Presented by Ann L. Begler of the Begler Group

Human engagement is an area of focus that is very alive in today's organizations. Gestalt theory offers a perspective of the way we become engaged with each other through a natural and organic cycle. It teaches effective ways to connect, and highlights the things we do to interrupt ourselves from being engaged with each other.

Learning to pay attention to this cycle of contact provides valuable insight into the coach-client relationship and to the client's engagement, or lack of engagement, at work. This program will help strengthen your coaching relationships and create fertile ground where your clients can safely explore and learn more deeply about his or her boundaries of contact.

In this program you will:

• Identify how the gestalt cycle of experience is applicable to the coaching relationship
• Learn how to identify specific resistances that can emerge in the coaching relationship and explore how to work with resistance
• Examine ways in which you can help your clients manage conflicts more effectively

With spring in the air, are you ready to get out and enjoy visiting with old friends and colleagues while making new ones, at an informal networking event?

Please join us on Thursday, May 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Atria's Restaurant located at 12980 Perry Highway in Wexford to become reacquainted with and meet professional coaches and associates, make new friends and explore opportunities in a spirit of friendship.

Join us at Atria's for their wonderful hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Please register in advance online or pay $20 at the door.

This is the first event of its kind hosted by the Pittsburgh Coaches Association. Be a part of a spring celebration of networking with an amazing group of contributors in the Pittsburgh area. We look forward to seeing you there and feel free to bring a friend!

The Pittsburgh Coaches Association is delighted to announce our newest member:

• Mary Kwiatkowski

June 8th Luncheon - The Value of Coaching in a Changing World

Featuring Ed Modell, JD, PCC; President, International Coach Federation

Come and join us to gain greater insights from 2011 ICF President Ed Modell into the coaching profession, trends in coaching and a global perspective, in addition to a discussion on the value of coaching in today's changing world. With more than 18,000 professional personal and business coaches in over 150 chapters, representing over 90 countries, the ICF is the voice of the global coaching profession.

Ed Modell, JD, PCC, is the 2011 President of ICF and is a certified Executive and Life Coach specializing in working with government, small business and non-profit executives and professional service providers. Before becoming a coach in 2003, Ed practiced law for over 28 years at several major law firms in Washington, DC. Ed is also a professional mediator and helped to found the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Maryland, a private, non-profit community mediation center.

Date: June 8, 2011
Agenda:
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.: Registration and Networking
11:30 - 12 noon: Announcements & Luncheon
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.: Featured Presentation
Place:
Highland Golf Club
Westview, 450 Highland Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15229
Cost:
By 5 p.m., June 3: Members - $30, Nonmembers - $40.
After 5 p.m., June 3: Members - $40, Nonmembers - $40

Register online

PCA "New" Member Orientation on June 8th

Ever wonder what is involved in operating the Pittsburgh Coaches Association? Do you want to be involved in new ways but aren't sure what opportunities are offered? All members of the Pittsburgh Coaches Association are invited to attend a FREE orientation session on June 8th before the lunch and learn. The orientation session will begin at 10:00 a.m.

There is no fee for this event. Please RSVP to: Roberta@PittsburghCoaches.org so we know to expect you.

By Kelly Eckert

A client I'll call Lilly wanted coaching on work/life harmony. She had been struggling with wanting a raise versus wanting to work fewer hours. I went through a number of different powerful questions with Lilly, but she bounced back and forth from one possibility to another. The more Lilly considered her options, the more overwhelmed and confused she felt.

One tool I've found to be particularly helpful in situations like this one is compassionate communication-also known as Nonviolent Communication. Compassionate communication is often used in conflict resolution. It is also perfectly suited for personal development and coaching. Actually, you could say it's being used for inner conflict resolution.

The focus of compassionate communication is on getting everyone's needs met. The four basic steps of compassionate communication are:

Observe the situation objectively, without judgment, as if looking through a camera. State your feelings, without blame or judgment. Identify what needs are not being met. These are universal needs that can apply to anyone anywhere in the world, such as independence, recognition, peace, celebration. Make a specific request.

Lilly made several observations about her situation: she was working more than 40 hours a week; she has not received a raise in about three years; she routinely gets home from work late; and she usually does not want to make dinner and often loses patience with her children when she gets home late.

Lilly said that she was feeling sad about having so little time with her children. She felt anxious about wanting a raise. She felt hopeless about resolving the issue.

Lilly identified several needs that were not being met: patience with her family, ease in transitioning from work to home and recognition that she is valued at work.

Finally, we looked at what requests she could make that could result in meeting her needs. Lilly said, "I could request a raise, and that would meet my need for recognition. But it would not help meet my needs for patience or ease. I could request help at home so that I didn't have to cook dinner all the time, and that would help meet my needs for ease and patience. But it wouldn't help with recognition at work. If I request a reduction in hours at work that would definitely help meet my needs for ease and patience. It would also help meet my need for recognition if my office readily says OK. And if they let me work fewer hours for the same pay I'm getting now, that would definitely meet my need for recognition."

Lilly put her request for reduced hours at the same pay in a written proposal to her boss. She identified her needs and the needs of her office (productivity, commitment, profit) and showed how both her needs and the needs of her office would be met by her request.

Lilly received a 20% reduction in hours and only a 15% reduction in pay. Lilly feels valued, and her need for recognition at work has been met. She also feels a renewed sense of trust and collaboration at work since her request was met with understanding and acceptance. At home, Lilly feels revitalized and inspired. Her needs for ease and patience have been met.

Using compassionate communication in coaching adds a deeper dimension to problem solving. It has helped my clients more readily see that they really do have answers deep inside them. Going through the four-step process of compassionate communication gives the client a concrete way to think creatively and to access their inner answers. It's also a practical tool they can learn to use in their lives outside of coaching.

We invite experienced coaches, as well as those new to the profession, to join the Pittsburgh Coaches Association (PCA).

Not a coach? Now you can join PCA as an Associate!