Top 10 Tips...For Strong Relationships Check this list out as we offer new and exciting ways to improve your business and personal life!   How To Choose A Coach   Blocking Effective Listening   Establishing Rapport

How To Choose A Coach

1. Get a referral from a friend or professional who knows how the coach works.
2. Ask for the coach's credentials. Credentials do not a good coach make, but they are a necessary base. Good coaches may be graduates of one of the many recognized schools of coaching. You can check to see if the coach is listed with the International Federation of Coaches or the International Association of Coaches (both have websites).
3. Ask for references, names of previous clients who would be willing to talk with you.
4. Ask about the approaches used, if the coach specializes in certain kinds of coaching and the experience and level of training in each.
5. Ask for an average as far as duration of the coaching program.
6. Ask for specific information about fees, including how long each coaching session lasts and how fees are paid.
7. Consider the first appointment "shopping". This is where you trust your intuition as far as your potential for comfort and good solid work with the coach.
8. Confirm the confidentiality in the relationship and ask if there are any conditions under which confidentiality would not be complete.
9. Ask for clarity on the format for coaching. Will it be in person, by phone, etc.?
10. Even in the best of client/coach relationships, there may come a time when you have done the best you can with that particular coach; you may benefit from a change of coach for any number of reasons.

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Top Ten Ways...Of Blocking Effective Listening

1. Assume the other's subject is uninteresting and unimportant.
2. Mentally criticize the speaker's delivery or opinions.
3. Become aggressive when questioning or opposing an idea.
4. Listen only for facts, wanting to skip the details.
5. Pretend to be attentive.
6. Interrupt the speaker.
7. Pretend to understand what you don't understand, eg. technical information
8. Overreact to certain words or phrases.
9. Impose verbal judgments..."that's ridiculous".
10. Continue an activity (reading, thinking) while pretending to listen.

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Top Ten Tips For...Establishing Rapport

1. Listen with an open mind, not a voting mind. (Voting minds are busy internally saying "I agree, I disagree." Open minds want to know what the person means.)
2. Acknowledge the person's statements with an honest, respectful comment, if only "That's an interesting thought."
3. Listen more than you talk
4. Pace the person's rate of speech, seating level, emotional tone, with elegance and honesty
5. Be trustworthy
6. Cultivate trust through self-disclosure
7. Tactfully, and early on draw your boundaries-"I really want to hear your concerns, and have only 15 minutes this morning. Should we set another time?"
8. Lead the conversation to common ground often-"We both want the customer to be happy with this project."
9. Connect comments with "and" instead of "but"- I understand how busy you are and it's extremely important that we meet this deadline."
10. Take time to review agreements on specific points, including who will do what next

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