Coaching & Mentoring Models and Frameworks: COMENSAnews July 2012

Aug. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- The theme for the July 2012 issue of COMENSAnews is Coaching & Mentoring Models & Frameworks. In a recent interview with Peter Crush, Gladeana McMahon, Chair of the Association for Coaching based in the UK, said that in order for coaching to survive into the future, it is going to need to innovate, it is going to need more models and it is going to need to become more evidence-based in order to survive against the longer-standing and more developed professions.   Coaches and mentors in South Africa are perfectly poised to benefit from the American, European and Australasian models and wisdom, as well as to develop our own indigenous models and coaching cultures.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a number of leaders in the field of coaching in South Africa who have developed – and are still developing – models built from their experience in this diverse and challenging environment.  Names that come to mind immediately are Dr Dorrian Aiken - whose Diversity model was singled out as being of international significance, Dr Dumisani Magadlela – with his work on Ubuntu coaching, Paddy Pampallis-Paisley and The Coaching Centre with their pioneering Integral+ model (watch this space for more on this model) and many others who have pioneered the field of coaching in South Africa.  Obviously, one cannot possibly include everyone in such a short space and other people will spring to mind in the days after this editorial has been published so my apologies for unintended omissions.

In this issue, I am delighted to showcase an article by Dr Sunny Stout-Rostron, one of our leading international coaches and someone who has recently been named an extraordinary leader in the coaching world by Dr Lew Stern, head of the Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching.  We are also joined by Dr Caren Scheepers, with a hugely informative and valuable article on her newly developed model: the 7P Tools of Coaching Leaders.  We have a number of other interesting articles by great contributors, including Amy Johnson, Alain Willem and Virginie Charlier, and a request for volunteers for a project from Emma Sexton, who is a member of the COMENSA Research and Definitions Portfolio Committee.

While we may continue to rely on the western world (Australia, Europe, the UK and the States) for the bulk of our models and frameworks, it is important that we apply them mindful of the environment within which we find ourselves – a diverse, multicultural and multi-layered society that may require subtle refining and re-wiring of these models and frameworks in order to make them work in South Africa and on our continent. We are an intelligent profession, and should not mindlessly apply knowledge and models that we learn. I truly believe that – as Africans of all shapes, sizes and colours - we have the intuition, knowledge and rigour to develop a unique coaching culture and to create ground-breaking practice to export to the rest of the world.

COMENSA is the body in which to pioneer this work.  As part of the Executive Committee’s High 5 Strategy, Diversity has been identified as a key focus.  When we think of diversity, we tend to default to issues of race, culture and gender, but diversity in this sense needs to embrace coaching models and frameworks.  Since inception, one of COMENSA’s core values has been inclusivity – the will to include, accept and embrace all members of the profession regardless of training, model, background, framework or beliefs.  This commitment to diversity and inclusivity supports the development of new models, of innovation and continuing development in the fields of coaching and mentoring.

Please take part in our new feature on the COMENSA website’s home page: the monthly Poll.  Scroll down on COMENSA’s homepage on http://www.comensa.org.za to answer this month’s question.

IN THIS ISSUE OF COMENSAnews (please copy and paste this link into your internet browser: www.comensa.org.za/NEWSLETTERS/COMENSAnews_2012_(Jan_-_Dec)/COMENSAnews_July_2012.aspx )

Working with Coaching Models: The U Process
By Dr Sunny Stout-Rostron
Executive Summary: In her article, Dr. Sunny Stout-Rostron investigates coaching models that influence the work of business and executive coaches worldwide.

The 7P's Model of Coaching
By Dr Caren Scheepers
As a serial dieter, I often accept plates with colourful, delicious, sugary, calorie laden cake slices.

New Developments in Coaching & Mentoring
By Amy Johnson
When the call for articles on Supervision and Ethics arrived in my in-box, it was my overdeveloped sense of responsibility that said "Well, you trained as a Supervisor; you are a former President of COMENSA – you must have something to say.

Shadow Attack
By Andrew Pike
A while ago I met a man whom I had previously known only by reputation.  Prior to our meeting I had heard through the grapevine that he drinks excessively and had been physically and verbally abusive to his ex-wife.

Monthly Morsel: Reflecting on your Sessions
By Megan Hudson
Do you meet with your clients and then forget about the session the minute you close the door behind their back?

Coaching in Vivencia*
By Alain Willem & Virgine Charlier
Last month, I received an interesting statistic from Harvard Business Review: the more ethical a man is in business, the less he is likely to earn.

Coaching in Society - Group Coaching at The Clothing Bank
By Emma Sexton
A growing community of coaches has been working with The Clothing Bank since March 2010, as part of the Woman's Enterprise Development Programme (EDP).