| When
you think of the word “Salon”, what comes to mind? A place to get your hair or
nails done? Sure, most coaches have a need to look good, and having your hair
styled for that “my life is good, hire me” look is important. But, why a Coaching
Salon?
Since October of 2000, Shirley Anderson, a well known and popular
coach from Miami, Florida, has been hosting a Coaching Salon for one hour per
week, three times each month via telephone conference call. While the concept of a Salon, or “periodic gathering
of people of social or intellectual distinction”, has been around for centuries,
Shirley’s variation does offer some unique and interesting twists. I’ve attended
Salons of various types and sizes for years, even hosting a few from time to time.
Until speaking with Shirley, my idea of a Salon was limited to a gathering place
for people to openly discuss a specific topic, state their opinions, and maybe
even learn a few things from each other (if you’re lucky). Shirley’s Salon, on
the other hand, is ALL about learning, growing, giving and receiving. With Shirley,
opinions are most certainly welcome, but with a clear intention of helping people
to become better coaches. Sounds good to me!
What is a Coaching Salon?
As Shirley puts it, she’s in the “direct
lineage” of Thomas Leonard, founder of Coach-U, CoachVille, the Graduate School
of Coaching, and about 20,000 programs related to coaching. Those who’ve been
around Thomas know he’s WAY into building networks, whether they’re colleagues,
associates, clients, or a Research and Development (R&D) team. When she first
spoke with Thomas about the Salon, Shirley knew she’d already achieved a great
deal of success as a coach, learning directly from Thomas, and honing her skills
by helping hundreds of clients over a 13-year coaching career. With Thomas’ prodding
and support, she decided to finally create her own network – specifically for
coaches; and, to facilitate her personal research on standard coaching topics.
Hence, the beginning of the Coaching Salon, which in almost two years
has grown from 12 to over 550 people on the mailing list. For Shirley, who wanted
a positive way to give back to the coaching community, the Salon was a golden
opportunity to create a network simply by doing what she loves – coaching. Although
topics have been far-ranging, and the format has changed at times to suit the
needs of the participants, the basic structure of the Salon has remained fairly
static: start with 15-20 minutes of situational coaching (Shirley coaches), followed
by Q&A and discussion. Nothing is prepared ahead of time, and no notes are
provided afterwards. Well over 40 or more people call in to Shirley’s bridge line,
one person volunteers to be the client, and Shirley coaches him/her on the spot.
No, folks, these sessions are not rehearsed.
Why a Coaching Salon?
Shirley could have started an R&D team, an online
discussion list, a newsletter, or a host of other methods of community building.
She chose this format because of her skills and love of coaching. Here are some
of the reasons for starting a Coaching Salon:
 Hone
your coaching skills. Shirley gets to practice saying what she thinks and, now
has enough confidence to say when she doesn’t have a clue (we could all use that
talent!). The Coaching Salon has really sharpened her coaching skills and provided
her with hours of live training she couldn’t get anywhere else. In fact, she’s
due to co-present on the live demo coaching track at the next ICF conference.
You get to
be you. Shirley’s personality is at the heart of her style. While she sees herself
as being a little edgy, her ability to say it the way she sees it provides her
plenty of feedback (4-5 thank-you notes per week) about her compassion.
Get psychic
satisfaction. According to Shirley, “you’ll never get the money back for what
you spend, but you’ll get much more back in other ways”.
It
creates a network. Coaches are hungry for networking with other coaches. You only
get so much from a coaching school, then it ends and you’re “on your own”. With
a Salon, you’re no longer on your own. One example followed the events of 9/11,
when Shirley provided a safe forum for coaches and trained therapists to come
together and share insights, experience and knowledge.
It
provides a very different, and fresh perspective on coaching. You see what can
be done in 15-20 minutes, and how you can be straightforward and truthful while
being empathetic to your client (there are things you don’t want to say in a public
forum that you might in a private session).
You get to
build a community. At last year’s ICF conference, Shirley met with about 20 people
who were regular participants of the Salon. Then, this year’s CoachVille Conference
brought together about 40 people, who were so engrossed with each other that Shirley
was virtually ignored. She said it was like having a rather large, functional,
family.
You
get energized. Shirley gets energy from the people who call in and participate.
They’re coaches who love coaching and want to be the best they can be. She “helps
them connect the dots”, synthesizing all of the information and training they
got from school and CoachVille into real-life coaching skills and experience.
You get to
give back. If it’s true (and I believe it is) that our search for meaning is our
greatest need, then there’s not much more meaningful than being of service to
others. Nothing will make me cry faster than witnessing or experiencing an act
of loving-kindness. They’re tears of joy, a joy that comes from knowing that being
of service to others is an incredible gift to Self. Shirley said she’s “had the
best of the best – training, colleagues, a very successful business.” This is
her way to contribute to the coaching community.
What’s the difference between a Coaching Salon and a Mentor
Coaching Group?
Many experienced coaches
have initiated mentor coaching groups as a way to provide low-cost coaching skills
and practice building training to novice coaches. These groups typically cost
between $100 and $300 per individual per month, depending on who’s leading the
group, meeting frequency, and the focus of the mentor coaching. So why do a group
for free when you can get some good money with a mentor group?
 Individualized attention versus lurking: The Coaching
Salon can have more than 40 people, while a mentor group typically has no more
than 10 and is a closed group (Shirley and her co-leader Jaye Myrick have 5-6
people in each group). In the Salon, it’s quite difficult to get individualized
attention, while in the mentor group you can insure each person gets attention
every week.
Focused meetings versus whatever-happens: Shirley never
knows what’s going to come up in the Coaching Salon. For her mentor groups, she
has each person complete a call prep form defining how they want to use the call.
The group calls are then focused on the specific needs of the individuals.
Developing individuals versus developing community:
The Coaching Salon, while it helps individuals become more skilled as coaches,
is an excellent way to develop a community. You can’t possibly help everyone,
and you’ll never hear from most of the people who attend the Salon. The mentor
group can focus on specific practice building and coaching skills for each individual.
The Salon is geared more toward integrating what people learn about coaching skills
in their coaching classes.
What Next?
OK. So you don’t have 13 years experience as a Coach,
and you didn’t learn directly from the master himself. And your point is…? Shirley
encourages people on her Salon to start now. No excuses, she says. She’s basically
(or fundamentally) introverted, and understood that she had to overcome her natural
shyness to be successful. I can vouch for the natural shyness and introversion
of a coach (ring any bells?). Shirley and I had a nice laugh over being the “quiet,
smart” kids in school. Our job as coaches, she says, is to “make ourselves known,
and live the model life.” If you’re coaching people to be bigger, then start being
bigger yourself. Here’s some tips on how to proceed:
1.
Get started. Pick a time – same time every week. Shirley does the first
3 Mondays every month, same time, same phone number (1:00pm Eastern, 407-649-0198).
The schedule must be exact and consistent. It will cost you for the bridge line,
but the amount is minimal compared to what you’ll get back.
2. Let people know what you’re doing. Maybe
you start with friends, family, co-workers, or other coaches in your community.
Know that it can take some time to build your network, especially if you’re just
starting as a coach.
3. Make it yours.
This is your time to shine and learn. Yes, you’re giving back, but do it in a
way that serves you. Shirley loves her Salon because she can do whatever she wants.
She’ll do live coaching about anything, then open the conversation to encompass
the coaching demo and whatever else comes up.
4.
Ask your audience what they want. Shirley recently discovered her participants
wanted to experience coaching from the perspectives of different coaching schools.
She facilitated a several-week process where one coach from each of several schools
coached the same client. Her conclusion? The differences weren't readily apparent
in the exercise, and the coaching style seemed to be more dependent on the individual
coach's natural inclination.
5. Keep going. Starting a coaching business,
and a Salon, can be challenging. Shirley believes (and I agree) that at least
80% of the people in the world can use coaching. Think what a difference it would
make in how corporations work, for example, if every manager and executive had
a coach? It can take time. It can be hard work. And, the rewards are out there.
Go
forth and prosper
Coaches new to the
profession can be discouraged by the realities of starting a business, assimilating
the principles and language of coaching, and integrating them into what they already
know, which is usually impressive. Then they must take that out and attract people
to something they cannot easily describe!!
The Coaching Salon brings heart
and soul into the equation to balance the technology of coach training. The Coaching
Salon provides a place for coaches to gather and experience the thrill of masterful
coaching where the client unexpectedly and permanently traverses the wall from
helpless not-knowing to potent action. The Coaching Salon is the place where coaches
find stories they can use to explain the mystery and the essential goodness and
clarity and love that is the relationship that we call coaching. It is, indeed,
a watering hole, a gathering place for thirsty wayfarers on the coaching path.
How to get involved in Shirley’s Coaching Salon:
1. Visit the Coaching Salon web site:
http://www.coachingsalon.com/
2. Visit Shirley at her web site:
http://www.coachmiami.com/
3.
Get on the Coaching Salon Mailing list (for reminders of calls and occasional
follow-up remarks and notes):
Send a blank email to: subscribe@coachingsalon.com
4. Call in on one of the first 3 Mondays each month, 1:00 pm Eastern at
407-649-0198
And remember, participation in the Coaching Salon is 100%
free...
About
the Author:
Sid Smith, is a Coach, Mentor, Speaker,
Writer, and TeleClass Leader from Portland, Oregon. He is the author of two books:
"Get Out of Your Way! Removing the Obstacles to Your Success" and "Being Exceptional
Without Changing Who You Are”. Sid loves writing and playing, especially playing
big. Look for his upcoming TeleClass “Be the Big Kid on Your Block”.
To
learn more about Sid and how he might be of service to you:
Sid Smith
sid@sidsmith.com
http://www.sidsmith.com/
503.287.0246
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