Finding my Way in Wayfinding: A Self-Reflection

 I've long been wanting to ponder/reflect/write about the connection between standards and dispositions for connected coaches (as put forward by Powerful Learning Practice) but couldn't quite manage to find the time. Now that it's a class assignment I'm finding the time. :) Or at least, this will be a start in making some of those connections.


In terms of Appreciative Strength-based Facilitation, this aspect of wayfinding is perhaps the one that resonates most strongly with me philosophically and yet the very thing that I have the most difficulty practicing. And I've yet to discover the reason(s) for that! It's such a conundrum. A riddle, wrapped inside a mystery, inside an enigma, even. ;) 

Where I think the challenge lies is really just a lack of practice. It may be as simple as I haven't created enough time/opportunity to engage in coaching others. I've committed most of my available time to learning, reading, reflecting and discussing with my co-learners and my colleagues rather than "doing". And more than anything else, coaching/wayfinding is an active practice. I do believe that in time it will actually become a way of being...it's not something that I have to go to a certain place to seek out and it's not necessary to have a job that relates to coaching...wayfinding opportunities abound in the world, personally and professionally. 


In terms of the connected coaching standards linked to appreciative strength-based facilitation that exhort coaches to:

• Persevere in exploring ideas and concepts, rethinking, revising, and continual repacking and unpacking as they build upon and assist in uncovering strengths of those they coach. 
• Engage in discussions on difficult or messy topics from an appreciative inquiry perspective to increase confidence and self efficacy.

 ...perseverance in exploring ideas and concepts, etc. and engaging in discussions on difficult or messy topics just come naturally to me. I have an very curious, playful and inquiring mind, and so there's nothing I like better. But that's about ME. What doesn't seem to "come naturally" is to turn that around when supporting someone else's inquiry...it's really hard to leave the ME out of such discussions, I've learned. And that's kind of embarrassing. Oh, it's not that I don't engage others in those kinds of discussions...but I don't consciously connect with listening for their strengths and reflecting that back to them as a strategy for helping them to move forward. I'm working on that! 

It's not all gloom and doom though. In terms of the Connected Professional Knowledge standard we're looking at, I'm fortunate to have worked with many amazing people over the course of my career from whom I've learned many strategies and activities to assist in creating a connection to the content and context, to myself and to the learning community. And going back to what I stated earlier about "committing most of my available time to learning, reading, reflecting and discussing with my co-learners and my colleagues" -- in terms of the standard in Professional Expertise of 'collectively reviewing and analyzing with an open mind and without judgement many perspectives on coaching' surprisingly...that's something I've been very engaged in prior to and during this course. Hey! I think I just unearthed a strength there that I previously viewed as a weakness. Too funny...because really...almost everything can be appreciated and lifted up as a strength on which to build, if you only look at it the right way. Sure, you may have to turn it on its head at times, but it's all about perspective. And that may be the most important and surprising thing I've learned about connected coaching so far.