter for our coaches, provides networking opportunities for our coaching community, along with keeping them informed about One to One programs and services. 2008 found us creating and facilitating a 6 hour workshop series entitled, Life by Design. One to One has created a unique non-profit model that also includes mentoring and peer supervision.

“We believe that once a woman feels empowered and gains confidence in her self, she can be a change agent for her family, her community and the world.”

If you are an interested coach, have a client referral or would like to be a donor, please refer to our website (www.onetoone.info) for more information.

Coaching vs. Therapy

How Life Coaching Differs From Therapy

Life Coaching can be distinguished from therapy in a number of ways. First, coaching is a profession that supports personal and professional growth and development based on individual-initiated change in pursuit of specific actionable outcomes. These outcomes are linked to personal or professional success. Life Coaching is forward moving and future focused. Therapy, on the other hand, deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or a relationship between two or more individuals. The focus is often on resolving difficulties arising from the past which hamper an individual's emotional functioning in the present, improving overall psychological functioning, and dealing with present life and work circumstances in more emotionally healthy ways. Therapy outcomes often include improved emotional/feeling states. While positive feelings/emotions may be a natural outcome of life coaching, the primary focus is on creating actionable strategies for achieving specific goals in one's work or personal life. The emphases in a life coaching relationship are on action, accountability and follow through.

- International Coach Federation